The Political Thread

[Richmond Clements]

The Pub Landlord has just announced he's standing against Farage in the General Election. Sometimes I love this country.

[Jim_Campbell]

...

[Old Tankie]

Research suggests that nearly half of Britons hold anti-Semitic views, according to a poll by YouGov.  45% believed that at least one anti-Semitic view presented to them was probably or definitely true, according to The Times newspaper.  Can't say I'm surprised!

[The Legendary Shark]

But is it ant-semitism or just ignorance? If someone mistakenly believes that all Catholics are allowed to use condoms, does that make them anti-Christian? I don't think so.
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You've got to be very careful what you say about the Jews, though, some of them are a bit prickly.

[Old Tankie]

Well, when a person answers a question with an anti-Semitic view, one assumes that person is anti-Semitic.  And, as for being a bit prickly, I can think of other religions that can be applied to.

[Hawkmumbler]

Anti-semitism has become so deeply ingrained into western European culture that often people might not even realize that they're saying something offensive.

[Old Tankie]

Very true.

[Hawkmumbler]

Not that that excuses it mind, I should have mentioned that (though where all sensible enough around here) but if ever their was a time to start challenging these opinions it should be now.

[ZenArcade]

Such seems to be the sense of disquiet amongst millennia old Jewish communities in Europe that many are choosing emigration as an answer. Z 

[The Legendary Shark]

A good egg is a good egg and an arsehole is an arsehole. Both types come in a wide variety of forms, colours and programming.

[ZenArcade]

By their actions and deeds shall you know them. Z

[JayzusB.Christ]

There is never a valid excuse for racism,  despite how infuriatingly stubborn all bigots i know are when they insist otherwise.
I do object,  however, to IsraelI authorities holding up the anti-semitism card whenever another country condemns their more belligerent military actions. 
Disliking Jews because of some prejudiced racist notions is bigoted, anti-semitic and,  in my view,  wrong.
Not wanting to see innocent Palestinian families killed by IsraelI missiles is not anti-semitic. Israel is a country,  not a race - I'd hazard a guess that most westerners who protested against the Iraq war are not haters of the predominant races of the countries involved in the invasion.

That said: 

You've got to be very careful what you say about the Jews, though, some of them are a bit prickly

Sharky, I'm surprised at you.  You know better than that.

[The Legendary Shark]

Some people are prickly, though, don't you find? They'd rather find excuses to aggravate than educate.

[Richmond Clements]

Or troll rather than answer points.

[TordelBack]

The Pub Landlord has just announced he's standing against Farage in the General Election. Sometimes I love this country.

The real beauty of this is that I've long suspected more than a few of his targets don't grasp the point of Al Murray's comedy at all, and some may actually vote for him.