Rejoice my friend for, we now have the truth. It came in the
form of an exact metaphor on the relationship that exists between the
self-appointed leaders of the Jews and the rank and file.
The metaphor shows how the leaders paint a reassuring
picture whose purpose is to keep the foot soldiers in line and maintain their
contributions. The leaders do all that even as they quake in their boots while
facing developments that are slowly getting out of hand.
Look at this headline: “Britain 's left is melting down over
rampant anti-Semitism,” and marvel at the optimism it exudes among those who
wish to see anti-Semitism vanish with the melting down of those who are
inclined to practice it. Well, that headline is actually the title of Benny
Avni's column, published on May 2, 2016 in the New York Post.
When you see a veneer as glossy as that headline, you expect
to find underneath it a glowing text that shows how the evil of anti-Semitism
became rampant in Britain ,
and how the forces of good were mobilized to go on the offensive. You also
expect to be shown how those forces succeeded at melting down British
anti-Semitism once and for all. Alas, that's not what you find when you read
the article.
Avni cites a few names to tell who are the most prominent
anti-Semites in Britain ,
and then says this: “They may just be the tip of an iceberg.” Further down, he
explains that the problem extends beyond Britain : “And like so many others
on the European left, his Labor faction is now being exposed as harboring
[anti-Semitic] hatred.” And you get a sense as to how big the iceberg truly is.
So you want to know where this is going. In fact, Avni
himself has wondered, and has asked the relevant question. Here is how he put
it: “Perhaps this is only a problem that inflicts a small (but growing) segment
of Britain 's
left and its far right. Also, Britain
is finally dealing with it, right?” And he answers: “Not so fast”.
This being an expression of disappointment, Avni tells why
he is disappointed. He says that in dealing with the apparent problem of
anti-Semitism within its ranks, the British Labour Party has decided to set-up
an inquiry to investigate itself by appointing as vice-chair of the inquiry, a
man that has already deemed as baseless and disingenuous the accusations of
anti-Semitism leveled against the Party.
And so you cry out: What's the use? The thing is rigged, you
think to yourself. And this is why you come to believe that everybody should be
disappointed, not just the Benny Avnis of this world. Well, everybody that is,
but don't tell it to the foot soldiers lest they stop contributing to the
causes for which leaders like Avni work hard to scare the hell out of them –
and in the process, secure for themselves a comfortable living.
But what about the talk concerning the British Labour Party
imploding and melting down? Was that talk for real or was it the stuff which
makes the veneer glow, giving the impression that something substantial is
forming inside the package when in reality, no such thing is taking place?
To tell the truth, Avni used the word “imploding” only once
at the start of the article and did not define it or explain it. He later spoke
of the Party melting down, but only in conjunction with a minor figure in the
British Labour Party sending out what he says were anti-Semitic tweets. And so
you conclude that all the talk must have been the stuff by which the veneer is
made to glow. Nothing more serious than that.
Exhausted and out of breath by now, you feel there is a
question on your chest that is trying to come out, but you're not sure what it
is. While agonizing over it, you bump into a passage in the Avni column that
happens to formulate the question for you. It is this: “How did we get here?”
Yes, that was the question on your chest. And now that you know it, you want to
know what the answer is.
Here is the answer according to Avni: “If you're a
progressive, you start by expressing solidarity with the Palestinians, and
criticizing Israel and America .” But having
noticed the word “progressive” at the start of the sentence, you know that Avni
is communicating a subtle message. Here it is: “This is political talk; don't
take it seriously.” And so, you don't take it seriously.