Virginia Bell was a respected jurist on the right side of social justice and law reform. Her career included time at the Redfern Legal Centre and arguing civil liberties cases. Her background gave some hope that this preposterous, stitched up royal commission would restrict the airing of the more absurd claims of antisemitism.
It's so disappointing therefore, that not only were these neurotic claims allowed a platform, but that alternative voices' time at the microphone was severely limited by the commission. It's difficult to know what the outcome of its deliberations will be, but it looks like it will be nothing good.
Excellent article. The clarity of Louise Adler's argument is wonderful: 'Unfortunately, being labelled a “genocide supporter” – an understandably harrowing experience recounted by so many witnesses – is the cost of supporting genocide.'
Collective guilt attribution based on race is wrong and a form of dehumanisation, however, if someone is responding to your stated political views supporting Israel through genocide or identifying as a Zionist, it is not “based on race or religion” to challenge that political position and even express disgust at it. Because recipients may entwine their political and racial/religious identities, is not the work of the speaker. The speaker has to collapse the distinction. What we are sometimes hearing are social cohesion concerns about the right to safely be a Zionist in Australia.
If there was one person delivering an alleged ‘lived experience’ of the sort described, they would be attended by men in white coats, but in fact they are supported and enabled by what amounts to a world-wide Jewish cult. They could be said to have been groomed from birth. Obviously not all individual Jews are in it, but enough so that it dominates. The sheer effrontery of these presentations means we don’t know how to politely respond, and if we respond impolitely we could end up being taken away by men in blue uniforms.
True!"For the most part, these hearings have been an opportunity to ventilate anxiety about antisemitism rather than instances of it."
Too many testimonies amount to expressions of paranoia and fear, understandable after Bondi, but these are not always lived experiences of actual events. Rather, they demonstrate the rigid community filters that enable so many to turn away from the horrors of Gaza etc etc.
Virginia Bell was a respected jurist on the right side of social justice and law reform. Her career included time at the Redfern Legal Centre and arguing civil liberties cases. Her background gave some hope that this preposterous, stitched up royal commission would restrict the airing of the more absurd claims of antisemitism.
It's so disappointing therefore, that not only were these neurotic claims allowed a platform, but that alternative voices' time at the microphone was severely limited by the commission. It's difficult to know what the outcome of its deliberations will be, but it looks like it will be nothing good.
Concise and exceptional article ! Thank you.
Excellent article. The clarity of Louise Adler's argument is wonderful: 'Unfortunately, being labelled a “genocide supporter” – an understandably harrowing experience recounted by so many witnesses – is the cost of supporting genocide.'
Collective guilt attribution based on race is wrong and a form of dehumanisation, however, if someone is responding to your stated political views supporting Israel through genocide or identifying as a Zionist, it is not “based on race or religion” to challenge that political position and even express disgust at it. Because recipients may entwine their political and racial/religious identities, is not the work of the speaker. The speaker has to collapse the distinction. What we are sometimes hearing are social cohesion concerns about the right to safely be a Zionist in Australia.
Always love hearing from Louise Adler
If there was one person delivering an alleged ‘lived experience’ of the sort described, they would be attended by men in white coats, but in fact they are supported and enabled by what amounts to a world-wide Jewish cult. They could be said to have been groomed from birth. Obviously not all individual Jews are in it, but enough so that it dominates. The sheer effrontery of these presentations means we don’t know how to politely respond, and if we respond impolitely we could end up being taken away by men in blue uniforms.
Great article. Thank you
Thank you for this piece. I’ll be saving and re-reading it to help clarify my understanding of the failures evident so far of the royal commission.
True!"For the most part, these hearings have been an opportunity to ventilate anxiety about antisemitism rather than instances of it."
Too many testimonies amount to expressions of paranoia and fear, understandable after Bondi, but these are not always lived experiences of actual events. Rather, they demonstrate the rigid community filters that enable so many to turn away from the horrors of Gaza etc etc.
This is the Post-Modern Royal Commission
Thanks for writing what is obviously balanced journalism
Thank you, very well said.
Thank you Louise Adler voice of reason so Disappointing re Virginia Bell it’s a farce .. Sarah Schwartz gave evidence today she was brilliant.