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Originally Posted by Chill Cosby
Firstly, I agree with placing Israel's role in this conflict in the same spectrum as the Mexican Drug War, Syria, Iraq, etc. I would argue something like the Mexican drug war is certainly worse for civilians and showcases an inherently awful government, but it doesn't fit any definition of genocide I'm aware of, just careless action against citizens.
I think the argument COULD be made for genocide in this situation, as Israel's targets (or casualties, if you prefer) are of a specific religion and ethnicity. I don't think Israel's effort to protect civilians is relevant, as it could very easily be argued based on the casualties and the lac of effectiveness that their efforts are purely superficial. Not saying that's true, but you can easily see where the argument comes from.
I know you personally have used "hate speech" and "anti-Semitic" a little casually (for my taste) in this thread, so your definition might be a bit looser than mine. I'm still not entirely sure how placing a swastika on a flag incites hatred towards the Israeli people as a whole, it's clearly a political statement based on their government's current actions, but doesn't seem to be based solely on their religion, ethnicity, or nationality. If someone was protesting something Harper was doing, and placed a swastika in place of the maple leaf on our flag, is that hate speech?
I guess that's more what I'm asking, is not whether accusing the Israeli government of being "nazi-esque" is hate speech, but if it is, WHY it is. Saying why it isn't a good comparison doesn't answer that question, I don't think.
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It's hate speech because like it or not, Israel is a Jewish state, and nazism and judiasm is a no go for speech. There are plenty of examples that protestors could make (Croatia, South Africa etc) to try and express what they believe the Israeli government is doing to Palestinian citizens that makes the same point without bringing up Nazism.
Like it or not it really is a zero tolerance policy with the Jewish people when it comes to Nazism. It is still fresh in so many minds, how close the Jewish people came to be destroyed. My grandfathers village in Poland for example had 2 survivors, him and his brother. Every single other resident died at the hands of the Nazis.
There is plenty of examples to use to express your disdain for Israels policies, you don't need to use nazism to make that point. To do so touches a nerve way to close to the heart of Jewish people still. Whether this is hate speech in your mind doesn't really matter, it's hate speech in the minds of the people you are putting down. Isn't that what really matters when talking about hate speech anyways, the group it effects?