An interesting theory by Rehka Basuin today's Des Moines Register. She equates Senator Hollings’ support of the Jewish Conspiracy behind the Iraq War theory with Bill Cosby’s criticizing some lower-income African-American parents he said would rather spend money on fancy shoes than phonics. She claims that each are seen as “racist” but neither truly are, they are just attempts to open an honest discussion like her earlier article questioning whether John Kerry is the correct democratic candidate for the presidency.



At first blush, it would seem the analogy holds. The stereotypical, racist view of African-Americans is that they are lazy, shiftless, etc. That theory has been used to support both slavery and the idiotic “separate but equal” policies of the last century. As I pointed out earlier, the stereotypical, medieval view of the Jewish people is that they are cheap, power and money-hungry people who conspire to rule the Christian world. That was used to support pogroms, genocide, and the Nazi regime of the last century.

However, I suggest that there are some differences that belie Ms. Basu’s point.



First, examine her analogies: Bill Cosby, an African-American himself, could be seen as a traitor to his own cause by his castigation of lower-class blacks. Secondly, Rehka Basu, as a democratic columnist, could be seen as a traitor to her own cause for questioning the qualifications of Senator Kerry. From those two points, one would expect Senator Hollings to be Jewish. Um, no. He’s Lutheran, according to his website. His Jewish connection?



“We have a very, very proud Jewish community in Charleston. In fact, it is where reform Judaism began. The earliest temple, Kadosh Beth Elohim, is on Hasell Street. I have spoken there several times. I had the pleasure of having that particular temple put on the National Register. This particular Senator, with over 50 years now of public service, has received a strong Jewish vote.”



Sound a bit like “I can’t be anti-Semitic, some of my best friends are Jewish?”



Second, I find the freedom with which even intellectuals use discriminatory slurs against the Jewish people telling. When I was on vacation recently and bargaining for a parea from a beach vendor, I had several American bystanders advising me to “jew him down.” Would we use the n-word so freely in casual conversation? I find it strictly taboo in my circles. So why do we feel free to use that particular expression?



I also linked earlier to this article regarding the attitudes expressed towards the Jewish people at Berkely, under the guise of “anti-Zionist, not anti-Semitic.” If they are not anti-Semitic, why use phrases in their protest signs like “F*CK JEWS” and 'Die, Juden.' I’m sorry, but anyone who thinks that those phrases are not anti-Semitic needs to have their head examined.



I do agree with the idea that political correctness should not preclude an honest discussion of the facts. But the conspiracy theory put forth by Senator Hollings is so far-fetched as to be ludicrous. To reiterate the theory, as outlined by the Senator: The Jews in Israel must have known whether or not Saddam had WMD’s prior to this war, because, well, Mossad knows everything. They knew he didn’t have any, knew there was no Al-Quaeda connection, but wanted us to invade anyway to help secure their borders. Meanwhile, on our side, from the day he took office "Bush thought tax cuts would hold his crowd together and that spreading democracy in the Mideast to secure Israel would take the Jewish vote from the Democrats." Even in his explanatory article, he continues to propound this theory. He claims this is the American and Israeli joint “domino” policy, to topple Arabic governments, indiscriminately bulldoze Palestinian homes and kill children.



Given the above, I still find the theory smacks of the “don’t you know Jews control the government” ideas in pre-WWII Germany. I am concerned at the level of anti-Jewish sentiment that is allowed to pass under the "anti-Zionist" label. And while I don't believe political correctness should censor rational, logical debate, neither do I believe one should allow remarks that smack of racist, sexist, or anything-ist to pass unchallenged. Holling's motivation for his actions should be as open to inquiry as Bush's. That is the nature of debate.