David Singer,

"Believe it or not some people are influenced in their vote by the foreign policy that both parties adopt. That includes Christians, Buddhists and a host of other ethnic groups."

More sophistry, you know very well that's not the point of my comment, which was that some voters are more interested in their "homelands"--spiritual, imaginary or actual, than domestic politics. Australia is a free country of course, and some of its citizens are free to treat it as a convenience while their interests are directed elsewhere.


"Pity you immerse yourselves in such jealousy and envy and ignore the benefits that are being continually brought forward for all mankind by the Jews you continually seek to demonise and delegitimize."

You've (1) combined straw man arguments and ad hominem attacks ( as usual) and (2) conflated Jews and Zionism (as usual) I think philosophers call that a "category mistake", since Zionism is an ideology. Jews, as a people, have made remarkable contributions to Western civilisation, along with the people of Renaissance Italy, the Enlightenment and most significantly, the Classical Greeks. I can't remember demonising Jews on this thread, or any other-- perhaps the vitriol wasn't directed at me.

I noticed that you, by your own admission, have abandoned any ethical defence of Zionism, and attempted the morally bankrupt ploy of claiming that we should be "grateful" for the achievements of Israeli scientists. As I, and others have indicated previously, that argument is fatally flawed.

Russell Walton.

Dear Mr Singer,

What is really 'beneath contempt' is your vilification of others on this forum as Jew haters when they are patently no such thing. Actually that is a little inaccurate I will concede as I find you and your message indubitably contemptible.

What I do find admirable are those who contribute to B'Tselem, an Israeli human rights group which “has championed human rights in the West Bank and Gaza Strip for over two decades, promoting a future where all Israelis and Palestinians will live in freedom and dignity.”
http://www.btselem.org/

The salutation posted earlier today on their facebook page reads in part;

“In honor of the Jewish New Year, we wish for a year of respect for human rights, human dignity and liberty.”
https://www.facebook.com/btselem

Hear hear!

To # mac

You state:

"I noticed that you, by your own admission, have abandoned any ethical defence of Zionism, and attempted the morally bankrupt ploy of claiming that we should be "grateful" for the achievements of Israeli scientists. As I, and others have indicated previously, that argument is fatally flawed."

What " admission "are you referring to?

I have not abandoned any defence - ethical or otherwise - of the right of the Jewish people to reconstitute their national home in their ancient and biblical homeland as legally sanctioned and approved by the League of Nations and the United Nations.

You to your shame deny Jews this right. Wallow in your hate.

I don't ask you to be "grateful" for what Jews are doing in Israel for the betterment of people everywhere. I would expect there to be at least some recognition for what these Jews are achieving - which is certainly not acknowledged from you.

Hope you have the guts to turn down any such discoveries should they ever become necessary to save your life.

You certainly will be fatally floored - that is for sure.

To #csteele

Still no apology or admission from you that you have wrongly attributed a quote made by Michael Danby to me.

I stand by my comments on the Jew haters who frequent OLO under the guise of anonymity.

How far this discussion has strayed from my article - as is what occurs with each article that is published - as posters do everything but seek to discuss what I am positing.

Guess my analysis has proved connect - with the Labor Party finding out that deception and confusion brings with it a political price.

As I wrote:

"Rudd and Carr's sordid saga of deception and confusion in this and many other issues has only succeeded in turning voters away in droves."

Labor's lowest vote in 100 years is eloquent testimony to Rudd and Carr treating the Australian voting public as mindless numbskulls with their attempted policy on the run at the Lakemba Mosque -which they were never prepared to confirm.