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Friday, December 31, 2010

The Idiocy of Norman Finkelstein Exhibited on His Own Blog




If you want to see what an obnoxious fool Norman Finkelstein is, you don't have to read my blog; just read his own blog (Norman G Finkelstein). This man, who has a PHD from Princeton, is so idiotic he posts his idiocy on his own blog for all to see.

Let's take a look.

Here is a recent entry on his site in which he engages in a TV debate with Jeffrey Herf (University of Maryland) and Charles Small (Yale) on the topic of the New Anti-Semitism. This debate was shown on RT (Russia Today). As you watch (it is some 26 minutes long) pay attention also to the captions that run along on the bottom. At any rate, Small and Herf describe the anti-Semitism clearly and eloquently, while Finkelstein dismisses it as Israel labeling its critics as anti-Semites. Of course, Finkelstein also shows the world what an obnoxious guy he is. For the life of me, I can't figure out why Finkelstein would put this on his own blog. He should be hoping it never saw the light of day.

http://www.normanfinkelstein.com/if-its-tuesday-this-must-be-anti-semitism/

A few more reactions. The subject of the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem is brought up by Finkelstein who says that the Mufti was described as the "mastermind of the Holocaust". Well, I never heard that, but it is documented historical fact that the Mufti, after fleeing Jerusalem lived in Berlin for a few years as guest of Hitler during World War II. While in Berlin, he made numerous radio broadcasts back to the Middle East urging his followers to drive out the Jews. He also helped organize a Bosnian SS division which participated in the Holocaust.




Finkelstein also responded to the description of the Hamas Charter, which is very clear about its hatred of Jews by quoting certain Israeli individuals' comments about Palestinians. While those comments sound  despicable, how do you compare the comments of a few politicians and rabbis to the official philosophy of an entire terrorist organization which today controls Gaza?

On the subject of anti-Semitism, I would also like to bring up Finkelstein's participation in the Whither the Levant conference at UC-Irvine on January 31, 2009. I was present and sent up a written question to the panel which was given to Finkelstein. Here is an excerpt from what I reported.

“Do you condemn statements and chants heard recently at anti-Israel rallies in Ft. Lauderdale and Los Angeles such as ‘Go back to the ovens,’ ‘You need a bigger oven,’ ‘Long live Hitler,’ ‘Go Hitler,’ and ‘Go Nazi Germany’? Secondly, don’t you think these statements discredit your cause?”

The question was given to Finkelstein, who responded, “First of all, it’s not my cause.” He disclaimed any knowledge of the statements, but said that he suspected they were “99% made up…a pretext or excuse to change the subject” and that the perpetrators might have been “pro-Israel provocateurs masquerading as Arabs.” He never condemned the statements and his dismissive and conspiratorial response caused the audience to erupt in applause."

That May, I repeated the same question to George Galloway, who called me a liar. Stand With Us was good enough to produce the following video, which documents the Los Angeles incident:



Below is the video of the Ft Lauderdale incident in January 2009.





Then (back to Finkelstein's blog) there is this jewel entitled, "Nasrallah Speaks:

http://www.normanfinkelstein.com/nasrallah-speaks-they-still-assume-that-arabs-do-not-read-perhaps-many-arabs-do-not-read-yet-in-fact-some-israeli-generals-say-that-they-wrote-books-on-all-their-previous-wars-before-staging-t/

If you can read this entire speech made by the leader of Hezbollah, you are ready to listen to a Finkelstein lecture. This, of course, is the same man (Nasrallah) who also spoke this:

"The Jews should all gather in Israel so the job of hunting them down will be easier." (which is the famous quote that a Muslim Student Association member at UC San Diego told David Horowitz she agreed with at his speaking appearance at that university).

Strange bedfellows.

Norman Finkelstein is a bitter misfit who is so lacking in common sense that he posts examples of his idiocy on his own website for all to see.

14 comments:

Siarlys Jenkins said...

Gary, I don't have 26 minutes to devote to watching a video of George Galloway. He doesn't rate. Your question was very well phrased and well put, by the way.

Where did he get that Hollywood pseudo-middle eastern accent from anyway?

Anyone who knows a bit of history is aware that the Arab feudal leadership that were the initial opposition to Israel all looked to Hitler as a model - starting with the Grand Mufti.

Siarlys Jenkins said...

Correction - that was Norm Finkelstein. They are easy to get mixed up with each other.

Matan Lurey said...

Take your time to read this too Gary, this is "Norm" speaking at Henry Ford Community College, where pro-Palestinian students and community were insulted by a number of "ideas" he had:

http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/index.php?mod=article&cat=Community&article=3612

- He said that you have to understand the Jewish Diaspora post WWII: "You can understand given the predicament that Jews were in after World War II that they would disregard any notion of justice or to say to themselves for a moment that the highest justice should be that we have a place to live"

- That Israel should exist within the 1967 borders: "he essentially wants Israel to keep roughly 80% of occupied Palestine"

- He disagreed with the right of return for all Palestinian refugees: "Is there any reason to keep saying that all seven million are going back? That doesn't make sense and just creates a new problem"

- He said Palestinians should have negotiations with Israel to settle the conflict: "a similar situation should take place in Palestine with negotiators eventually coming to the table asking for Israel to make an offer"

- He wasn't as supportive of the BDS movement as some would think: "...boycotts will hurt the Palestinians"

...

Anyway this isn't a defense of "Norm", you know my position, but it is interesting to see how even his radical ideals aren't good enough for many "Palestinian" advocates.

We should make sure to make note of these positions of his upon his eventual return to UCI.

Siarlys Jenkins said...

He does seem to be a jerk, but then, that makes him neither her nor there on the questions relating to Israel and Palestine. You can be a jerk and say all the right things for all the wrong reasons, or be a jerk and say all the wrong things without understanding why. Jerks are jerks, Israel is Israel, Palestine is Palestine.

Gary Fouse said...

Siarlys,

perhaps, you are halfway there in understanding the strange world of Norman Finkelstein.

Bartender Cabbie said...

I have a question Gary. When this Galloway called you a liar in open forum were you not at least tempted to hit him with a stick?

Gary Fouse said...

Cabbie,

Of course. When I was a young stud, maybe I would have. I'm in my 60s now.

Bartender Cabbie said...

lol. I thought so. I would have wanted to do the same.

Siarlys Jenkins said...

I couldn't find moral fault in hitting him with a stick, but absent that option, a calm follow-up would have been in order: "OK, now I know that you think I'm a liar, and of course you are entitled to your opinion - could you answer the question please?"

Gary Fouse said...

Siarlys,

The only part of the question Galloway answered was not included on the tape. I brought up the example of Mohammed al Asi, an imam who at UCI once said that, "you can take a Jew out of the ghetto, but you can't take the ghetto out of the Jew." While professing ignorance of Al Asi and the statement, he said that if the statement was accurate, He spit on al Asi.

As for the part you know about, he rejected it.

Unknown said...

MY RESPECT FOR NORMAN FINKELSTEIN

SO SMART IDIOTS CAN'T STAND HIM.

MAY GOD BLESS HIM IN THIS LIFE AND THE AFTER!

FEAR GOD PEOPLE!

Unknown said...

MY RESPECT FOR NORMAN FINKELSTEIN

SO SMART IDIOTS CAN'T STAND HIM.

MAY GOD BLESS HIM IN THIS LIFE AND THE AFTER!

FEAR GOD PEOPLE!

Unknown said...

MY RESPECT FOR NORMAN FINKELSTEIN

SO SMART IDIOTS CAN'T STAND HIM.

MAY GOD BLESS HIM IN THIS LIFE AND THE AFTER!

FEAR GOD PEOPLE!

Gary Fouse said...

Hey Praisky,

Trying to make up for being 3 years late by repeating it four times?