The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) describes itself as "the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency." Its stated mission is to "fight anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry" and "to defend democratic ideals and protect civil rights for all."
Based on its own stated mission, it was a shock when the ADL, led by Abe Foxman, did not support the Park 51 center. The ADL's statement, suggesting that the center should not be built in lower Manhattan, released a tidal wave. After that statement, some Democratic and Jewish leaders also came out against the center.
During the most recent Sarah Palin controversy, the ADL released a statement wherein they "wish[ed]" that she had not used the term "blood libel," which they described as "fraught with pain." However, they also made the startling and wholly unsubstantiated claim that "the term 'blood-libel' has become part of the English parlance to refer to someone being falsely accused."
On The January 13, 2011 episode of "Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell", Benyamin Korn, of the group "Jews for Sarah," relied on the "part of the parlance" claim to argue that Palin's usage of "blood libel" was absolutely appropriate. He went on to insist that the majority of Jewish people had no problem with it.
Overall, the Jewish people have been a positive force in America. Even though many Jews faced discrimination, the majority has respected and loved everything for which this Country stands. This very much includes religious freedom. The history of America is the story of the Jews. Jews fought in the revolutionary war, and the Jewish contribution to the civil rights movement was integral.
When most Jews hear "never again," they think never again for anybody. This is one reason why many Jews are profoundly affected when any group is being persecuted. It is why many Jews are horrified when Islam itself is blamed for 911. It is also why some Jews support building the Park 51 center. Most Jews realize that while we do have an overwhelming history of victimization, at this time, in this Country, we are not the ones at risk.
There is another group who hears "never again" differently. To them the history of the Jews is mostly about the victimization. They believe that the reason the Jews are the ultimate victims is because they are God's chosen people. Since Jews are the ultimate victims they cannot even conceive of the possibility that Jews could ever be the perpetrators. A top priority for them is of course protecting Israel.
For some in this second group, things that are said freely in Israel, sometimes by a majority, are deemed anti-semetic when they are said in this country. At the same time, reprehensible things that are said in this Country can not be strongly condemned if the speaker is considered "good for Israel." To them, the Christian Right and Neo-conservatives are very "good for Israel."
When it comes to the ADL, the mission statement quoted at the top, is the one I found when I went to their website. It is also a mission that seems consistent with the name Anti-defamation league. But, the ADL has a second mission, namely "to defend the security of Israel." It has become clear, that for Mr. Foxman, the second mission far outweighs the first.
Since I am not a religious person, I do not believe that the Jews have suffered so much because it was "God's will," nor that the "Goyim" hate us for being "chosen." I look to the actual reasons why human beings can be so hateful. Why did the Jews suffer? How could this great Country have supported Slavery and Jim Crow?...
In the case of a thousand years of Jewish tragedy, a major cause was "blood libels." One way to gain power is by scapegoating a group and convincing the masses that the scapegoated group is a threat and is also less than human. When the masses believe that the Jews have horns, that they spread disease, and that they kill Christian children and use the blood to make Matzoh, it is not so hard to imagine how entire communities could have been wiped out.
How could our great Country have participated in slavery and Jim Crow? Were Southerners heartless? Why do so many Southerners actually believe that their families were "good to the blacks" even though they supported segregation? Was it because they were convinced that black people were different? Even less than human?
History shows us why smears of our African American president are so damaging. It is one thing to disagree with him, but in order to really gain power you need to make people hate him, and hate "Liberals" in general. So you suggest that he is not one of us, not even an American. He is a secret Muslim who wants to install Sharia law and put disabled Christian children and White grandmothers in front of Death Panels. He wants reparations for slavery!
When people abuse terms like "blood libel," and talk about "Fascists" and "Nazis," not only do they misuse those words, they weaken them. Once those words are appropriated they cannot really be used to illuminate a truly horrifying situation.
Mr. Foxman, if you cannot speak out when Sarah Palin says "Death Panels," or when Glen Beck says 10% of the (1.57 billion) Muslims in the world are terrorists, and that our President is a racist who hates the white culture. If you cannot speak up when FOX News blows a dog whistle hour after hour, when they talk about terrorist fist bumps and say our President went to a Madrasha. If you cannot protest when FOX News constantly talks about scary black men in general and suggests that ACORN fixed the election. If you cannot even speak out when FOX news suggests that Christianity itself is under attack. Then, Mr. Foxman please do not not call yourself the Anti-Defamation League.
Change your name to the League for the Advancement and Protection of Israel. Give the ADL name to a group that will stand up against Defamation, whoever the speaker. That way when the media wants to know whether a phrase like "blood libel" has been used appropriately, they will not turn to you.