In order to combat the growing 'anti-semitism' smear against Dean and others, someone must articulate a marketable response to what is basically the theology advanced by convicted Iran/Contra felon Elliott Abrams, who is
the senior Bush foreign policy intellectual, and is without a doubt the root source of this neocon nonsense.
His ideas involve a top-down theocracy.
I have read some articles on Elliott Abrams' personal beliefs on Judaism, and as an American Jew, I find his bureaucratization of spiritual faith absolutely morally repugnant.
Let's face it. Abrams is an associate of Reverend Moon. He advances the cynical use of Moon-funded fundamentalist churches in America to promote a fear-based theocratic agenda for the purpose of controlling our population and 'managing' democracies.
It is of utmost importance to articulate a strong critique of this idea, this disgusting idea to use Reverend Moon's fanatical religious deception as a tool for control.
Here is a great recent diary on the entrenchment of fascistic theocracy:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/15/175028/372
Despite the fact that this is social engineering at its worst and therefore profoundly un-conservative, managed theocracy is the neocon belief, espoused by its key players, make no mistake.
Regardless of your views on the Israel/Palestine conflict, I want people to understand this because too many are cowed into fearing the anti-semite smear in their criticism of the neocons.
The only way to fight the anti-semitism smear is to understand Elliott Abrams' belief system like the back of your hand.
Please read the following recent article by journalist Jon Gorenfeld:
http://iapprovethismessiah.com/2005/02/deputy-nsa-elliot-abrams-spoke-at.html
Choice quote:
One featured speaker at the up-with-Moon conference was Elliot Abrams, according to this account in a Moon publication. He came all the way down to Sao Paolo to deliver a boilerplate speech on religious freedom that was "greeted with great enthusiasm by the participants."
Another recent article about Abrams highlights Abrams' theology:
http://www.antiwar.com/orig/barry.php?articleid=4847
Here are some quotes from the article:
In his private writing and nongovernmental policy advocacy work, Abrams has described radical separatist and segregationist leanings. He believes, for example, that Jews shouldn't date or attend school with non-Jews.
"Outside the land of Israel," says Abrams, "there can be no doubt that Jews, faithful to the covenant between God and Abraham, are to stand apart from the nation in which they live. It is the very nature of being Jewish to be apart - except in Israel - from the rest of the population."
Judaism, according to Abrams, demands "apartness" - not in the sense of confining oneself to a physical ghetto, but in that all necessary measures should be taken to prevent "prolonged and intimate exposure to non-Jewish culture."
I am uncomfortable with the idea that Jewish suffering is somehow more distasteful than that of others. I believe it is the road to paranoia and madness.
If one follows Abrams' theology to its logical conclusion, we can expect a growing appeal to a sick Charles Murray-like genetic determinism which is profoundly un-American and always ends badly.
Despite its appeals to biological 'science', this is the kind of thought pattern that leads to an India-style caste system and Salvador-like death squads.
I believe that fearlessly discussing and chewing on the fact that this point of view exists in the higher reaches of power at this time, in this country, is the key to fighting the anti-semitism smear.
Someone needs to figure out how to frame a powerful and just response.
Elliott Abrams has written a lot about his beliefs:
Elliott Abrams' Diary in Slate magazine:
http://slate.msn.com/id/3660/entry/23966/
Elliott Abrams' theocracy outreach think tank:
http://www.eppc.org/
List of Elliott Abrams' books:
Democracy: How Direct?
Views from the Founding Era and the Polling Era
The Influence of Faith
Religious Groups & U.S. Foreign Policy
Secularism, Spirituality, and the Future of American Jewry
Faith or Fear : How Jews Can Survive in a Christian America