Quote:
Originally posted by Darkblack
The cartoon in question is the artist voicing his opinion on the fact that the US has to give money to Israel in order for them to even talk with the Palestinians. It has nothing to do with the current halt in talks. At least this is what I get out of it.
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And the Octopus picture was the cartoonist expressing his opinion that the Jews had come to dominate the banking and business spheres of the world.
And there was some truth in that. These stereotypes and racist cartoons don't come out of nothing.
So the defining line (and it will be a thin one) is whether the opinion is an accurate and genuine one or a cover for a more troubling message.
For me, there is very little truth in the claim "the US has to give money to Israel in order for them to even talk with the Palestinians". The Israelis want (in fact need) a peaceful resolution to the Palestinian issue. Money will come into play - it always does in politics - but it is not a very important issue. As already sated the US gives huges amounts of money to Egypt - an Arab state with no peace process - because that is how America feels it can get influence and create stability in the region, through the giving money.
Having shown the flimsiness of the cartoon's basic message we must now ask what it is acting as cover for. My answer is that it is a cover for the more troubling stereotypes and lies that the cartoon is playing on and propogating:
- Jews are fat and hook nosed
- Jews have less of an interest in peace than other races
- But Jews have an excessive interest in money
- And this is what the US is using to make them interested in peace.
This message has been made before.
I am sorry it is so big.
The German says:
"The Jew: The inciter of war, the prolonger of war"
