1/ A quick report.
I have had loads of interactions - hundreds - with Corbyn supporters in the past few days since I posted a thread on antisemitism on Friday. Happy to report that many of them have been really positive, lots of people sensitively engaging with the issue...
I have had loads of interactions - hundreds - with Corbyn supporters in the past few days since I posted a thread on antisemitism on Friday. Happy to report that many of them have been really positive, lots of people sensitively engaging with the issue...
2/ But as with any issue, there are fringes. I would say about 10% of the interactions I have had are on the ‘extreme’ end. I don’t mean those people are extremists, it’s more the lack of self-criticism or willingness to listen - I mean really listen - to the ‘other side’...
3/ So instead of asking genuine questions it is more a case of ‘he won’t dare to answer my tweet about these statistics’ [shares Squawkbox article] (often in the 3rd person, as if I’m not here) or - the most uncomfortable - pointing out that it’s all an anti-Corbyn conspiracy
4/ So when I listened to the @JewishChron recording of Peter Willsman I totally recognised the themes and the tone as I have seen it again and again here in the past days thejc.com/news/uk-news/b…
5/ I don’t know Peter and perhaps he’s a great guy but I really hope as few as people as possible who have bought into the ‘this is all a conspiracy’ narrative are calling the shots. Because if they are, there is no hope of this getting better and every chance it will get worse
6/ Something I learned from doing that thread on Friday, which has been read over 10,000 times, is that despite everything there are still lots of sensible and well-meaning people who just want to make things better but will not engage if they feel they are being talked down to
7/ But communication is a two-way process. Anyone who has closed their ears, or who believes that a conspiracy theory (and that’s what it is) explains all, is incapable of the self-criticism needed to solve a complex issue.
8/ Conspiracy theories are so satisfying as they absolve you of having to think and self-criticise. They allow for people to say things like ‘I don’t trust the mainstream media’ which is just so convenient as non-partisan media may hold uncomfortable truths.
9/ I genuinely believe there are a lot of people out there - the people you don’t generally hear from (the silent majority!) - what to learn and understand. We just have to make sure they are calling the shots, not the people who have angrily closed their minds. Here’s hoping!
10/ Here’s the original thread
11/ The most common ‘ripostes’ I have received are:
a. There is no evidence of a major rise in antisemitism.
b. This is really a smear against Corbyn as people (read:Jews) don’t want a socialist govt
c. What about antisemitism in the Tory party?
a. There is no evidence of a major rise in antisemitism.
b. This is really a smear against Corbyn as people (read:Jews) don’t want a socialist govt
c. What about antisemitism in the Tory party?
12/ I do think that if your response to reports - many serious reports (blogs.spectator.co.uk/2018/03/labour…) is conspiracy or deflection then you are part of the problem, even though you may not realise that. Please just spend a hour reading up on this on news sources you don’t usually read!
13/ And I realise this may sound like victim blaming but it’s really not. I urge people in the Jewish community who see Corbyn and his supporters as antisemites to open their minds a little too. There are some great people out there are not in the slightest bit antisemitic
