This blog is still defining itself, so I’m not completely sure of what it will be. I can say that it is associated with, and to some extent is about my Flickr account, and the issues that arise in the groups of which I’m a member, some of which can be quite disappointing. Anti-semitism seems to be making a major comeback in the West, especially among those on the Left, and very often, it is not at all subtle. When a self-styled “progressive” can be seen writing the words “**** the Jews”, the asterisks replacing a four letter word used for, ummm, baby making activity, there isn’t a lot of guesswork involved in ferreting out her meaning.
Disappointing, but I won’t say “surprising”, for reasons to be mentioned later. Disappointing that people in positions of varying degrees of power so often fail to see what they have as being positions of responsibility, as well, and disappointing that so many accept this failure as a natural part of life, when until so very recently, it would have been seen for the disgrace that it was and is. While an image that repeats the medieval blood libel can still be found on Flickr, where, despite repeating flaggings, it has been since January of 2009, non-TOS violating satirical activity based on historical truth (and commentary about the human rights abuses that have taken place under sharia) has resulted in the deletion of two of the accounts of a contact of mine. There is a double standard at play, and it’s not just a disgraceful one, it’s a cowardly one, cowardly in what seems to be on its way to become a shamefully American way, in which bullies are idolized and the bullied are held up to scorn.
I can remember being on too many of the wrong playgrounds as a child far too well to think that the standard showed up just yesterday. I can see where the cultural roots of this are to be found, but it is definitely spreading and intensifying. It’s time, not that somebody said something about this, but that the somebodies doing so came to expect to see a little support, and that those who would abuse them would find that their choices were not only unjust, but unwise as well. To say “gosh, we made a bad judgment call” on those times when an injustice has become a cause célèbre, and the angry crowds have gathered, should not be seen as being good enough. Those who would do wrong when few are watching, should find that once the eyes of the world are upon them, that they will have to pay a real personal price for their misdeeds. A firing and a public repudiation of their actions, not a slap on the wrist.
Nothing less should ever be accepted. There are other subjects to be discussed on this blog, some of them much more cheerful, but I am feeling a little angry as I’m writing this, and fear that I would not do those subjects justice at this hour, in these spirits. I’ll come back later when I can do better.
