[Newsbot]

Title: Thesis on Jewish 'privilege' rebuked, sparking row
Category: Political
Posted By: Curtman
Date: 2010-12-09 04:34:19
Canadian

[Curtman]

$1:

Jenny Peto's 100-page thesis argues that today's Jews of European descent "enjoy white privilege" and maintain a victim identity by participating in "hegemonic" Holocaust remembrance programs such as the March of the Living, during which young Jewish people visit Poland and Israel. The University of Toronto accepted the defended thesis and awarded a master's degree to the 29-year-old, who is an activist associated with the Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid group. She's also Jewish and a descendant of Holocaust survivors.

The thesis, entitled The Victimhood of the Powerful: White Jews, Zionism and the Racism of Hegemonic Holocaust Education, describes Israel as an apartheid state.

I don't think the 'apartheid' rhetoric is helpful.

[gonavy47]

It is what it is.

[Public_Domain]

[PostFactum]

People have nothing to do.

[BartSimpson]

Funny to hear people on the TV and radio denounce this woman as an 'anti-Semite' and 'racist' before they find out she's a Jew with Holocaust survivors in the family.



I've often said some of the same things such as that while the Holocaust did occur, there is a defacto 'Holocaust Industry' that makes tons of money off of the topic. I'm also highly suspicious of anyone who wants Holocaust history to not be subjected to the same rigorous and critical academic study as is any other historical topic.

[Lemmy]

Most of the people criticizing this work: a) likely haven't read it; b) likely wouldn't understand it if they did. She has defended her work before a committee of acredited academics. Kudos to this young lady for courage enough to take on a controversial research project and then stand behind her findings. Now I just hope that the U of T stands up and supports her before this becomes a witch hunt.

[EyeBrock]

It just shows that the media and those dissing this chick don't get what academic papers are all about.

I'm pretty familiar with history type dissertations and I regularly read papers that are quite controversial. It’s interesting to read differing viewpoints that are supported by others or direct a challenge the mainstream.


Very silly but I blame Miller and Dalton.

[andyt]

I'm surprised to see the NP take such a neutral tone on this. They've always been adamant that calling Israel apartheid is antisemitism, and have run countless editorials that start off "critizing Israel is not antisemitic, but.." and then go on to explain why pretty well any criticism is in fact just that. Wonder if this new tone has anything to do with NP not being owned by the Aspers anymore.

I think Jews exploit their victim hood same as pretty well any other group - it pays.

But I don't know about this white privilege stuff, and don't get how remembering the holocaust is "hegemonic?" Any group of people is going to remember such a traumatic event for generations. Just like we have Remembrance Day, say. Is that hegemonic? How about the annual remembrance of the ecole polytechnique massacre - is that hegemonic and white privilege or does it get a pass because it's a feminist fest?

[EyeBrock]

Yea, the NP is getting different. Chris Selley is beginning to bug me, plus no driving section today, WTF?

[andyt]

$1:

I think Jews exploit their victim hood same as pretty well any other group - it pays.

I should edit this to "Israel exploits". Don't really see individual Jews playing the victim card so much, but Israel certainly does.

As for the NP, if it's starting to bug Brock, maybe I should start reading it again.

[EyeBrock]

Oh you bugger you andy!