As some may have heard there is a measure on the November ballot in San Francisco where voters will decide whether to ban the practice of circumcision. The debate has been raging over it, both sides presenting their cases to the public with proponents claiming it was about children's rights and opponents pointing out the Anti-Semetic feel to the whole proposal.Opponents of the ban just received verifiable proof of their assertions, via blatantly anti-Semetic imagery from literature published by the campaign against circumcision.
The PJ Tatler over at PJM has more of the anti-Semetic imagery, the image at the top of this just one of many.
Truly, what did we expect from a place that continues to elect Nancy Pelosi. I say they should be shipped over to Iran, they would get along fabulously.
The Anti-Defamation League has issued a statement over this clearly anti-Semetic campaign literature:
This is an advocacy campaign taken to a new low. This is a sensitive, serious issue where good people can disagree and which the Jewish community feels is an assault on its values and traditions going back thousands of years and centered in the Hebrew Bible. It is one thing to debate it, is another thing to degrade it. "Foreskin Man," with its grotesque anti-Semitic imagery and themes, reaches a new low and is disrespectful and deeply offensive.
The comic book portrays mohels -- those specially trained to perform the traditional Jewish circumcision ceremony -- as rapacious, bloodthirsty and bent on harming children. Some of the imagery calls to mind age-old anti-Semitic canards such as the blood libel, the accusation that Jews ritually murder Christian children. Another comic in the series also calls up more subtle anti-Jewish themes, such as when a character complains that the "pro-circumcision lobby" has "all of the well-connected doctors and lawyers."
We would have hoped those backing the anti-circumcision effort in San Francisco would know better than to use this type anti-Semitic imagery to advance their cause. No matter what one's personal opinions of male circumcision, it is irresponsible to use stereotypical caricatures of religious Jews to promote the anti-circumcision agenda.
Joe Gandelman, from Moderate Voice, someone I generally do not agree with on most subjects but happen to agree with on this topic, is no longer finding anything about this amusing and points out that the imagery on the literature being used by the proponents and creators of "Foreskin Man" is very familiar to the imagery found in a Google search of "anti-Semetic art" and "anti Jewish comics."
These images compare with the worst of anti-semitic art through the centuries. Rabbis looking like they’ve been cast for a new version of the murderers in “Halloween” or “Friday th 13th”…showing a tiny baby held down before the act with the clearly Jewish person hovering above looking as if he is about to rip the baby’s heart out. And the blonde, handsome muscled defender battling against those evil looking rabbis with the dark hair, beards and hats.
Yes, the supporters have now defined what the vote is about.
But perhaps not in the way they wished:
Their artwork has defined them.
Well said Joe.
DaTechguy "That I would see something like this in an American City……while survivors of the ovens are still alive is obscene."
In honor of a request made by DaTechguy and in solidarity with fellow practicing or non-practicing Jews, we will proudly join with him in using the image he asks people to use.Go read his whole piece.
SFGate headlines with "Literature for SF's anti-circumcision measure stars "monster" rabbis and blonde superheroes," and provides more background on the whole issue.
In January 2011, Hannah S. Rosenthal, the State Department’s special envoy to monitor and combat anti-Semitism, confirmed that anti-Semitism is increasing at alarming rate and since 2009 there has been a marked increase in incidents that are considered anti-Semetic.
Campaigns such as the one this report is about prove that assertion.
First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out - because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the communists
and I did not speak out - because I was not a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out - because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me -
and by then there was no one left to speak out for me.
The German anti-Nazi activist,
Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892-1984)
Martin Niemöller was an ardent nationalist and prominent Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last 7 years of Nazi rule in concentration camps.
Jeff Goldstein over at Protein Wisdom's reaction is 100% spot on and he gets the last word.
Incidentally, when we said never again? We meant it.
Fair warning.
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