But is this not the case for all movements that are based on sex, race, religion, eugenics(or its modern counterpart bioethics) et al? These movements need the very people they condemn to have someone to blame for their failures. Real failure comes when they actually succeed because now there is no one else to take responsibility for their acts.
I must admit when I first started reading it all applied to the modern feminist movement.
Dennis | Email | Homepage | 02.20.06 - 10:18 am | #

I thought maybe you were describing the mass hysteria of the New York-based old media.
Veritas Regina | Email | Homepage | 02.20.06 - 11:06 am | #

You might also want to read The Political Paranoia of the Left where I discuss some of what you said. Such movements can use brute force to achieve power and/or remain in power, but they will have to face reality eventually (as Hamas is finding out). It certainly applies to most victimhood cults who externalize blame; but paranoia also involves a clever way of getting rid of unacceptable feelings that, if faced, would alter the perception of the self.
Dr. Sanity | Email | Homepage | 02.20.06 - 11:11 am | #

I've never understood the hatred of Jews. Hatred of blacks, various Asian groups, even Indians (American type) I can follow a rationale that can be used to justify it, even if I don't agree with it. But Jews? for all these centuries? I just don't understand it.

As for the genetic disease - someone gave me a book to read a couple of years ago that had as its premise a biotech firm owned by the bad guys that could produce various diseases that were tailored to kill off whole populations with specific genetic configurations while leaving the bad guys' genetic group untouched. Interesting concept. Don't think it's possible. It wasn't a great book.

One of the fascinating things about this particular time is that it gives me a glimpse back into the time of Christ. The people of the mid-east don't seem all that different from the Jews as described in the bible. And you must admit that if you have no education, a lot of stuff of modern tech and science must seem either miraculous or magic (miraculous being "good" and magic being "bad"). How can so many be educated into the 21st century? How can there be peace if they aren't?
suek | Email | Homepage | 02.20.06 - 12:57 pm | #

The fascinating thing about the Arabs' allegation about avian flu is its re-entrant logic: they know they couldn't produce a viral disease to afflict Israelis, so by their accusation they tacitly admit they consider the Israelis advanced far beyond them.
Occam's Beard | Email | Homepage | 02.20.06 - 12:58 pm | #

I think that the Jews are the recipient of all this projection because they are so successful as individuals and as a culture. No matter where they happen to be they tend to thrive. Look what they have done in 50 years in Israel--create a thriving and free nation-- something that the Arab culture has been incapable of doing for centuries, even with all its oil.
Dr. Sanity | Email | Homepage | 02.20.06 - 1:06 pm | #

Carter seems to have gone Stalin one "better": Stalin said "When we hang the capitalists they will sell us the rope we use"; Carter expects the Israelis to give Hamas the rope.
AuricTech | Email | Homepage | 02.20.06 - 1:54 pm | #

(Ooops! That should have been in response to the next post.)
AuricTech | Email | Homepage | 02.20.06 - 2:17 pm | #

Reasons for the Muslims to hate Jews is .....many and mired in centuries upon centuries of that same hate.

It's not even important anymore why they hate them and it shouldn't be to us either. Its just a waste of time and effort.

Our actions and thinking should be concentrated on how to defeat Islam before it destroys the Muslims.

By our hand.

Papa Ray
West Texas
USA
Papa Ray | Email | Homepage | 02.20.06 - 4:38 pm | #

Possibly one of the reasons that the Jews have been singled out all these centuries by practically every paranoid political and cultural movement that came in contact with them is envy. They have always been very successful in their various host countries, by their own industry and innovation, even when members of an semi-oppresed underclass.
Aaron | Email | Homepage | 02.23.06 - 12:16 pm | #

> This is not a mental illness, folks, that can be "cured" by mass quantities of antipsychotic medication in the water supply of these countries.

I dunno, Doc. I think that enough of the antipsychotic* drug "strychnine" would do wonders to the water supply of such areas.

*Well, no one who has taken a large enough dose has ever remained psychotic for long, at least...
Oh Blutige Hölle | Email | Homepage | 02.23.06 - 10:36 pm | #