I tend to think that when you find yourself confronted by an individual who claims that you are a racist when you discuss, in frank terms, your opinions about the policies and actions of a sovereign state, that you should pretty much ask that person to go fuck themselves in all sorts of nasty ways you would never expect people to fuck themselves, even if they are very creative. Actually, you shouldn’t even bother expending that much effort.
I doubt any of the people gleefully chucking around accusations of anti-Semitism, with regards to criticism of Israel’s actions in Lebanon, believe their own words any more than they did when they were pretending they cared about limited government. It’s all pro wrestling. Everybody knows it’s fake, save for the true loons. Without fail, however, we keep bothering with their storyline, on its own terms, and we do it over and over and over again. It’s been fun, but It’s about time for a new game.
If Randy “Macho Man” Savage calls you a pigfucker, don’t start writing indignantly about how you’ve never even been within ten feet of a live pig, along with all of the many ways you are offended by the thought that anybody would ever fuck a pig. It’s insanity, and it’s supposed to be. The insanity is not a bug, it’s a feature. Speak your mind without ever thinking about how people who don’t believe what they say they believe will frame it. That’s what they want and it’s pointless.
With regard to the accusations of anti-Semitism, it is obvious that some group has sifted the comments of various liberal blogs and cherry-picked ones that might be borderline (even though the posters have probably gotten themselves banned). These have been passed to flunkies like Nadler, Lanny Davis, Lieberman, David Brooks, et. al., who have all been in on this campaign of discrediting Israel’s critics by imputing anti-Semitism. True McCarthyite behaviour.
I believe you are right.
Say what you believe as — respectfully as possible, but don’t cringe and sputter.
This anti-semistism tactic is the same as the giving “help and support to the enemy” tactic.
A raised eyebrow and a “there you go again” look are the only response needed.