Friday, October 18, 2013

David Hirsh's "fitting tribute" to Norman Geras ...

... takes the form of linking to some important and valuably illuminating pieces that the man wrote.  One of the many subjects that Norm wrote about incisively was anti-semitism—in its historical and contemporary varieties, guises, and permutations.  (He didn't like it, and didn't think it was either trivial or excusable or "understandable", or that it could render itself immune to criticism by camouflaging itself as "anti-Zionism". He also disagreed with people who were reluctant to face up to its reality and significance.)  Here's David's post at Engage:
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October 18, 2013 — David Hirsh

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I am sad to report that Norman Geras, political philosopher and writer of normblog, died this morning.

He wrote with clarity, courage and commitment about contemporary antisemitism.  He wrote about lots of other things too.

The most fitting tribute I can think of is to link to things that he wrote:

On Alibi Antisemitism – major piece in Fathom.  (Jan 2013)

On Greg Philo’s work which says that Israel’s view of things dominates the media.  (Jun 2011)

On Jon Pike’s resignation from UCU.  (June 2009)

It doesn’t matter if criticism of and attitudes to Israel are anti-Semitic, so long as they are also anti-Zionist.  (April 2009)

On Antony Lerman and the ‘one state solution’.  (April 2009)

On Seaumas Milne’s apologetics for Ahmadinejad. (April 2009)

On the Israel-Nazi comparison.  (April 2009)

On accusations made against Israel of war crimes.  (Feb 2009)

Why a boycott would be antisemitic (in response to Martin Shaw). (Sep 2008)  More on Martin Shaw.  (September 2008)    And more still on Shaw (Oct 2008).

On resigning from UCU.  (July 2008)

On Tony Judt.  (Feb 2008)

On Norman Finkelstein and academic freedom.  (June 2007)

On Steven Rose.  (June 2006)

On Jews for Justice for Palestinians.  (April 2006)  And also here on JFJFP.  (August 2006)

On singling out Israel.  (June 2005)
Yours for reality-based & morally serious discourse,
Jeff Weintraub