Why Criticizing Something Does Not Make You Anti-Something

Thomas Paine once wrote that:

"A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right. "

And that:

"An avidity to punish is always dangerous to liberty. It leads men to stretch, to misinterpret, and to misapply even the best of laws. He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself."

At some point in time, clever lobbyists and politicians started using a propaganda campaign to keep possible detractors from pointing out failures, sins, weaknesses, evil, lies, etc...
This effort consisted of calling whistleblowers, anti-this, un-that, black or white, ying or yang, etc., etc. Bushco are calling people "un-American" for protesting the war, e.g. "Either you're with us, or you're with the terrorists."

This jejune strategy is so overplayed and ridiculous that the airwaves are starting to sound like gradeschool playgrounds, devoid of serious debate, and chockerblock full of fingerpointing and assertions that fall just short of, if not right in line with labelling dissent as treasonous.

Probably the most egregious example of this thumbsucking tactic is represented by the Israel Lobby. Primarily in the U.S., but also significant worldwide. It's become so ridiculous that Jews who speak out to condemn Israeli aggression are written off as "self-hating Jews." Can the stone-throwers be taken seriously? Of course not, but they wield a lot of power through the backing of wealthy donors who give them a raison d'etre.

Just the other day the Guardian released a report on 13o prominent Jews in Britain who have had enough of Israel's arrogant and unreasonable actions within the region. It is long past time for Jews of good conscience to stand up against the current regime and denounce them every time they step out of line. Ehud Olmert did us all a great service by illustrating quite clearly to all the world in August what has been the status quo for this state in the illegally occupied territories.

No, I'm not anti-Israel, anti-Semetic, anti-etc. What I am is anti-colonialism, anti-thievery, anti-oppression, anti-suicide bombings, anti-cluster bombing, anti-settlements.

There are a million things to be against. The problem is we have too many intellectually dishonest people out there unwilling to look in the mirror and condemn their own side. I'm not Palestinian, and I was raised to support Israel at all costs. Based upon the premise that they are God's chosen people. This interpretation is of course contrary to what the Bible actually teaches, and conveniently allows sin and evil based on a warped worldview. It's well past time to speak out for the oppressed. Israelis and Jews should be the loudest and most visible in this fight. Give myself and others a reason to believe in the goodness that you can bring to this world by doing what you were told by your God:

"If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: for thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee". Proverbs 25:21-22