How antisemitism infiltrated the mainstream

Credit: badiucao

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LITERATURE

Fragmented antisemitism
Neo-Nazi and Islamist antisemitism are certain, but as Kylie Moore-Gilbert points out (″⁣There are three kinds of antisemitism″⁣, 28/12), ″⁣there is a third group whose extreme anti-Israel views cross the line into anti-Semitism″⁣.
Moore-Gilbert argues that governments should go after groups that are mainstreaming antisemitism. So who are these groups? It can be argued that the media, which overlooked Israel’s retaliation in its fight for survival after October 7, 2023, is also included in this list.
These also include universities that adopt a biased view of history in their curriculum and fail to protect Jewish students. And action could be taken against state and federal governments for allowing hateful anti-Semitic slogans to become part of everyday life in Australia. The answer is can we trust the government to go after groups that peddle or facilitate antisemitism?
Henry Kalus, Southbank

compulsory reading
Kylie Moore-Gilbert’s column should be required reading for everyone. A summary of 3,000 years of intentional misuse of history and writings that underpins current hate-making groups in our society should guide our policymakers and law enforcement, as well as educate our society.
Vicki RedwoodRichmond

Defining Zionism
Kylie Moore-Gilbert (28/12) describes the “preoccupation with settler-colonialism, risky parallels with indigenous suffering, shallow moral frameworks of the oppressor and oppressed” as the third, “slippery” iteration of antisemitism on the outer fringe of the progressive left.
If this is the case, will prominent Jewish academics such as Ilan Pape and Noam Chomsky, who criticize Zionism and Israel’s origins as “settler colonialists,” be censored as anti-Semites? Even the early Zionists described their project as creating a Jewish colony in Palestine.
I agree with Moore-Gilbert; Not all Jews are Zionists or responsible for Israel’s actions. Those who criticize Zionism and its negative effects on Palestinians are not antisemitic either.
Kate Kennedy, Hampton East

Step up, Melbourne
Ah, the SUV! Very suitable for suburban family. Everything can be stuffed inside and you can feel invincible from the castle of your vehicle! (“SUV alarm as pedestrian deaths reach 17-year high”, 28/12).
However, the negative impact of these vehicles on our cities is increasing, from increased engine and tire pollution to lack of parking spaces, and very clear statistics now show us the increase in pedestrian deaths.
Should the owner’s comfort outweigh all this? Can’t we look outward to see how this problem is being managed elsewhere? One effective measure is to increase parking fees according to vehicle weight. And in Paris, the poster child for traffic management, it rebalances the human-car balance surprisingly well. Making change requires leadership and courage. Upgrade Melbourne.
Jo Cushnie, Carlton

cricket without nuance
Some will blame the curators at Optus or the MCG, while some ‘purists’ will blame T20 and its all-destroying mentality for batsmen’s inability to defend or release a good ball.
While there is probably some truth in the latter, one rarely hears commentary on the impact of T20 on bowlers. Forced to keep the score as low as possible on pitches prepared to maximize the score, the team had to be more accurate and unpredictable to be successful.
The MCG pitch did not offer as much mobility as the famous green SCG wickets of the past, nor were there pitches affected by rain before the introduction of the caps. Better bowling and changing batting instincts now mean that the Test pitch must be flat and level for a game to progress. Unfortunately, this probably means more T20-style play rather than the subtle drama of Adelaide.
Richard Jamonts, Williamstown

field rehearsal
In light of the current MCG pitch controversy, and as someone who is heavily involved in turf preparations for major events (the Australian Opens at Kingston Heath Golf Club), I am surprised that the surface has not been extensively tested before the match.
I don’t care how low and how often I cut and roll, or how much water, fertilizer, etc. I had to know how the ball would roll on the greens and how they would react when it landed on them in order to decide what to apply. There was no better way than hitting balls weeks in advance and observing the bounce and spin as players’ shots hit the green.
So why can’t cricketers test the surface of the pitch (not the wicket!) by scouting it in advance, but by bowling and batting on another pitch in the square prepared in the same way, so that adjustments can be made if necessary?
Graeme Grant, Cheltenham

Myki resolution
Here’s a New Year’s resolution for Victorian Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams. With the increase in fees on cards, changes need to be made in the operation of Myki. A full deduction from the two-hour fare for a very short trip ($5.50/$2.75) is currently untenable, and becomes even more unfair when there is a free city streetcar zone.
The entire myki system needs to be reorganized to create more regions; The area in the middle of these will roughly be the current free tram zone. Instead of being free it should be around $2/$1. The next few zones could be built roughly concentrically, so that even a short trip across a border would cost less than the current two hours. In all cases, the passenger will need to touch.
My hope is that as the government makes fares more affordable, travelers will do the right thing by clicking and opening.
Rod Watson, East Brighton