Desmond Tutu, the outspoken South African Nobel laureate, has long lent his voice to the most virulent criticism of Israel and its policies. Many of the fiercest critics of Israel, however, bend over backwards to deny any animosity toward Jews. Indeed, they could claim they’ve even supped with Noam Chomsky before.
Tutu, however, seems to have let his animosity toward Israel sully him and tarnish the Nobel Prize he wields as a symbol of supposed moral authority. He is a long-time endorser of the Free Gaza movement, the organization which brought us the Gaza “flotilla” and any number of other protests and marches. Greta Berlin, the American co-founder of Free Gaza, recently tweeted, “Zionists operated the concentration camps and helped murder millions of innocent Jews.” Free Gaza has also, according to the Jerusalem Post, claimed that the Jews supported Hitler.
Over at The American Interest, Walter Russell Mead links to the Free Gaza movement’s list of endorsers, among them Noam Chomsky, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, and the city of Tromsø, Norway. Tutu’s endorsement is notable, however, given his Nobel Peace Prize. Tutu should not lend his name to hate and vile anti-Semitic conspiracies. That he continues to do so, and does not disassociate himself from the Free Gaza organization, suggests that he joins the multitude of Nobel Peace Prize embarrassments and exposes himself to be not a man of peace, but rather a man consumed with hate.
Tutu's past comments about the Jewish religion and his ridicule of the idea that Palestinian rioters pose any danger to Israelis long ago showed that his distaste for Israel results from his distaste for Jews. Whether the latter grows out of his roots as an Anglican clergyman I am not prepared to say.
Is it not past time to admit that the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize is a red badge of dishonor and proof positive of a broken moral compass? And if it is not, then let's insist that Hussein Obama, our silver tongue-tipped orator and Nobel Peace Prize winner, dissociate himself from his fellow African Desmond Tutu.
I'm tired of hearing about the hateful, smug little twerp. Someone should tell him his 15 minutes are up. n nWho does he think he is, Jimmy Carter?
If it were up to me, I would nail the Peace Prize to his forehead, but I'm in bad mood this morning.
Who was the last Nobel Peace Prize winner who really deserved it?
Sorry. Tutu's support of the Free Gaza movement is moronic but his anti-Israeli stance makes perfect sense given Israel's close relationship with Apartheid South Africa from the 70s to the end of that regime. I understand that Israel's alliance with South Africa was born of strategic necessity and did not in anyway indicate moral support for the system of apartheid. But I also think it's perfectly reasonable for victims of that oppression to view their oppressors' allies with hostility. (the same principle same holds true for victims of Mubarak/Pinochet etc and their attitudes to the US).
It is a great unifying force, I have to admit . . .
Just a note that the not in the least noble Nobel Peace award comes from Norway. Or should I say Norwayistan.
Mr. Mead's post was a direct challenge to Tutu to disavow 'free gaza'. nMost powerful indictment and a terrific read.
What's important is not that Tutu is a long time proud antisemite, because he is. The important point is that his views are entirely mainstream and acceptable. Don't be shocked, if, after the election and MSNBC has some free cycles to spend, they start 'questioning' the holocaust in the form of openly having holocaust deniers on their regular panel shows talking about Israel. This will be one avenue of attack Obama II will use – that the Jews aren't special and don't deserve national identity.
I don't think MSNBC will question the Holocaust. n nThat said, I wouldn't be surprised if it won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Shouldn't the third sentence of the first paragraph read: NEVER supped with Chomsky? As it reads now it makes no sense.