Several times I've been labeled as anti-American just for criticizing US foreign policies, mainly the ones held by GWB administration.
Many people confuse critics to a government with feelings against the country of that government. In a recent thread most foreigners were called Nationalists. Let's check the meaning of this word.
Nationalism Encyclopaedia Britannica definition : ideology based on the premise that the individual's loyalty and devotion to the nation-state surpass other individual or group interests.
How can anyone be Nationalist, according to the above definition, just by criticizing the GWB administration?
What has Nationalism to do with criticizing the policies of a government, not a country?
Why do many Americans think that hate has anything to do with this?
The same happens with the Israel-Palestine issue. If you criticize Israel government, then you are anti-Semite. The fact is most of the Middle East has a Semite heritage. The fact is Israel is a state, not a Religion, not an ethnicity, so if you criticize the government of Israel, it doesn't mean you are anti-Semite or you hate Jews. I've been labeled as anti-Semite, being myself half Jew. People should understand that you can be against Israel's policies without being extremist or anti-Semite. If you support the struggle of Palestine, then you are an extremist.
Then, we have other people generalizing about Muslims and labeling them as extremists for the actions of a few radicals, and that falls into Islamophobia. Gladly, they are the less.
Most Americans are good people. Most Israelis are good people. Most Muslims are good people.
The thing is most people here are not anti-American. Most people are not anti-Semite. Most people are not Islmophobe.
As long as we don't learn the difference between criticism and hate, we won't be able to debate anything at all.
Many people confuse critics to a government with feelings against the country of that government. In a recent thread most foreigners were called Nationalists. Let's check the meaning of this word.
Nationalism Encyclopaedia Britannica definition : ideology based on the premise that the individual's loyalty and devotion to the nation-state surpass other individual or group interests.
How can anyone be Nationalist, according to the above definition, just by criticizing the GWB administration?
What has Nationalism to do with criticizing the policies of a government, not a country?
Why do many Americans think that hate has anything to do with this?
The same happens with the Israel-Palestine issue. If you criticize Israel government, then you are anti-Semite. The fact is most of the Middle East has a Semite heritage. The fact is Israel is a state, not a Religion, not an ethnicity, so if you criticize the government of Israel, it doesn't mean you are anti-Semite or you hate Jews. I've been labeled as anti-Semite, being myself half Jew. People should understand that you can be against Israel's policies without being extremist or anti-Semite. If you support the struggle of Palestine, then you are an extremist.
Then, we have other people generalizing about Muslims and labeling them as extremists for the actions of a few radicals, and that falls into Islamophobia. Gladly, they are the less.
Most Americans are good people. Most Israelis are good people. Most Muslims are good people.
The thing is most people here are not anti-American. Most people are not anti-Semite. Most people are not Islmophobe.
As long as we don't learn the difference between criticism and hate, we won't be able to debate anything at all.