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Ken Livingstone

(380 Posts)
Ana Sat 30-Apr-16 22:08:03

What a prat!

I can't believe no one's started a thread about this, and the effect his ill-considered words are having on the Labour Party.

granjura Mon 02-May-16 15:32:35

jollyG- scraping the barrel for mentioneing that the Havvaara Agreement did happen? Not really sure what you mean here and why?

Perspectives about history do change. When I was a child, I grew up with the 'reality' that the (Red) Indians were the 'bad' guys ... I think we know better now.

obieone Mon 02-May-16 15:20:07

6 is not too many durhamjen? I sincerely hope you dont think that.

obieone Mon 02-May-16 15:18:04

That has got nothing to do with it. I can never understand that sort of mentality.
"He does it so I can do it" like schoolchildren try.
I used to tell my kids in no uncertain terms, that that wouldnt wash with me.

durhamjen Mon 02-May-16 14:53:29

6 is 6 too many, obieone?
I wonder how many there are in the Tory party.

durhamjen Mon 02-May-16 14:52:27

Jeremy Corbyn is her MP.

durhamjen Mon 02-May-16 14:50:07

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/may/02/labour-is-not-rife-with-antisemitism-but-i-do-wish-ken-would-shut-up

obieone Mon 02-May-16 14:49:48

Their image has been the non-racist Party. I for one bought into it.

obieone Mon 02-May-16 14:48:11

6 is 6 too many.
Very surprised there are 6.

Nonnie1 Mon 02-May-16 14:38:34

I'm not a political animal by any means. I'm not stupid though and can see how people whip up a frenzy when they want to deflect from something else by making an issue out of nothing.

I bet Ken Livingstone wishes he had not got out of bed that day.

whitewave Mon 02-May-16 14:17:59

Read the article - it makes even more sense, and it what we have been banging on about.

Ana Mon 02-May-16 14:07:34

Lazigirl, what an eminently sensible sentiment indeed!

Anniebach Mon 02-May-16 14:03:03

Going by POGS list , six people have caused a crisis

Lazigirl Mon 02-May-16 13:59:33

I am a fan of Michelle Hanson who writes in Guardian and who is Jewish. Have just read her piece today, on Twitter, wish I could do links. I completely agree with her sentiments when she says *Labour is not "rife" with antisemitism but I do wish Ken would shut up".

jollyg Mon 02-May-16 13:45:24

You are scraping the bottom of the barrel here. GJ

Dont you know that politicians of whatever calling want to be luurved by us lesser mortals,
and will use every trick in book to get one over his/her opponent.

My school education must have been sadly as I have never encountered then or now the Haavara Agreement. But I am not of the jewish faith

Anniebach Mon 02-May-16 13:01:01

Hell bells,i spoke of Shakespeare , I did not mean edit his work, just so much rubbish said about musn't criticise Jews , I meant - well let's get rid of Shakespeare and Dickens to please the anything you say against Jews is anti Semitic groups

granjura Mon 02-May-16 12:44:18

As many have admitted that they do not read or watch links provided, I believe it is important to share this link provided by Daphnehill earlier on.

The Haavara Agreement (Hebrew: הסכם העברה Translit.: heskem haavara Translated: "transfer agreement") was an agreement between Nazi Germany and Zionist German Jews signed on 25 August 1933. The agreement was finalized after three months of talks by the Zionist Federation of Germany, the Anglo-Palestine Bank (under the directive of the Jewish Agency) and the economic authorities of Nazi Germany.

The agreement was designed to enable Jews fleeing anti-Semitic persecution under the new Hitler regime to transfer some portion of their assets to their refuge in British Mandatory Palestine. It provided some relief for Jews fleeing by allowing them to recover some of the possessions and assets they were forced to surrender before departing.[1] A portion of those possessions could be re-obtained by transferring them to Palestine as German export goods.[2][3]

The agreement was controversial at the time, and was criticised by many Jewish leaders both within the Zionist movement (such as the Revisionist Zionist leader Vladimir Jabotinsky) and outside it.[4]

My mother was studying German at Munich university in 1933, and she often talked to me about the Haavara Agreement. She had to cut short her stay in Munich due to rising anti-semitic attacks in town, which she witnessed with her own eyes- the smashing ot shop windows and beatings in the street.

Livingstone was totally stupid to comment as he did, so flippantly- and should have realised it would be used against the Labour Party and Corbyn, at a crusial time in the elections. What an idiot- he probaly reacted flippantly, as he is known to do- due to hounding from the Press who knew which buttons to press. Truly stupid of him. But his comments were factually correct- and all should be aware of the Haavara Agreement. Ignoring that it happened is indeed truly naïve and wrong.

durhamjen Mon 02-May-16 12:22:39

I have done Grumppa.
One signature on each, two of the five in support of Corbyn and the Labour party.
I particularly agree with the one that begins "It's magic dust, this antisemitism stuff. The moment the accusation is hurled, all normal standards go out the window and conviction is guaranteed."

Believe it or not I'm left wing.
I cannot remember the last time I wondered whether anyone was Jewish or not.
Most left wingers I know do not think about it all the time, except when it is rammed under their noses and they are all but accused of being antisemitic because they are left wing.

I also appreciate the letter which begins,
"As an East London Jew and a member of the Labour party for over 40 years, I can say that I have never seen or experienced any antisemitism."

Anniebach Mon 02-May-16 12:19:29

Grumppa, when I said naive, I meant some may think him so, I do not, I believe him to be a honest man who like many wants to see and end to PR stunts, rehearsed pathetic jokes in PMQ, getting politicians out of the Westminster bubble and listening to and talking to the public . He may fail , he has the Tory media dangling a noose, win or lose we have witnessed a rare human being, an honest politicians who will not leap in front of the cameras with hours of allegations - who can forget Cameron defending Andy Coulson- and there are thousands who share my opinion and my belief in this man

Another Labour Party donor has entered the racist plot, he too is a Jew , coincidence ?

grumppa Mon 02-May-16 12:05:18

It's important to read the other letters too.

rosesarered Mon 02-May-16 12:04:43

obione if you are very interested in the subject there is lots of reading matter out there for you to consider.Historically, Jews have always been looked down on in Europe.Then consider the ( stuff of nightmares) treatment of them by Nazi Germany in the war years and before, and it gives you an inkling of how defensive Jewish people feel.

durhamjen Mon 02-May-16 11:34:16

www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/apr/29/labour-antisemitism-and-where-jeremy-corbyn-goes-from-here

A lot of Jewish signatures on this first letter, in support of Corbyn.

whitewave Mon 02-May-16 11:26:08

Corbin is certainly not naive, he is however very principled. That shows in the way he conducts himself.

grumppa Mon 02-May-16 11:22:54

anniebach, yes I think Corbyn is naive. Should somebody as naive as he appears to be actually be in charge of a party or the country?

obieone Mon 02-May-16 11:02:42

Personally I couldnt care less whether Blairites are casing trouble for the Lavour Party or not.
I do care though about anti-semitism.

I still havent got my head around what zionism means.

obieone Mon 02-May-16 10:59:53

Going back to rosesarered post late last night and JessM post today[and not having read all later posts yet], do Christians not like Jews? I dont think that this is true, but am willing to be told I am wrong on that.
Not sure my post has much to do with the decate, but didnt want that bit to go unquestioned.
Christians I know all recognise Jews as being God's chosen people, so important.