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TIPPING_THE_BANDWAGON

                                                 November 21, 2006
I've been tempted to launch into
editorials like so:

   Myself I'm increasingly of the
   opinion that you can't speak
   truthfully about the Middle
   East without being accused of
   being anti-Israel.

But actually, I'm afraid that this
borders on the stunningly obvious.

It won't be too much longer before
that particular pendulum has swung
back the other way...

There are already quite a few public
complaints about the power of the
"pro-Israel lobby" and many a low-grade
controversy about things such as the
postponment of the Rachael Corrie play,
and the cancellation of a Tony Judt
talk.

The Zionist web pages are
complaining about people hopping
on the the "anti-Israel
bandwagon"; people are talking
about nearing a "tipping point"...       Often with apologies for
                                         leaning on the already
                                         over-worked phrase.

                                            Which is about to
                                            "jump the shark",
                                            and become deader
                                            than the phrase       We need a
                                            "jump the shark".     new cliche
                                                                  to describe
       So: attempt to                                             stale and
       generalize, step                                           overused
       back from the                                              cliches...
       debate of the day,
       (it will be won or                                         Like:
       lost by others)
                                                                  "become a
                                                                  zombie"
       Instead, talk about
       the process of
       debate...

          Try to get at more           Who do you look to for
          general problems,            reliable information,
                                       when there are factions
                                       that are jamming?

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