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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, on reflection, 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", 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
                                                                  for the
       So: attempt to                                             stale and
       generalize, step                                           overused...)
       back from the
       debate of the day,                                         Like, say:
       (it will be won or                                         "Going the
       lost by others)                                            way of the
                                                                  Zombie"
        Instead, talk about
        the process of
        debate...

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

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