On April 6th a Jewish elementary school in Montreal was fire-bombed, the building covered with Nazi symbols and notes threatening more such attacks so long as the Israel-Palestinian conflict continues - were left behind. This attack, although, surpassing in viciousness, anything seen in Canada since the 1930's is, unfortunately, not new in today’s world. There is no point in using this column to condemn the attack or, even less so, in bothering to dispute its fallacious justification or expose the fundamental evil underlying its purpose. We are confident that readers can do that for themselves. What is useful and instructive, is to compare reactions to the event - of which we find the most insightful to be those of CBC commentator, Rex Murphy - focused on three crucial points - viz.: 1. The attack was not some generalized attack on tolerance, civil liberties, or the basic values underlying Canada’s democratic, multi-cultural society - it was first and foremost an attack on Jews. 2. Support for the “Palestinian cause” confers no right to: argue that case without respect for limitations required by history or the basic tenets of human decency, no justification for attacking Israel or Jews per se, or, to use that support to camouflage what is simple anti-Semitism 3. Those who condemn the attack in the context of a general condemnation of racism, intolerance, un-Canadian behaviour, etc. are, in fact, deliberately or otherwise diffusing the “true horror”of the event. In our opinion, these represent the criteria for determining a proper understanding of the event and its significance. They also serve as a useful guideline in evaluating the reactions and, by inference, the appropriateness, of reactions to/positions on - similar events. (Abbreviation of the statements, is for reasons of economy of space and do not change their intent or character.) Presented below are: the Murphy editorial and, as summarized in that editorial, the position of Prime Minister Martin and the Canadian government, plus the verbatim reactions of two major Canadian institutions - the federal New Democratic Party and the Canadian Labour Congress. The latter three are, unfortunately, only two of the more blatant examples of reactions that fail the test of Mr. Murphy’s criteria for proper appreciation of what this event represents. Mr. Murphy “(In his reaction),.... the prime minister said, "the assault was not directed against the Jewish community of Montreal, but against all Canadians." (That)... we are all diminished by violence and hate (and actions that)... attack on the civil and moral code that makes us Canadians...is a noble thought. In the abstract, the prime minister was right, but ..... let's be very clear. The bombing.... was directed very particularly at the Jewish community in Montreal, at its Jewishness, and to walk away from its immense particularity is to diminish it's very concrete outrageousness.... The second ...crime was the note... claiming...the Israeli/Palestinian conflict (as justification) and (threatening).. more.. (such)...attacks..... were being planned. ....Some of those who... see themselves as critics of Israel....(in the middle east conflict)... seem to think they have some extra warrant... in how far they can go to express their detestation of Israel's policies, its government, and then by extension, of Jews....(They) also feel that tormenting and intimidating Jews anywhere is an earned license... So we have swastikas... (in) Toronto,... the upsurge in assaults on Jews in Europe, and we have... demonstrations almost everywhere in the world ...(with).. placards and chants equating Israel and its government with its own demonic anti-type, the nazi-ism of Adolf Hitler. We have in effect the Holocaust, the mightiest engine of ethnic cleansing the world has ever seen, thrown in the face of the people who were its targets. I salute the prime minister for the civic nobility of what he had to say, but by attempting to generalize what happened in Montreal yesterday, he has in effect diffused its horror. It was a piece of hatred for the Jews of Montreal. It was an expression on Canadian soil of that simmering anti-Semitism that takes some camouflage, some protective colouring from asserting a solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Anti-Semitism springing from whatever source is the most toxic political virus in the world. That's something we've already learned in that other school, the school where six million went to their death.... Jack Layton - Leader, New Democratic Party of Canada “As... Jewish Canadians gather with their families around the Seder table... my thoughts are with them and their communities. (I) stand with all New Democrats in condemning the act of violence and hatred perpetrated ....in Montreal. The United Talmud Torahs & Herzliah High Schools of Montreal have long sought to educate its students in the value of community service, religious devotion and tolerance. Intolerance and hatred are not Canadian values. I extend my deepest sympathy to the victims of this senseless crime and reaffirm my commitment to helping build a Canada where no Canadian lives in fear.” The Canadian Labour Congress The Canadian Labour Congress , (CLC), joins all Canadians in denouncing the escalating acts of hate and bigotry directed recently at the Jewish community across Canada. These latest acts of hate at the Jewish cemeter(ies) in Kitchener (and Toronto),... (the) school in ... Montreal..., graffiti on Jewish... homes... – and all other expressions of anti-Semitism.... – are totally unacceptable in our free and democratic society. These are attacks on our collective values as Canadians. We strongly believe in respecting the diversity of our religions, cultures, languages and races; we strongly believe in the respect for equality, human rights principles and social justice; and, we strongly believe in bringing into our daily reality the provisions in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the various human rights legislation for the protection of all citizens. (Recent)... cowardly attacks on members of the Jewish community should be seen as an attack against all Canadians. Anti-Semitism can only grow where there is silence.....(The CLC) supports... Jewish organizations who are asking the federal government for a national initiative to improve the security at Jewish institutions. More importantly, .... the CLC stands in solidarity with the Jewish community and ...will continue to fight to eliminate all forms of discrimination.
