Anti-Israel journalist-blogger Antony Loewenstein was recently on Australia’s Channel 7?s Weekend Sunrise program discussing his book For God’s Sake in which an atheist, Christian, Muslim and Jew debate religion (Lowenstein is the Jewish representative – G-d help us all).
Notice in the below video how Loewenstein is labelled (from 2:18).
Granted, it might seem odd, but bear in mind each of the other guests are also labelled according to their religion.
For his part, Lowenstein was not too happy with the designation.
@GuardianJessica @timorjustice Indeed. I was on discussing religion etc but rather tasteless way to describe me, agreed 🙁
— Antony Loewenstein (@antloewenstein) July 9, 2013
Then again, this is coming from the guy who once had this to say about a fellow Jew he debated.
My debating opponent, “comedian” Austen Tayshus, preferred the tactics of bullying and arrogance. Tayshus served a useful purpose in exemplifying the ugly bigotry of the mainstream Jewish community. On the other hand, sadly, it reinforced very unfavourable opinions that have been created in the wider community – through the 2003 Hanan Ashrawi affair – of the intolerance of many Jews towards dissenting opinions and Palestinian voices of reason. Jews are often their own worst enemies. It also might help if Tayshus didn’t look so much like those awful caricatures we know from the 1930s!
It’s ok, Antony, because we don’t like you being labelled a Jew either.
