From ZOA New Mexico:
The cartoon below, by Eric Garcia, appeared in the “Alibi” the week of June 13, 2010. The Alibi is a locally owned weekly newspaper in Albuquerque, NM. Garcia’s grossly biased anti-Israel cartoon was evidently considered humorous and acceptable by the Alibi.
The EU MC wrote up a working definition of antisemitism which is now used by the US and UN. Antisemitism is a phrase coined by European intellectuals in the second half of the 19th century. It means hatred of Jews, for those who get confused about the term or its origins. It was considered acceptable in educated, academic, upper class circles to hate Jews then, just like it has become acceptable to hate Israel, and by extension Jews, by some in those same circles now.
“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
In addition, such manifestations could also target the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity. Antisemitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity, and it is often used to blame Jews for “why things go wrong”. It is expressed in speech, writing, visual forms and action, and employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits.
Back to Eric Garcia’s “Machete” cartoon–nice name, huh? Nice logo. Kind of reminds you of slaughter and genocide, the hacking of women and children in Africa, murder in Latin American or Asian jungles, Islamic beheadings and that sort of thing. Do Garcia and the Alibi editors get a thrill when they think of that? Does it make them feel like brave revolutionaries?
Notice the yarmulke on “Israel’s” head in the Machete cartoon…just in case anyone missed the Jewish connection…notice the total vilification of the character representing Israel. There is no attempt to present an honest picture. It makes no clever social commentary, it brings out no astute points. The point of this cartoon is to demonize Israel. The desire apparently, is simply to do damage and express hatred. Apparently the Alibi shares the same goal.
Garcia’s cartoon is a similar to the anti-Semitic cartoons put out regularly by the Arab press, which often copies their imagery from old Nazi cartoons. Eric Garcia’s cartoon is in English and deals with a locally familiar scenario, but its antisemitism is no less obvious or vicious than that of its Arab and Nazi cousins.
Top: Alibi cartoon
Middle: Recent cartoon from Oman. Notice that the weapon is a menorah.
Bottom: Nazi cartoon against Jews from “der Stuermer”
Will the Alibi apologize for publishing such bigotry? Or will they only give alibis? Call Marisa DeMarco, ext. 245, the managing editor at the Alibi, and ask her.
Weekly Alibi
2118 Central Avenue SE, Suite 151
Albuquerque, NM 87106-4004
BUSINESS HOURS: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon-Fri
PHONE: (505) 346-0660 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (505) 346-0660 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (505) 346-0660 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (505) 346-0660 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
FAX: (505) 256-9651
Without an apology from the Alibi, the ZOA isn’t buying from businesses that support spreading anti-Israel prejudice by advertising in the Alibi.
