Also by Allison Lampert in today’s Gazette is a story about a production of Romeo and Juliet by the Arab Theatre Group that satirizes government interference in the arts.
Lampert claims that the play is significant because “in a city where the most highly visible Middle East protests have centred on Israel and in opposition to a war in Iraq, the play is a fairly rare public example of criticism by Arab students of society in Arab countries.
However, reading a little further into the article reveals a more important subtext:
Sitting at the back of the mezzanine, Tabba reflects on criticism by Jewish groups that many Arab and Muslim student activists today are quick to criticize Israel but never condemn human-rights abuses by Arab governments. Tabba, a Montrealer who lived for many years in Saudi Arabia, said that such criticism is simplistic. He feels that average Montrealers of Arab or Muslim heritage are concerned about the situation in their countries, but prefer to discuss it privately.
Over the years, and especially after Sept. 11, there has been so much public criticism of Arab countries that denouncing Saddam Hussein in Montreal would be like “preaching to the converted,” Tabba said.
They’d also be afraid of having their criticism used as ammunition to reinforce the stereotype that all Arabs are terrorists.
In other words, while Jews can freely criticize Israel, Arabs had better not air their dirty laundry in public. That’s the message that seems to be getting across, and it is perhaps at the root of why it’s so easy for everyone to scapegoat Israel; because Israel is a democracy, its conflicts are public and reported in the press. So it is more open to criticism. For instance, Israel’s far Left, including groups like Peace Now, have been co-opted by the Palestinians to show “dissent” among Israelis and “support” for their cause. But dissent among the Palestinians? Dissidents have to hope that they don’t get shot. In Canada, getting shot isn’t a concern so much as being socially alienated from a community, as this letter-writer in the Link hinted:
I am constantly amazed at how some Jews, such as the ones in the CSU, are able to express viewpoints that differ widely from the mainstream point of view of their people. One could not imagine such dissent coming from within the Muslim community on campus.This is not to suggest that we don’t have them, but being openly vocal and critical of mainstream Muslim/Arab views is met with fierce opposition and intimidation. If the Jews think they are being silenced, they should see what it’s like for a Muslim who has an opinion that differs widely from SPHR or MSA’s point of view on politics and religion.
If the illusion of weakness is the price of democracy, then it is certainly a worthwhile price to pay. Because the alternative – a seemingly united voice to the outside world, but repression of freedom on the inside – is far, far worse.
Well said.