Job Discussion Forums

[Vancouver Girl]

Trust me...anti-Semitism is neither a tired cliche nor a yawn.
During my years in Malaysia (and yes, I was fairly fluent in the language at the time) Jews-filthy, deceitful, greedy, manipulative evil Jews...not Zionists, not Israelis...were everywhere...if the local populace was to be believed. These Jews were behind -or at least responsbile for the shenanigans of- the United Nations, the IMF, Fox News, The New York Times, the Asia crisis of '97, China (depending how they felt about the place that week), the Sars epidemic...shall I go on? These same Jews apparently were especially proficient in undermining Malaysian laws and morals. Women drinking beer!!! University students discussing the merits of a secular state!!! Hebraic handywork, of course.
In my 15 years in that country I did not- to my knowledge- meet one Jew.
Plenty of Saudis, Kuwaitis and Emiratis getting drunk and chasing girls, boys etc., but not one Jew. Oh, there was that young honeymoon couple from Boston....they might have been the landing party.
As you might imagine, things did not improve much once I actually moved to the Gulf. Anybody who's ever read the editorial pages of the local press is familiar with the caricature of Shylock rubbing his hands together as he stands behind a hapless Uncle Sam...plotting, plotting...
Outrage!!! Recall the Danish Ambassador at once!
The convenient and disingenuous chestnut "We're not against the Jews, we're against Zionists" is a politically correct whitewash used throughout the Islamic world and by just about anyone who reads the Guardian.

BTW....if Lewis' books were so reactionary and hostile to Muslim sensibilities..I doubt they'd be on sale at Magrudy's Dubai...where I always bought mine.

[veiledsentiments]

The Emirates has never been terribly efficient at censoring books. I was often shocked at books that I found in the bookstores of the UAE and Oman. It was clear that no one had looked beyond the cover. I doubt that anyone has ever read Lewis, and his books arrive with the US government stamp of approval... their current military protectors from the dangers of Iran.. that they must keep happy.

Rather like Oman... I remember the year Theisinger's book finally came out in Arabic. It had always been on the shelves in English. Suddenly... it was banned. OMG... someone finally read it!! The Sultan soon stepped in and had it "un-banned."

Anyway... I have to say that your description of the attitudes towards Zionists/Jews in Malaysia is sadly and closely paralleled by the anti-Arab sentiments that one now hears daily on TV or in the street, and reads in the media in the US.

Pot... meet kettle...

VS

[johnslat]

Dear veiledsentiments,

Reminds me of the time I found some Hanukkah cards in Jarir (hmm, maybe it was a trap; you buy one and the SPVPV shows up.)

And then, in Jarir again, there were the copies of "American Psycho" by Bret Ellis:

"The book was originally to have been published by Simon & Schuster in March 1991, but the company withdrew from the project because of "aesthetic differences". Vintage Books purchased the rights to the novel and published the book after the customary editing process. The book was never published in hardcover form in the United States, although a deluxe paperback was eventually offered. Ellis received numerous death threats and hate mail after the publication of American Psycho.
Feminist activist Gloria Steinem was among those opposed to the release of Ellis' book because of its portrayal of violence toward women. Steinem is also the stepmother of Christian Bale, who portrayed Bateman in the film adaptation of the novel. This coincidence is mentioned in Ellis' mock memoir Lunar Park.
In Germany, the book was deemed "harmful to minors", and its sales and marketing were severely restricted from 1995 to 2000.
In Australia, the book is sold shrink-wrapped and is classified "R18" under national censorship legislation. The book may not be sold to those under 18 years of age, or criminal prosecution may result. Along with other Category 1 publications, its sale is theoretically banned in the state of Queensland and it may only be purchased shrink-wrapped. In Brisbane, the novel is available to those over 18 from all public libraries and can still be ordered and purchased (shrink-wrapped) from many book stores despite this prohibition. At the University of Queensland, the book is only available to students over 18, and is shrink-wrapped and stored where it is not accessible to the public.
In New Zealand, the Government's Office of Film & Literature Classification has rated the book as R18. The book may not be sold or lent in libraries to those under 18 years of age. It is generally sold shrink wrapped in bookstores."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Psycho#Controversy

But, as I've mentioned before, that's more understandable; Jarir probably thought it was a biography of Dubya.

Regards,
John

[Sheikh N Bake]

[Sheikh N Bake]

[Cleopatra]

MOD edit

[7atetan]

MOD edit

[7atetan]

MOD edit

[Sheikh N Bake]

Well I care deeply for many oppressed groups...the white fundamentalist Christians, the North Jersey Mafia, the Abused Cowboys, etc. I empathize and encourage them to get in touch with their feelings.

[svatopluk]

Yes, anyway, back on topic and Out in the Blue: Letters from Arabia 1937-1940 by Tom Barger is another good one detailing how KSA came about in the first place, or at least the reason we have all been there - black gold.