In support of my mayor
Suspending Ken Livingstone is an affront to democracy
Suspending Ken Livingstone is an affront to democracy
By Gilad Atzmon*
25 February 2006
Commenting on the suspension of London Mayor Ken Livingstone, Gilad Atzmon asks why the British are trashing their so-called democratic values for the sake of "one idiotic rude journalist who happens to be a Jew". He argues that Livingstone may be the victim of the paradox of Westerners feeling guilty at their own growing scorn for Israel and Zionism.
Ken Livingstone was suspended on full salary as London mayor for a month for likening a Jewish newspaper reporter to a Nazi concentration camp guard. Once again, some basic human elementary liberties are sacrificed in defence of Jewish dignity. And the question to be asked is why do we surrender our elementary rights so easily? Why did a UK government watchdog suspend the adorable mayor of London just for hurting the feelings of a journalist, who happens to be a Jew?
The mayor was absolutely correct to express his outrage: "This decision strikes at the heart of democracy. Elected politicians should only be able to be removed by the voters or for breaking the law". He went on to say: "Three members of a body that no-one has ever elected should not be allowed to overturn the votes of millions of Londoners."
My dearest mayor, you are probably right, those three individuals do not express the will of the people. British democracy has indeed suffered a massive slap. Yet, as you should have learned by now, Jewish interests and sensitivities are extra-judicial. Moreover, they stand far above any recognized democratic order.
Without doubt, the mayor was pretty good at his job. Londoners love their mayor; they elected him for a second term and probably will do the same for a third. Not only that, but the mayor is absolutely great at his job, as well as being a fabulous educator. At a time when Prime Minister Blair is doing his utmost to advance the so-called "cultural clash" into a state of world war, it is mayor Livingstone who is spreading a message of peace and hope. A few months back, when London was hit by a devastating wave of terror, it was Livingstone who stood up, spreading a message of reconciliation and love. Seemingly, Ken Livingstone is the one and only UK politician who has managed to internalize the real meaning of multi-ethnicity and cultural pluralism. Being who he is, and saying what he says, the mayor indeed made very many enemies for himself in the rapidly darkening world of British politics.
Yet, the mayor enjoys the support of the people. I am totally convinced that Londoners will ask the necessary questions: Why exactly has our mayor been suspended? Did he commit a crime? If he did, what exactly was that crime? Those Londoners who are still capable of critical ideological thinking may wonder why we are trashing our so-called democratic values for one idiotic rude journalist who happens to be a Jew.
While some of my intellectual allies would claim that this recent undemocratic act in the heart of British democracy proves beyond doubt that "Jewish power" is winning over, I am left doubtful. I am not convinced that Britain is run by Jews, at least not for the time being. However, I do believe that defending Jews and Jewish interests is something the British establishment imposes upon itself.
I tend to believe that the pro-Jewish acts we had witnessed yesterday in London, as well as last week in Austria, are not exactly a manifestation of some genuine pro-Jewish feelings. In fact, it may very well be the complete opposite. These acts are there to cover up some severe antagonism. The more that ordinary Westerners disapprove of the Jewish state colonizing Palestine, the more they feel contempt towards Zionism, the more they suspect the official Zionist historical narrative, the more they feel guilty about their scorn. To a certain extent, the more we hate inwardly, the more we support and empathize outwardly. Supporting Jewish interests is there to cover up a growing discomfort. This very pattern was rather apparent in pre-Nazi Germany. If one wants to learn from the past, this is a clear historical lesson.
As British Jewish leaders complain about an emerging anti-Semitism within the United Kingdom in general, I would suggest to them to be twice as concerned about their latest victory.
*Gilad Atzmon is an Israeli-born musician and writer.
Gilad Atzmon is an Israeli born Jew who served in the Israeli Defence Force and who now lives in “self-exile” in Britain.
He is an internationally acclaimed jazz musician whose album Exile won BBC Best Jazz Album of 2003.
