Opinion
The power of the Diaspora
Manfred Gerstenfeld
Published: 15.05.12, 23:43
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9 Talkbacks for this article
1. Rubbish
(05.16.12)
Diaspora should not be draining off wealth from their country of residence and sending it to another country. This is a recipe for making yourself unpopular. And why does Israel need to teach other peoples how to do this? You're suggesting Israel set itself up as a mentor for people who want to suck the wealth out of the countries where they live and send it to their country of birth. Does the word ''parasite'' sound familiar?
2. #1: thank you for sharing your racist mentality
EZRA THE PROUD JEW ,   USA-ISRAEL   (05.16.12)
Only a racist, knuckle-dragging thug would think like you. Meanwhile, back to reality: Italians, Greeks, Armenians, Mexicans (all latinos) Romanians, Brits, Irish, Germans, French, Spaniards, etc., etc., have been doing this very same thing for over 200 years. If you knew anything about history you'd be completely embarassed by what you said. Truth is, you are probably a typical anglo-union worker who made squat his whole life and is angry about not being smart enough to be more successful. White-trash-racism...sound familiar?
3. Also from the diaspora: humanitarian values
Michael ,   California, USA   (05.16.12)
It is so hard to read many Israeli commentators who are so bitter against the world for its continuing criticism. Israelis look at survival and often at survival only, forgetting that there is life beyond it. Diaspora people don't have this problem because their survival is not in question. Humanitarian values are more important and discussed by diaspora. Involving Israelis in such discussions and explaining to them that the world is not full of enemies may be as important as the materialistic contributions listed by Prof. Gerstenfeld.
4. Are you kidding me? Israelis are total losers at this.
Serte ,   Montreal, Canada   (05.16.12)
I cannot imagine a sillier article. The fact is that the eagerness of the Jewish diaspora to involve itself in Israel in some way is unparalleled -- except by Israel's ineptness in taking advantage of that. The diaspora is one of the world's best-educated groups of people. How many diaspora Jews graduate from Israeli universities each year? How many online video or audio services are there leveraging the diaspora Jewish audience for Israeli cultural products? I could go on.
5. To nr 1.
Istvan ,   BUDAPEST HUNGARY   (05.16.12)
Antisemitic nonsense. Every nation on the world has a smaller-greater diaspora, that supports its motherland. For example 10 million turks live in Europe since decades and send a lot of money home. There are only two differences : the jews live abroad not decades but centuries, and as the jews are much more talent and clever people than the turks, for example, earns also much more money. Antisemites are not delighted with it, but I can assure them that also many poor jews live in the diaspora, including myself.
6. (3) Michael
tiki ,   belgium   (05.16.12)
If you would come down from your pink cloud, you might grasp that the rest of the planet is "looking for survival" to and can't be bothered to much with Humanitarian Values of 'others but with getting food on 'their plate. This 'privilege is usually reserved for those exploiting the system they live in, like the good people of bancrupt California, who by draining the system are exploiting the human values of others. People from money obsessed California, where the biggest 'humanitarian value is a 'nose or a boob job, shoudn't lecture others.
7. You neglect the most important "gift," Manfred
David Turner ,   Richmond, USA   (05.16.12)
The Diaspora created Israel. Not merely for her present inhabitants, to be sure, but as refuge for the entire Jewish people. As our Diaspora neighbors might put it, Keep "Zionism" in Zion!
8. Other diaspora have an advantage over Israel's
Ian ,   Newcastle upon Tyne   (05.16.12)
The diaspora of other countries can support the home country without being threatened with death by terrorists like Hamas,Islamic Jihad and Hizbollah. THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!
9. #1 You are 100% correct
(05.17.12)
even if the paraites refuse to see/admit it. They do live in fool's paradise. Time to wake up israelis! No Diaspora/USA, NO ISRAEL!
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