Editor's Letter 4.. -? 4.11i, equilibrium ,, ti 0 - ri b 0 0 y f . i , ,.., 3 4 ..._ athletica lululemon equilibrium and lululemon invite you A Boost For Israel to a free XtendTM Barre B Collection taught by Class at Somerset Israelis and the years of Hamas-launched rockets from Gaza into Negev communities, all of which has turned "daily life into a lethal game of Russian roulette." SWU also cited Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's denial of the Holocaust even as he called for the genocide of Jews. The Judeophobic incitement that permeates the Middle East also came under SWU fire. In response to these heartless champions, Rothstein and Seid wrote: "Their callous indifference and implicit support of murdering Jews is both morally perverse and anti-Semitic." The most compelling reason why the boycotters should be boycotted, the essayists insist, is "because they endorse the agendas of the dictatorial regimes and radical Islamist groups who share their hatred of the Jewish state and who are also enemies of human rights, social justice values, tolerance and modernity." SWU's perspective says a lot. It reminds us that states and groups such as Iran and Hamas oppress women, persecute minorities and mock the West. Expose BDS supporters to the winds, SWU says, so they "pay the price for supporting and enabling the intransigent enemies of humanitarian and lib- eral values." In this context, "liberal" means "civilized" and is a critical stage setter of the counter-boycott battle. oycott the boycotters? Why not? There doesn't seem to be anything to lose in boycotting public figures, retailers, institutions or organizations that adopt or defer to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) move- ment waged against Israel. The BDS movement isn't rampant, but it is daunting enough to be reckoned with. It demands boycotting and divesting from companies that do business with Israel, and also sanc- tioning Israel for actions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Amorphous as it seems, the defen- sive tactic of counter-boycotting might actually pay long-term dividends. StandWithUs, the Los Angeles- based Israel educational and advocacy organization, is pitching the boycott- back initiative. SWU mapped out its intriguing strategy in an Aug. 25 866, ' i commentary published in the Jewish Journal of Los Angeles. Robert Sklar The targets should be boycotted, Editor SWU CEO Roz Rothstein, in tandem with colleague Roberta Seid, wrote, "because they advocate destructive rather than constructive measures. BDS is anti-coexistence, undermines peace efforts, Fighting Back and does nothing to help Palestinians begin state building, I'm a strong believer in free speech on our campuses of improve their lives or move toward reconciliation." higher education. But I understand SWU's call for donors Rothstein is CEO of SWU; Seid is the education director. In withholding gifts in situations where governing a thoughtful argument, they lay out convincing boards legitimize campus divestment campaigns with purpose beliefs why it's important to react against Israel by failing to denounce them. to anti-Zionists bent on portraying Israel and Counter-boycotting recording artists who refuse Israelis "as pariahs that should be excluded from to perform in Israel is a no-brainer. So is counter- all international spheres — diplomatic, political, boycotting retailers who refuse to stock Israeli economic, social and cultural." products. The SWU essay underscores how "BDS poli- We Jews talk a good game in response to clearly cies are fundamentally anti-Semitic even though anti-Semitic acts. StandWithUs is now giving us some of the movement's advocates are Jews. The a means to elevate our game. We can "Buy Israeli campaign uses the propaganda techniques and Goods" (BIG) and "Request Israeli Goods" (RIG), imagery of classical anti-Semitism now applied acronyms for the newest SWU drive to dimin- not to individual Jews, but to the world's largest StandWith Us' Roz ish the effect of the BDS movement. A BIG/RIG Jewish community and its only Jewish state." Rothstein website is being developed to list Israeli products available in North America. SWU hopes Israel supporters ask Where's The Outrage? local merchants to carry the listed products and make a con- The thrust of the message is spot on: BDS proponents overlook certed effort to shop at stores that oblige. the terrorism against Israel and the virulent ideology that pro- SWU deserves high praise for urging that consumers buy pels it to depict the Jewish state as the murderous aggressor. both Israeli and Palestinian products as "an investment in Unfairly but cunningly, they expect Israel to live up to stan- peaceful coexistence:' Boycotting Israel or the Palestinian dards expected of no other nation. For example, say Rothstein Authority may or may not hurt the peace process, but doing and Seid, "they never call for BDS against nations that do sys- so would do "nothing to help the Palestinians improve their tematically commit war crimes and human rights abuses such lives," as SWU stated on its BIG/RIG flyer. as Ahmadinejad's Iran, Bashir's Sudan, Lebanon's apartheid As StandWithUs so eloquently put it, "It is time to expose the practices against Palestinians, or Turkey's occupation of north- distorted values that drive the BDS movement and its alliance ern Cyprus and violent repression of its Kurdish minority." Boycotting back may not be as easy as it sounds. But if anti- with the most repressive and dangerous forces in the world today. It is time to unequivocally say no to this BDS movement Israel threads can be pinpointed, a prospective target seems and to all who would consider complying with it." LI fair game indeed. While there are many possible reasons to counter-boycott, confronting the hypocrisy of BDS supporters 10 : Should the Jewish world fear is a major one to consider. Coming To Grips I liked how SWU questioned the boycotters, so-called "cham- pions of social justice and human rights" who have ignored or dismissed the years of Palestinian suicide bombings aimed at N W ca the BDS movement? Z Z Will you join StandWithUs' BIG/RIG campaign? cs , 0 l a Andrea Rogers, Xtend Barre Workout Creator, and lululemon ambassador from Florida Friday, October 15th at the lululemon store 9:00 am equilibrium is a Dilates for Pink studio raising money for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation during the month of October and will donate dollars for each person who attends this free class • enjoy a fabulous free workout • enjoy a light healthy snack after class • help to raise money for Breast Cancer Research join the staff of equilibrium and lululemon and WEAR PINK and BRING YOUR MAT! call 248.723.6500 and use code JN 6405 Telegraph ■ at Maple &Telegraph buildings G & H visit www.equilibriurnstudio.com to schedule your class online twitter: @equilibriumMl facebook: equilibriumpilatesstudio youtube: equilibriumMi 1600840 JN September 16 • 2010 5