Comments on: Natalie Portman’s pretty in fuchsia, defends Israeli artists

By: Gin

Gin — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 08:37:49 +0000

Yeah, those cultural boycotts against South Africa were so anti-South African.

For an intelligent lady, Portman’s quoted remarks on this are pig ignorant.

By: itchy beard

itchy beard — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:10:13 +0000

Sarah – excellent points. I only just happened to come across this news and must admit I’m not aware of all the issues involved yet, but I haven’t been quite convinced by the rebuttal from Portman et al. That’s not to say the protesters were right, but I just don’t think the celebrities on the other side of it have formulated a decent counterpoint. Their argument seems to make somewhat of a strawman of what the protesters are complaining about.

I love your ‘take a class’ diss . I have to admit, I just don’t understand how Portman is so widely, unquestioningly celebrated for her intelligence. She seems to constantly come out with pseudo-intellectual, under-informed, poorly argued and even somewhat ditsy remarks.

She is fast becoming the queen of poor analogies, e.g. with her recent article on veganism. While I do think people went overboard saying she equated meat-eating with rape, I do think it was offensive saying being anti-rape is a belief (not to mention the fact that signing a pro-Polanski petition is terrifying close to her hypothetical scenario of condoning rape because your dinner guests do). But what really struck me was, despite her somewhat intelligent way of expressing herself, her poor sense of logic in constructing an argument (and I say this as a very committed vegetarian myself, so it is not that I am not sympathetic to the issues). For example, one friend of hers did seem to have health problems that could be directly attributed to a polluted water supply (if Portman is being honest), but we are only told the other has asthma and is from Iowa. This automatically means animal shit has caused her condition?!?

While she is copping a LOT of flak for her recent article, I’m amazed at how many similarly problematic things she’s said seem to have slipped by the radar of the general public (including myself). I admire outspoken individuals, but prefer them to really know what they are talking about. I also find her arrogance off-putting – patronisingly saying their protest was poorly considered then making such an ill-considered argument herself.

P.S. I really hate to play grammar police (God knows mine is far from perfect), but it is ‘biased’ not ‘bias’ in adjectival form. It’s just that it’s the second time I’ve read ‘bias’ instead of ‘biased’ from an Australian today and I had previously thought this type of mistake (dropping the ‘ed’ from adjectives like biased, prejudiced) had not been picked up here.

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By: Israeli

Israeli — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:08:27 +0000

Boycotts? Lol. The false analogy of South African apartheid is just another use of buzzwords to elicit more mindless bandwagoning of Israel.

People were boycotting the Zoinists before Israel even existed. The West is oblivious as to how they are being used by the desert tribes which have bought out your universities.

when’s the last time Canada had a suicide bombing? Eh? Never. I support peace, let’s put all the Palestinians in 1,000 C-130s, dump them over Toronto, and you can co-exist. I’m sick and tired of self-important liberal apologists lobby on behalf of trolls and Arab gangsters. When you lose a child like I have to terror-sponsoring states get back to me.

Israel is an outpost of democracy and freedom, and slowly but surely it is dwarfing the integrity of so-called Western regions like Canada and Europe.

Get over your hate, it is a state of mind. Don’t hide behind a thin-veil of activism shouting “apartheid.” Disgusting.

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By: mama

mama — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:02:24 +0000

i love natalie portman.

i love jews, and i love israel, too.
i love animals, and art and humanity.

:O)

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By: skeptical

skeptical — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 02:42:11 +0000

why is it so trendy to crap on Israel?

but not ok to talk about what Israelis suffer?

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By: the original kate

the original kate — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:39:23 +0000

@ twinkletoes: i am confused by your post. first you say you have no interest in isaeli politics because it isn’t your legacy and then you slam people who are jewish and speak for israel, which is their legacy. so then when, according to you, IS is ok to speak out? as far as natalie, she is an outspoken animal activist who started a line of vegan shoes. see? it isn’t always about israel.

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By: Trillion

Trillion — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:59:45 +0000

Thanks Sarah. To think killing off Native Americans and destroying their culture is NOT genocide is misinformed. The BIA finally kinda sorta apologized in 2000 but it didn’t get much traction.
Australia and the U.S. have a lot in common, I think, both good and bad things.

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By: TwinkleToes

TwinkleToes — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:33:16 +0000

No, your boyfriend is the poli sci major, Sarah.

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By: TwinkleToes

TwinkleToes — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:31:13 +0000

Oh, Sarah, you didn’t attend college, did you?

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By: lio

lio — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:16:38 +0000

@For Sooth?:
you gorgot your medication, my dear. Take your pills and every things are goint to be ok

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