STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS

The fact that Sigmund Freud, known as "the father of psychoanalysis", was born Jewish should alone have ensured that Jews would become excellent subjects for students of his theories. Take the latest scandal from Jerusalem’s Hebrew University where a graduate student has won an award for a thesis which concludes that the lack of any incidence of rape of Palestinian women by members of the Israeli Defence Forces is conclusive proof that Zionists are racist.

Seriously, a panel of professors at the Hebrew University headed by a Dr. Zali Gurevitch recommended the publication of this rubbish by the University's Shaine Center and presented its author, who reached her conclusions based on a study of 25 members of the IDF, with an award for her efforts.

Tal Nitzan's theme is that the "lack of IDF rapes of Palestinian women is designed to serve a political purpose". She rules out the possibility that the Jewish soldiers might behave ethically towards Palestinian women or that they are somewhat more civilized than those who fight in other places. No, she argues that they simply suppress their sexual desires for Palestinian women and that makes them racist.

Gurevitch and Nitzan have overlooked another possible explanation that underpins this absurd scenario; that the problem lies with them and a small group of like minded extreme left leaning academics. Perhaps, it is they who are suppressing their own feelings of guilt manifested by their own inadequacies (and if Freud is correct, this could apply to their own sexual inadequacies as well)? If that is true then why can they not come up with a plethora of fanciful theories based upon totally false premises if the end game serves their own political purposes?

Take the example of Haifa University Professor Ilan Pappé about who a CAMERA study - When Ideology Trumps Scholarship - comments:

"Pappé has long acknowledged that he is not objective and cares little about factual accuracy. He readily admits that ideology drives his historical writings and statements. And his ideology can be simply summed up: Israel is illegitimate and should be the target of international sanctions until it is dismantled as a Jewish state."

The same approach renders it possible for Tal Nitzan to come up with her own absurd theory based on an ideological driven lie but composed by her perhaps because of a need to become her mother so that she can control her father and the 25 soldiers who served as her guinea pigs for the purposes of her study. You need not take too many steps further and suddenly, a once serious institution like the Hebrew University is enabled not only to accept this drivel but to laud it as a product of legitimate scholarship.

And drivel it surely is as Makor Rishon editor Amnon Lord, who first publicized the story, points out:

"It is noteworthy that Palestinian propaganda around the world frequently accuses Israelis of murder and rape. Such that this situation is unique: An army is found blameworthy of rape, and is also blameworthy of not raping."

The stupidity of it all is brought further into focus with Gurevitch's comment "that the right-wing should not jump to the conclusion that this was simply another 'secular, left-wing' generality."

What absolute bunkum!

This is not about right-wing, secular or left-wing. It's not even about the unconscious, dream symbolism, penis envy, the Oedipus complex or Freudian slips for that matter. It's all about truth and honesty in scholarship and ultimately it's about whether Gurevitch and co or the rest of us belong in the cuckoo's nest.