REMEMBER WHEN THE RIGHT USE TO BE DISMISSIVE OF VICTIMOLOGY?:

Palin’s ‘blood libel’ remark overwhelms message (Ron Kampeas, January 13, 2011, Jewish Telegraph)

[B]arely a breath later, Palin painted herself the victim of a “blood libel” -- a notorious term fraught with Jewish historical and emotional significance.

“Journalists and pundits should not manufacture a blood libel that serves only to incite the very hatred and violence they purport to condemn,” Palin said. “That is reprehensible.”

Palin’s casual reference to the ancient fiction that Jews killed children to drink their blood as part of a ritual – one that has inspired pogroms, massacres and attacks on Jews throughout the centuries and even today is referenced as fact in parts of the Arab world and the former Soviet Union -- set off alarm bells.

Jewish reaction ranged from outraged to uncomfortable to defensive.