unfortunately, in the public relations war, it is we who "never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity"
"a bad name"
in marketing and pr, there are good words and bad words
"zionism", in that context, is a bad word
jews who continue to use it are living in the past
it used to mean support for the creation of a jewish homeland, but since 1948 that has been obsolete
it now is defined by its opposite … there are so many people who want to destroy israel that zionism continues to exist only to oppose them … zionism is the opposite of anti-zionism, and it is the anti-zionists who make all the running
for several decades, "zionism" has been used all over world as term of disparagement … for many, it is an insult even worse than "jews"
and … worst of all … it means whatever the speaker (or the listener) wants it to mean … we have lost control of the meaning of the word!
photos of demonstrations with banners marked "zionist federation" are bad pr for israel
let's face it, in the twenty-first century the name is an embarrassment 
"getting with it"
modern times require modern names
solicitors used to be called "attorneys", but there came a time when attorneys had such a bad reputation that they decided on a fresh start, and re-named themselves "solicitors"
british petroleum became "bp", international business machines became "ibm" (and ibm's competitor simply called itself "apple", right from the start)
the national council for civil liberties became "liberty", and the marriage guidance council became "relate"
it is time for zionism to "get with it", and do the same
let's replace the zionist federation by "love-israel" (or "love-israel.org.uk") 
, with its mascots dovy and shaloma the peace-bears!
(and maybe also emmy and essy the truth-bears, and perhaps even kev קו and hayley חלי the hoffbears! 
)
it'll need a flag (the israeli flag, i suppose, but with the magen dovid replaced by something, perhaps overlapping hearts?)
and it'll need some marketing people who can design posters as good as the anti-israel posters
nationwide launch
to stop anyone else using the name, i hereby declare that love-israel.org already exists! 
sign up here!
i see the first national love-in assembling … let's say … hmm 
… on sunday 3rd october, somewhere like the logan hall, to elect national officers and to draw up a constitution
(i won't be there, of course … i'm stuck in this little bowl! )
i see everyone setting up local love-ins in their own neighbourhoods!
i see anti-zionists fretting that there's no longer any zionists to object to!
i see a future in which goldfish and teddy-bears will rule the world!
(ooh, is that overdoing it slightly? nah!)
| i see a lot from my little bowl! |