Via Normblog:

Of Boycotts and Exceptionalism (by Shalom Lappin)

Just as there is no point in arguing with racists, creationists, Holocaust deniers, or advocates of other irrational views in a manner that lends credence to their case, it makes no sense to engage boycotters in endless debate. One works at bringing the noxious and unreasonable nature of their enterprise into full view. One seeks to constrain their influence on public policy through effective political and legal action.... it is necessary to devise effective strategies for attacking the underlying exceptionalist assumptions that are driving the boycott, and much else. These assumptions are eroding the standards of rational discussion and liberal values in the public domain in Britain. The significance of such a collapse of liberal values extends well beyond the boycott and related issues.