We are told consistently that there is no right way to speak out against a clear wrong because systematically every method of protest, from campus demonstrations to essays to books to social media posts to peaceful marches on the streets, is framed as an amorphous attack on Jews everywhere as opposed to focused critiques of a specific wrong being perpetrated by a few powerful individuals.
We need, in large numbers, to refuse this message, no matter how often they try to push it on us. And we need to draw attention to the fact that the most antisemitic message being put about is coming from Israel and the institutions that fawn over it, with their insistence that all Jews must align with their genocidal views and support their genocidal actions. How disrespectful to Jews and Jewishness is that, to co-opt Jewishness itself in the service of your self-serving and brutal politics? It’s insulting. And it’s not just Israel’s government that is being self-serving; it’s also all those universities, media companies and governments who are trying to stay in Israel’s favor because the alternative is their own discomfort.
I watched that a day or two ago. As a Jew, I knew what Tony Dokoupil was doing right away. And when he said, “what particularly offends you about the idea of a Jewish state,” I actually yelled, “OH FUCK YOU” at the TV.
Don’t fucking try to bait someone into saying something antisemitic. He isn’t and you suck at it.
I highly recommend Jon Stewart’s interview with Ta-Nehisi. They had a substantive in depth conversation that was so refreshing to watch. This is how you do an interview.
Link (I’m not sure if that’s the whole uncut interview; but it should be.)
Great interview, I wish we had more of it. I could watch them discuss these issues for hours.
The argument about Israel’s right to exist is dishonest because it’s explicitly meant to be equated to Jewish existence.
The easiest way to shut down this nonsense is to ask for some contemporary examples of countries that don’t have the right to exist. And if they come up with one, Iran is popular, ask them why Israel expects peace while her policy toward her neighbors is annihilation. This is obviously bad faith, but they’ll be forced to deconstruct their own argument to call you out.
Imagine believing the entire capitalist media isn’t a complete inherent failure.
Socrates said that the state paying teachers would just incentivise teachers to teach in line with the values of the leaders. I work within education, and he was right, there is enormous pressure to do so.
The same applies to the media.
A well written article with a sober point to make. Glad to encounter sane voices out there. Thank you for sharing it
