It’s been obvious since the response immediately after October 7 that this is not about Israeli policy or something subtle. It’s about the destruction of Israel. Where have you been for 6 months? Under a rock? They tell us they want Israel destroyed. Dead. They want Jews dead. Believe them.
I really don't know what "the last straw" is for certain people, and frankly, I don't care. If it marches with antisemites and shouts the slogans of antisemites, it needs to be treated as an antisemite. What does that treatment entail? I don't know, antisemitism isn't a crime anywhere in the world, that I'm aware of. But it certainly means that I, as a Jew, am going to treat that person as a threat, I will not be in an organisation with them, I will not socially engage with them unless there is a trusted armed presence also there, and I will make damned sure that none of my money goes to help them.
I will not take hold to the cry that "silence is violence", but I will agree that "silence is telling". Every Jew I know has an escape plan, sometimes it involves Israel, sometimes it does not. I hope that they're all taking note of who is speaking, and who isn't, and updating their plan accordingly. Isn't it ironic that in a country that just had hundreds of rockets, missiles, and drones launched at it, Jews feel more secure there than in "the land of the free"?
On a more serious note: I'm wondering if these current protests might nudge the election over to Orange Man, much like the violent protests helped Richard Nixon get elected in 1968.
Man that Stanford article was so enraging; the contrast between college administrator responses between “this string that was tying up a piñata might secretly be a noose and we have to protect our students” and “sometimes you just get a Hitler on your door, it’s just part of life, what are we supposed to do about it?” is just crazy…
I think it might be a bit utopian, but eliminating Israel as a Jewish state doesn't automatically mean ethnic cleansing. A single multicultural Palestine where Jews are a minority isn't a call for genocide, even if it is unrealistic. Rooting explicitly for Hamas seems to mean that, but when people wish for a secular government in Iran, they obviously aren't meaning that the non-muslims are going to force all the Muslims out.
Why oh why must we support one side or the other? From my perspective, both the Zionists and Hamas are wrong. Both have the objective of getting rid of the other. Zionists have said so, Hamas has said so. Their actions bear this out. Why can’t Israel find some way to live in Judea (their ancient land - who has colonized who, really?) without treating non Jews as second class citizens? I don’t think it can be disputed that Israeli forces have committed atrocities. But the actions - and non actions - of the Palestinians are equally telling. No effort at all to come to terms with Israel along with ethnic hatred of the Jew. But my guess is that little reality penetrates the brains of these students. Self righteousness feels so good, especially when you can merge yourself into a crowd who all feel the same. It’s a kind of intoxication.
Stop it. What a bunch of disingenuous horseshit. They're COLLEGE KIDS and it's war. They're going to activate against blood and gore and guts because if it continues past their graduation, guess what? THEY MIGHT HAVE TO FIGHT!! Israel has every right to exist but you people are a fucking pain in the ass and everyone in that region fucking hates you. That's a fact. Why that is is between you and them. All our kids know is we have homeless in the streets of every city in this country, no money for infrastructure, no money for public schools, no money for universal health care, and they want to come for social security and medicare next. But we always have PLENTY of money in the budget EVERY YEAR for fucking rockets and bombs to send over to Israel for you guys to protect yourselves. Then you have the fucking BALLS to tell us to stay out of YOUR politics, but Netanyahu DEMANDS police crackdowns of first amendment rights of OUR CITIZENS on OUR COLLEGE CAMPUSES? Yeah, keep it up with the babe in the woods routine. Trust me, the kids know what's up more than you. So stick your judgement of their intellect straight up your ass and stop frantically building straw men to justify this. Let me help you reframe this issue in reality. Look at everything involved in this conflict through the following lens for the rest of your life and you'll never go wrong. Ready? Here goes: THERE IS NO GOD Hope that helps.
Thanks for this. Those wanting to protest Israeli policies without becoming anti-semitic eliminationists might want to look at what actual progressive Israelis have to say, such as historian Yuval Noah Harari
It’s been obvious since the response immediately after October 7 that this is not about Israeli policy or something subtle. It’s about the destruction of Israel. Where have you been for 6 months? Under a rock? They tell us they want Israel destroyed. Dead. They want Jews dead. Believe them.
... But with jokes?
I'm kidding a little bit. I highly recommend (https://open.substack.com/pub/evebarlow/p/in-conversation-with-brianna-wu?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1ht4mf), a piece about someone whose eyes were opened to what many Jews have been saying for years.
I really don't know what "the last straw" is for certain people, and frankly, I don't care. If it marches with antisemites and shouts the slogans of antisemites, it needs to be treated as an antisemite. What does that treatment entail? I don't know, antisemitism isn't a crime anywhere in the world, that I'm aware of. But it certainly means that I, as a Jew, am going to treat that person as a threat, I will not be in an organisation with them, I will not socially engage with them unless there is a trusted armed presence also there, and I will make damned sure that none of my money goes to help them.
I will not take hold to the cry that "silence is violence", but I will agree that "silence is telling". Every Jew I know has an escape plan, sometimes it involves Israel, sometimes it does not. I hope that they're all taking note of who is speaking, and who isn't, and updating their plan accordingly. Isn't it ironic that in a country that just had hundreds of rockets, missiles, and drones launched at it, Jews feel more secure there than in "the land of the free"?
On a more serious note: I'm wondering if these current protests might nudge the election over to Orange Man, much like the violent protests helped Richard Nixon get elected in 1968.
Man that Stanford article was so enraging; the contrast between college administrator responses between “this string that was tying up a piñata might secretly be a noose and we have to protect our students” and “sometimes you just get a Hitler on your door, it’s just part of life, what are we supposed to do about it?” is just crazy…
Is briandead (sic) a subtle Monty Python reference?
I think it might be a bit utopian, but eliminating Israel as a Jewish state doesn't automatically mean ethnic cleansing. A single multicultural Palestine where Jews are a minority isn't a call for genocide, even if it is unrealistic. Rooting explicitly for Hamas seems to mean that, but when people wish for a secular government in Iran, they obviously aren't meaning that the non-muslims are going to force all the Muslims out.
Why oh why must we support one side or the other? From my perspective, both the Zionists and Hamas are wrong. Both have the objective of getting rid of the other. Zionists have said so, Hamas has said so. Their actions bear this out. Why can’t Israel find some way to live in Judea (their ancient land - who has colonized who, really?) without treating non Jews as second class citizens? I don’t think it can be disputed that Israeli forces have committed atrocities. But the actions - and non actions - of the Palestinians are equally telling. No effort at all to come to terms with Israel along with ethnic hatred of the Jew. But my guess is that little reality penetrates the brains of these students. Self righteousness feels so good, especially when you can merge yourself into a crowd who all feel the same. It’s a kind of intoxication.
Stop it. What a bunch of disingenuous horseshit. They're COLLEGE KIDS and it's war. They're going to activate against blood and gore and guts because if it continues past their graduation, guess what? THEY MIGHT HAVE TO FIGHT!! Israel has every right to exist but you people are a fucking pain in the ass and everyone in that region fucking hates you. That's a fact. Why that is is between you and them. All our kids know is we have homeless in the streets of every city in this country, no money for infrastructure, no money for public schools, no money for universal health care, and they want to come for social security and medicare next. But we always have PLENTY of money in the budget EVERY YEAR for fucking rockets and bombs to send over to Israel for you guys to protect yourselves. Then you have the fucking BALLS to tell us to stay out of YOUR politics, but Netanyahu DEMANDS police crackdowns of first amendment rights of OUR CITIZENS on OUR COLLEGE CAMPUSES? Yeah, keep it up with the babe in the woods routine. Trust me, the kids know what's up more than you. So stick your judgement of their intellect straight up your ass and stop frantically building straw men to justify this. Let me help you reframe this issue in reality. Look at everything involved in this conflict through the following lens for the rest of your life and you'll never go wrong. Ready? Here goes: THERE IS NO GOD Hope that helps.
Jeff, in case you have not seen this here is a truly great moment in the movement. I find this to be pure comedy gold.
https://x.com/Israellycool/status/1784294992996897204?t=SVnqQHCP8vGKBQWvSmHeIw&s=01
>movements that are extreme, brian dead
Brain dead, I assume.
What is "brian dead"? Is that another Monty Python reference?
Thanks for this. Those wanting to protest Israeli policies without becoming anti-semitic eliminationists might want to look at what actual progressive Israelis have to say, such as historian Yuval Noah Harari
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-04-18/ty-article-magazine/from-gaza-to-iran-the-netanyahu-government-is-endangering-israels-survival/0000018e-f25f-daad-a3de-fe7ff5790000
From Gaza to Iran, the Netanyahu Government Is Endangering Israel's Survival