Posted on 12/30/2016 8:05:45 AM PST by dirtboy
[snip]
Europeans are not racists because they want to preserve their culture. Zionism is not racist because it strives for one framework on the face of the earth where Jews can express their cultural, social and economic uniqueness. Cultural nationalism is not racist. Mazzini and Masaryk were cultural nationalists and constitutionalist liberals, as were all the major figures of early Zionism. The people of Appalachia and coal country also represent a kind of cultural nationalism. They didn't appreciate constantly being told that changing demographics means that the country is no longer theirs. They noticed that the Clinton campaign simply ignored them; by implication branding them ignorant yahoos.
Israelis – even those who despise the settlements– are often enraged by the UN's obsession with Israel; along with the "progressives'" single minded hostility to Israel. They cannot understand that when 500,000 people are being slaughtered in Syria protest boats are being sent to Israel. They cannot understand that at the same time Pakistan murders hundreds of religious minorities (Ahmadis, Hindus, Sufis and Christians) it is Israel that is singled out by BDS. Given this double standard even liberal Israelis have concluded that anti-Zionism is nothing more than the postmodern iteration of anti-Semitism.
Large numbers of Israelis are appalled at the moral erosion of the Zionist project as a consequence of the occupation. Even larger numbers (perhaps even a majority) instinctively recognize that any formal or de-facto annexation of the West Bank would be suicidal for the cultural nationalism of the Jews.
The antidote to resentment is respect! Empathize with the grieving of those entire regions and classes of people in Europe and the United States for whom 'progress' has been an economic and cultural dislocation. Understand that identity politics must be universal if it is to be legitimate; not reserved for certain demographics and off limits for others. It cannot be that fashionable identity politics represent progress and unfashionable identity politics represent racism. Call people racists long enough and they will come to embrace it.
Amen!
That’s the way it’s always been with the left because they accept no objective truth. For them, everything either fits their current agenda or it doesn’t.
Interesting how the Left is opposed to “cultural appropriation” while fine with cultural smothering.
Palestinian Arabs have not been militarily occupied by Israel since 1995. Gaza since 2005.
Israelis who advocate annexation don’t have in mind to annex the Arabs, just Area C which is 60% of J&S and in which practically no Arabs live.
The end of Oslo would not mean the end of the Zionist project. Arabs would continue to govern themselves and Israeli settlement blocs would come under Israeli rule.
None of which would prejudice a future peace deal. Its not Israel that stands in the way of one; its due to the refusal of the Arab side to accept a Jewish State and to terminate the conflict.
Peace in the Middle East isn’t attainable for several generations.
Peace in the Middle East isn’t attainable for several generations.
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