Note from MT: The following essay was written in March of 2019, but not published at the time. Some references are slightly out of date. I am reproducing it here, in light of the recent renewed focus on Israel/Palestine.
Yes it’s such a profound disappointment to see the mental gymnastics of many IDW and other conservatives and Dems collapse into the same tired cliches about Israel I’ve heard my whole life.
Israel for many of these people is just right. Always. Period. It’s a provincial special pleading. A kind of country club rooting interest. Sure they may quibble at the margins of Israeli behavior but fundamentally they are with Israel no matter what. All principles go out the window. This is likely due to both a membership in or cultural affinity for Jewish culture as well as a deep animosity toward Muslims as primitive cartoon villains. The most extreme prove the majority. See Sam Harris on this subject. He says he’s against ethno states and Zionism yet he never criticizes Israel because the barbarian alternative in Muslims is worse in his tortured bigoted logic.
Bari Weiss always struck my as fraud on cancel culture because of her work as a campus activist spent trying cancel professors who broached any criticism of Israel. Not to mention her Joan of Ark schtick. Indeed, pro Israeli folks are the OG’s of cancel culture. See Norman Finkelstein as exhibit A. There is a great book called They Dare to Speak Out by former senator Paul Findlay where he chronicles story after story of cancellations of academics, politicians, and civic leaders for offering the slightest pause on green lighting all manner of Israeli human rights abuse.
Most importantly, the histrionic projection of anti-semtism on anyone, even Jews, for criticizing Israel is a “me thinks he doth protest too much” tell. Israel is indeed an ethno state and the rights, laws, and privileges are accorded first and foremost to Jews from the right of return to treatment of Palestinian citizens of Israel as second class citizens.
Put simply, Israel as constructed, necessarily discriminates against non Jews not just culturally but by law. Indeed they are legally obligated to do so. Take a look at their flag if you’re confused. Israel is incompatible with any of modern notions of a liberal democracy. The fact that so few people know that is really one of greatest and most prolonged mind fucks and PR triumphs of the last century.
So thanks Michael for pointing out vacuousness of so many of this IDW types. I was equally disappointed to see so many conservatives revert to tribal identity rather conservative principles than try to deal squarely with a conflict that has never been more dangerous to the world.
Well except for the Squad. I see it sort of opposite. Those who were the most ardent BLM supporters very much into dividing people by race are on the other side - I'm not seeing any pro-Israel virtue signaling. In fact, I'm seeing exactly the opposite. Israel is now the police and Palestine is BLM to the minds of many on the left. The only pro Israel people I see are on the right. Maybe I'm just not seeing the same things.
The trauma of the holocaust ( and other concerted efforts to destroy the Jews for no other reason than that they are Jews) remains fresh and very real. This is not identity politics for many Jews, but genuine fear for Israel's existence. Many of Israel's actions are no doubt worth criticizing and many, if not most, ordinary Jews and Israelis (Jew and Arab) do not support what the Israeli government or Hamas is doing. But the continued tension interspersed with violence - for decades - is driven by political actors that ordinary citizens cannot control (very similar to our never-ending wars in the U.S.). Please try to understand this: Individual Jews feel an existential threat for real reasons: The Left's (and what is more and more becoming mainstream and international) denouncement of Israel threaten Israel's existence and will (actually, already has) engendered anti-Semitism in the West (it never ceased in most of the East). Believe it or not Michael, and rightly or wrongly, many Jews see Israel as their only defense against history. From their perspective, without strong American Jewish support, Israel may not stand as a refuge. That is not identity politics.
Two things: first: demographic shifts in the US caused by immigration mean the increase of dual loyalty. This is increasingly common and not unique to Jews. Arguably Omar herself criticizes Israel because of her own dual loyalty. Same for Rashida Tlaib. Second: Jews have historically enjoyed the benefits of identity politics especially in relation to Israel within the left ergo the term PEP “Progressive except when it comes to Palestine” common among us Palestinians to refer to leftists who self-check when it comes to Israel because of loyalty or because of fear of being accused of being anti semitic. Third: the current popularity of woke politics is partly due to the rise of immigrant intelligentsia in the US that have taken on the protections of identity politics that Jews have historically enjoyed. Fourth: people like Ben Shapiro and Bari Weiss long for a period when “Wokeness” was unique to Jews (and blacks). This time has passed not to be returned to. I myself prefer for it to be overturned. I am Palestinian and I want progressives to support me on grounds outside the language of identity politics, a language that is able to be supportive and nuanced at the same time. Fifth: the problem with woke old and new is it sees things in good and evil terms and not as always overdetermined. I want to live in a world that phenomena are recognized to be complicated always which I see Tracey as doing in his writings especially on BLM
I remember the days when you were discussing the IDW a lot. I never quite got your opposition, as I thought it was great and remains so, although the term isn't used as much these days.
As for Israel, I'm not blind to the problems of the Palestinians, but, bottom line, "stop firing rockets into Israel" seems like a very low bar. They can't refrain from doing that, so my level of sympathy is low. That said, it's not an issue I much think about one way or the other.
As for Bari... she does seem to focus on her identity group to an extreme degree.
The Ineffectual Dork Web was a joke from the start. This episode cemented it. If I remember correctly, they offered comedian Owen Benjamin a spot, but he has a joke that the Holocaust was really 9 gay guys in a rollerblading accident. The usual pearl clutching and 'denialist' wailing ensued and they rescinded the invite.
I had some sympathy for Brett and what happened to him at Evergreen, but after this went down I had none.
Thank you. Great piece. And let me add something - there ARE numerous US politicians, appointees and powerful lobbyists who ARE ADAMANTLY DUAL LOYALISTS. Period. There is nothing anti-Semitic about pointing that out. Israel is a wannabe ethno-nationalist religion-based state, no different than what the average American considers Iran to be.
I'm a 40-something "nobody" but I've offered to debate Ben Shapiro MANY times and on SEVERAL subjects. He invariably ignores me while his fanbois all insist that I'd lose in a heartbeat. Don't hold your breath, Michael, and if/when he does debate you, prepare for a barrage of lies and have the facts ready to refute them.
Yes it’s such a profound disappointment to see the mental gymnastics of many IDW and other conservatives and Dems collapse into the same tired cliches about Israel I’ve heard my whole life.
Israel for many of these people is just right. Always. Period. It’s a provincial special pleading. A kind of country club rooting interest. Sure they may quibble at the margins of Israeli behavior but fundamentally they are with Israel no matter what. All principles go out the window. This is likely due to both a membership in or cultural affinity for Jewish culture as well as a deep animosity toward Muslims as primitive cartoon villains. The most extreme prove the majority. See Sam Harris on this subject. He says he’s against ethno states and Zionism yet he never criticizes Israel because the barbarian alternative in Muslims is worse in his tortured bigoted logic.
Bari Weiss always struck my as fraud on cancel culture because of her work as a campus activist spent trying cancel professors who broached any criticism of Israel. Not to mention her Joan of Ark schtick. Indeed, pro Israeli folks are the OG’s of cancel culture. See Norman Finkelstein as exhibit A. There is a great book called They Dare to Speak Out by former senator Paul Findlay where he chronicles story after story of cancellations of academics, politicians, and civic leaders for offering the slightest pause on green lighting all manner of Israeli human rights abuse.
Most importantly, the histrionic projection of anti-semtism on anyone, even Jews, for criticizing Israel is a “me thinks he doth protest too much” tell. Israel is indeed an ethno state and the rights, laws, and privileges are accorded first and foremost to Jews from the right of return to treatment of Palestinian citizens of Israel as second class citizens.
Put simply, Israel as constructed, necessarily discriminates against non Jews not just culturally but by law. Indeed they are legally obligated to do so. Take a look at their flag if you’re confused. Israel is incompatible with any of modern notions of a liberal democracy. The fact that so few people know that is really one of greatest and most prolonged mind fucks and PR triumphs of the last century.
So thanks Michael for pointing out vacuousness of so many of this IDW types. I was equally disappointed to see so many conservatives revert to tribal identity rather conservative principles than try to deal squarely with a conflict that has never been more dangerous to the world.
Well except for the Squad. I see it sort of opposite. Those who were the most ardent BLM supporters very much into dividing people by race are on the other side - I'm not seeing any pro-Israel virtue signaling. In fact, I'm seeing exactly the opposite. Israel is now the police and Palestine is BLM to the minds of many on the left. The only pro Israel people I see are on the right. Maybe I'm just not seeing the same things.
The trauma of the holocaust ( and other concerted efforts to destroy the Jews for no other reason than that they are Jews) remains fresh and very real. This is not identity politics for many Jews, but genuine fear for Israel's existence. Many of Israel's actions are no doubt worth criticizing and many, if not most, ordinary Jews and Israelis (Jew and Arab) do not support what the Israeli government or Hamas is doing. But the continued tension interspersed with violence - for decades - is driven by political actors that ordinary citizens cannot control (very similar to our never-ending wars in the U.S.). Please try to understand this: Individual Jews feel an existential threat for real reasons: The Left's (and what is more and more becoming mainstream and international) denouncement of Israel threaten Israel's existence and will (actually, already has) engendered anti-Semitism in the West (it never ceased in most of the East). Believe it or not Michael, and rightly or wrongly, many Jews see Israel as their only defense against history. From their perspective, without strong American Jewish support, Israel may not stand as a refuge. That is not identity politics.
Two things: first: demographic shifts in the US caused by immigration mean the increase of dual loyalty. This is increasingly common and not unique to Jews. Arguably Omar herself criticizes Israel because of her own dual loyalty. Same for Rashida Tlaib. Second: Jews have historically enjoyed the benefits of identity politics especially in relation to Israel within the left ergo the term PEP “Progressive except when it comes to Palestine” common among us Palestinians to refer to leftists who self-check when it comes to Israel because of loyalty or because of fear of being accused of being anti semitic. Third: the current popularity of woke politics is partly due to the rise of immigrant intelligentsia in the US that have taken on the protections of identity politics that Jews have historically enjoyed. Fourth: people like Ben Shapiro and Bari Weiss long for a period when “Wokeness” was unique to Jews (and blacks). This time has passed not to be returned to. I myself prefer for it to be overturned. I am Palestinian and I want progressives to support me on grounds outside the language of identity politics, a language that is able to be supportive and nuanced at the same time. Fifth: the problem with woke old and new is it sees things in good and evil terms and not as always overdetermined. I want to live in a world that phenomena are recognized to be complicated always which I see Tracey as doing in his writings especially on BLM
I remember the days when you were discussing the IDW a lot. I never quite got your opposition, as I thought it was great and remains so, although the term isn't used as much these days.
As for Israel, I'm not blind to the problems of the Palestinians, but, bottom line, "stop firing rockets into Israel" seems like a very low bar. They can't refrain from doing that, so my level of sympathy is low. That said, it's not an issue I much think about one way or the other.
As for Bari... she does seem to focus on her identity group to an extreme degree.
The Ineffectual Dork Web was a joke from the start. This episode cemented it. If I remember correctly, they offered comedian Owen Benjamin a spot, but he has a joke that the Holocaust was really 9 gay guys in a rollerblading accident. The usual pearl clutching and 'denialist' wailing ensued and they rescinded the invite.
I had some sympathy for Brett and what happened to him at Evergreen, but after this went down I had none.
Thank you. Great piece. And let me add something - there ARE numerous US politicians, appointees and powerful lobbyists who ARE ADAMANTLY DUAL LOYALISTS. Period. There is nothing anti-Semitic about pointing that out. Israel is a wannabe ethno-nationalist religion-based state, no different than what the average American considers Iran to be.
Ha I kept re-reading the title like "wait that conflicts w my stereotypes is that really what he means?!"
I don't like Omar and, to the extent I belong to any tribe (barely), I'd belong to the one you're criticizing here.
But I dig this piece, I appreciate you rising above any single tribe to hold anyone & everyone accountable when they behave poorly.
I'm a 40-something "nobody" but I've offered to debate Ben Shapiro MANY times and on SEVERAL subjects. He invariably ignores me while his fanbois all insist that I'd lose in a heartbeat. Don't hold your breath, Michael, and if/when he does debate you, prepare for a barrage of lies and have the facts ready to refute them.