(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Where I Stand on the Palestinian Question [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2024-08-02 For the better part of my 54 years on the planet, I have been thinking and grappling with the question of justice for Palestinians. I am not going to pretend to have laid my body on the line over the occupation ( as some of my braver comrades have), but still I have had a more than passing awareness on the issues at stake, and who is largely to blame over the duration ( various Israeli administrations, and hard-right Zionist adherents). Moreover, I have been an activist for justice in other numerous ways that go to the heart of my identity as a secular Leftist Jew--I helped organize a union in my workplace, and was a shop steward for seven years. I helped fight back developers in my neighborhood, and was a litigant against Mayor Giuliani. I was involved in various struggles against corporate globalization in NYC over the years. Personal friends and comrades in Jewish anti-occupation groups, were instrumental in educating me the horrors of Gaza as it unfolded in many iterations over the years ( pre-internet reality). These people courageously locked their arms and blocked traffic in front of the Israeli embassy, until dragged away by the police. Long before this, in college, of course, Edward Said’s writings were instrumental in shaping my perspective on the long standing geo-political actors involved. I read Norman Finkelstein’s book “Image and Reality of the Israeli Palestine Conflict” ( 1995) which delves deeply into the ideology of Zionism as a largely right-wing romantic ideology. It is certainly an eye-opener. Back to Finkelstein in a moment... None of this of course, makes me special, but it does, at least suggest that I am not a fan of the Israeli government. That I think the governmental structure itself ( based on right-wing romantic ideals, with no Bill of Rights) is a recipe for disaster and corruption and eternal violence. All of this goes to say, fuck off if anyone thinks I want to “obfuscate” the horrors of what is going on in Gaza. Also: As someone who has felt actual hatred based on my ethnicity, I am not going to shut up about what I observe and experience, as a Leftist Jew... much as I am loathe to do it. Let’s start with the obvious: The Red Star caucus of DSA thinks Hamas is the revolutionary vanguard in Palestine, and fully support their actions. I was a member of DSA up until this past year, but as I am not one to believe “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” I cancelled my membership. The local NY chapter ( the one associated with AOC), still has some political value, but I won’t support them with labor or money anymore. The blase’ idiocy with which this organization—initially full of so much political possibility-- has nearly politically immolated itself over this question is really fucking sad to me. If I need to explain to you why Hamas is not the revolutionary vanguard, then I suggest you need to do some further reading about what they represent…They are not on the side of progress or justice. The tactics of many Pro-Palestine activists in this country leave much to be desired, and this no small consideration. I have commented on this elsewhere. While I agree the backlash against protestors has been equally appalling in many instances, I can’t (ideologically or tactically) support dumb shit, like trashing art galleries, spray-painting slogans on the side of public libraries, and generally harassing people one disagrees with. This is not about being “polite.” I believe that protest should have both potently symbolic and, politically pre-figurative, value. What I have witnessed since the latest iteration of the nightmare, is neither impressive nor useful. I guess it is an excellent means of mindless personal venting, but, to my mind, it is often less than helpful, if one is serious about moving forward. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/8/2/2260093/-Where-I-Stand-on-the-Palestinian-Question?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/