The Holocaust serves, paradoxically, as an alibi for Europeans to assume they are morally superior to others, as Caryl Churchill's cancelled arts prize shows
Dummköpfe, ja! I remember former Green Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer saying that Israel was the raison d'etre for Germany's existence. Whether politicians are left or right in Germany, they show the same obedience when it comes to Israel. Politicians obviously think they rather treat Palestinians as "Untermenschen" (subhumans) than lose their job - it pays and pleases the American overlords.
Great article. I agree with your assessment. Germany belittled Jews in the Nazi period by saying they were subhuman, and now they're dehumanizing them by saying they can do no wrong. They just can't stop insulting the Jews, and now they're also insulting the Palestinians in the bargain. Dumkopfs!
Excellent analysis of a problem that baffles so many. This is a problem in which moral outrage is weaponized to ironically serve the interests of fascism. But why is it so difficult for so many to grok? We are in deep trouble.
The political environment around these discussions is so oppressive I have found it difficult to write about, which just shows how successful the campaign has been. There's a strong sense of not having "standing" to discuss this particular oppression unless you are Jewish yourself and so can be somewhat insulated from the anti-semitism claim.
On its face it is a bizarre thing to say. The idea that "BDS/criticising Israel is anti-semitic" seems to me itself be deeply anti-semitic. Isn't that employing an anti-semitic trope by linking all Jewish people to the actions of the Israeli state against Palestinians? I just don't understand how that passes any reasonable test.
> "One conclusion to draw from the revocation of Churchill’s award – the latest episode in Europe’s endless “antisemitism rows” – is that German elites, who control the public discourse, have signally failed to internalise the Holocaust’s key lesson."
> "It is a universal one: that we should never tolerate the demonisation of oppressed and marginalised groups, or those who stand in solidarity with them, especially when the state itself or its representatives are behind such demonisation. That way lies pogroms and gas chambers."
This is what stands out the most to me. Dehumanisation is not merely an end it's a journey, it's an illness that begets itself and builds in toxicity. I don't think we do any favours to Israel by hiding this and giving them impunity, this illness in fact quite substantially eating away at their humanity and I truly worry for both the Palestinian lives and the state of the soul of Israel if it is allowed to continue along this path.
Great Clarity and Insight unraveling a big knot cleverly spun out of lies and deception in broad daylight. Thank You for your tireless devotion to sharing Truth with all those deceived and gullible to ‘state’ sponsored propaganda.
Dummköpfe, ja! I remember former Green Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer saying that Israel was the raison d'etre for Germany's existence. Whether politicians are left or right in Germany, they show the same obedience when it comes to Israel. Politicians obviously think they rather treat Palestinians as "Untermenschen" (subhumans) than lose their job - it pays and pleases the American overlords.
Great article. I agree with your assessment. Germany belittled Jews in the Nazi period by saying they were subhuman, and now they're dehumanizing them by saying they can do no wrong. They just can't stop insulting the Jews, and now they're also insulting the Palestinians in the bargain. Dumkopfs!
Brilliant again, thank you, Jonathan!
The truth once again brought to light! Do you think Biden would have declared war on England if Corbyn had actually got to be Prime Minister!?
Excellent analysis of a problem that baffles so many. This is a problem in which moral outrage is weaponized to ironically serve the interests of fascism. But why is it so difficult for so many to grok? We are in deep trouble.
The political environment around these discussions is so oppressive I have found it difficult to write about, which just shows how successful the campaign has been. There's a strong sense of not having "standing" to discuss this particular oppression unless you are Jewish yourself and so can be somewhat insulated from the anti-semitism claim.
On its face it is a bizarre thing to say. The idea that "BDS/criticising Israel is anti-semitic" seems to me itself be deeply anti-semitic. Isn't that employing an anti-semitic trope by linking all Jewish people to the actions of the Israeli state against Palestinians? I just don't understand how that passes any reasonable test.
> "One conclusion to draw from the revocation of Churchill’s award – the latest episode in Europe’s endless “antisemitism rows” – is that German elites, who control the public discourse, have signally failed to internalise the Holocaust’s key lesson."
> "It is a universal one: that we should never tolerate the demonisation of oppressed and marginalised groups, or those who stand in solidarity with them, especially when the state itself or its representatives are behind such demonisation. That way lies pogroms and gas chambers."
This is what stands out the most to me. Dehumanisation is not merely an end it's a journey, it's an illness that begets itself and builds in toxicity. I don't think we do any favours to Israel by hiding this and giving them impunity, this illness in fact quite substantially eating away at their humanity and I truly worry for both the Palestinian lives and the state of the soul of Israel if it is allowed to continue along this path.
Great Clarity and Insight unraveling a big knot cleverly spun out of lies and deception in broad daylight. Thank You for your tireless devotion to sharing Truth with all those deceived and gullible to ‘state’ sponsored propaganda.