By ARNO J. MAYER
"Israel is in the grip of a kind of collective schizophrenia. Not only its governors but the majority of its Jewish population have delusions of both grandeur and persecution, making for a distortion of reality and inconsistent behavior. Israeli Jews see and represent themselves as a chosen people and part of a superior Western civilization. They consider themselves more cerebral, reasonable, moral, and dynamic than Arabs and Muslims generally, and Palestinians in particular. At the same time they feel themselves to be the ultimate incarnation of the Jewish people’s unique suffering through the ages, still subject to constant insecurity and defenselessness in the face of ever-threatening extreme and unmerited punishment." (more)
Thursday, June 4, 2009
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I just bought his book on the history of Zionism.
ReplyDeletePardon my brevity because I really do like Arno and what he has to say. However, I simply say that the religious facade is merely used by the Zionists - as well as the collective angst, to excuse and a slow genocidal colonialism in the 21st century. Now, i know that is brief, but I have my reasons for coming to this conclusion.
ReplyDeleteIsraelis are actually one of the least religious people around.
ReplyDeleteMaybe but the settlers who are fundementally religious and messianic are driving the agenda. Thewy're the ones wjo todasy are having most influence on the policies of expansion and extention of the settlements. Their numbers are growing so to say that the Israelis are the least religious is no more significant. What the Palestinians are seeing from the Israelis is less the secular Jew than the messianic, demented thug!!
ReplyDeleteMaybe but the settlers who are fundementally religious and messianic are driving the agenda. They're the ones who today are having most influence on the policies of expansion and extension of the settlements. Their numbers are growing, so to say that the Israelis are the least religious is no more significant. What the Palestinians are seeing from the Israelis is less the secular Jew than the messianic, demented thug!!
ReplyDeleteYes they are being used, these settlers who are rabidly religious, and they have a momentum of their own. However, they are the face (no matter how religiously "sincere") being positioned and protected by a cynical elite. To be frank, this type of nonsense goes on all over the world, but it is especially grievous here. The Palestinians do see the messianic thug - but they are armed and commissioned by the common colonial thieves at the top.
ReplyDeleteIn this article Mr. Mayer disputes that Jewish history has been one of overwhelming persecution. He isn't saying that there has not been persecution, but says this: "...there was vital Jewish life before the Shoah, and it resumed full force after 1945, in both Israel and the diaspora."
ReplyDeleteI have always been suspicious of the claim that Jews are the most persecuted people on earth, that their suffering is more horrible than that of say, Africans or Indigenous people. The words racism and discrimination aren't strong enough. It's against the law to deny the holocaust (in Europe) so how is it legal for Pat Buchanan to say that black people are better off for slavery?
Yes Ann, and what should be automatically assumed is those who suffering has been ignored and denied is a great injustice. To smother the moral voice of others with a sort of holocaust supremacy is a terrible thing, it should be a light that dispells the darkness of like deeds, not the other way around.
ReplyDeleteActually, Molly I disagree. There are many religious Jews and religious Israelis.
ReplyDeleteAnn Jews are terribly discriminated against. Many Asians have long been puzzled at the extensive Jew hatred among Westeners and Arabs.
China and India treat Jews much better than Westeners or Arabs. Many Asians like Jews.
What is empire? Is empire = free market globalization?
ReplyDeletewhere is "West Asia"?
ReplyDeleteChina and India treat Jews much better than Westeners or Arabs.
ReplyDelete--------
You should provide evidence that Arabs are treating the Jews badly! The reason why I'm saying this is because I'm sick and tired of hearing this recurrent statement of yours when actually it's the other way around!!
For example. Which Arab country are you talking about and how the "jews are mistreated"? EVIDENCE please!
ReplyDeleteTGIA, ask a Jew this question. I will say that many Jews feel that Spanish treat Jews worse than Arabs. I have heard from Jews that anti Jewish bigotry from Latin Americans is particularly bad (maybe because of the Spanish/Portuguese influence?)
ReplyDeleteTGIA, I am sure you have Jewish friends. Ask them how Jews are treated by Arabs. Listen carefully to what they say.
PS. I think that the Palestinians are not motivated by anti Jewish hatred, but are motivated by their desire for justice, mutual respect and getting what is owed to them.
I wonder; why do Arabs treat Palestinians so badly? I think it is because many Arabs dislike "BOTH" Palestinians and Israelis.
TGIA, one question I have been asked several times is why do people hate Jews so much. (Usually this is refering to Westeners, Arabs and to some degree muslims more generally.) What is your answer to this question?
Is it because many Christians regard Jews as Christ killers? Many muslims regard Jews as the killer of prophets. Assad said that the Jews killed Jesus, John the Baaptist and other prophets in front of the Pope.
Is this a serious question?
ReplyDeleteTGIA, do you really believe that anti Jewish discrimination is not a problem in the Arab world? Maybe it isn't as bad as it is in some European countries, but it is still pretty bad.
ReplyDeleteAnand, where is your ass, can you find it with two hands? Figure that out first
ReplyDeleteThe Palestinians are slaughtered wholesale by Jews but all you care is how poeople "feel" about Jews!! Give me a break!!
ReplyDeleteYes I believe it! The feelings stem from the theft of Palestine and has little to nothing to do with Anti Semitism! Anyone who believes otherwise has no credibility. The starting point of it all is the implementation of a colonial project to establish a Jewish state on Palestinian land. If any anti Semitism was present before it was latent and cannot be compared with European antiSemitism!
ReplyDeletePalestinians are mistreated pretty badly.
ReplyDeleteI don't think either Palestinians or Jews should be mistreated.
Why don't Arabs treat Palestinians better (at least Arabs excluding Jordan)? Israelis think that they can get away with kicking Palestinians around since the "arab brothers" 6arab akhwat do it too.
Well Lebanon is considered Asia ! Where is west of Lebanon for example?
ReplyDeleteTyrkey is Asia Minor! West of Turkey is Bulgaria!!!
ReplyDeleteWhere is West Asia?
Turkey is Asia Minor! West of Turkey is Bulgaria!!!
ReplyDeleteWhere is West Asia in this case. One has to be specific, no??
Turkey is Asia Minor! West of Turkey is Bulgaria!!! Unless you're talking about Russia and all the old Soviet republics!!!
ReplyDeleteLet's be specific!
Are we having this conversation again Anand, look you little shit - just because you want Zionists to help you (and they have) build a little oppressive national security state in India to hurt your own people for a caste elite does not mean you can make up stories about history. Just because you think India is in the little good ol' boys club along with these Zionist reprobates means zero, it just makes you a conceited little ass with no conscience. No one is going to listen to your horse shit repetitively, get lost.
ReplyDeleteV, many countries around the world are friends with Israel. Just because they are friends of Israel doesn't mean they can't be close friends with Palestinians too. Open your mind to new possiblities.
ReplyDeleteCan I ask you a question? Why do Arabs mistreat Palestinians so badly (except for Jordanians)?
tgia
ReplyDeleteRe:anand
As I painfully discovered :anand does not need to support anything with any proof,neither any proof will register in his mosquito sized brain,anand has unfounded preconceived ideas just about everything.He is an Encyclopaedia of lies and misinformation,a stubborn idiot that cannot make sense of the simplest common sense.He's a religious freak and hides as a secular.He's a zealot and dogmatist. It's easier to bash one's head against a brick wall than talk to anand.