Monday, October 26, 2015
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Comments on the newest violence in Palestine/Israel
I do not believe Israel is sustainable long term w/o imperial backing.* Jews in the BDS movement feel similarly. Zionists claim otherwise, but you can feel the fear. And this is of course why they want to be surrounded by all friendly clients, as Egypt has become. Not by friends but clients. Friends may have concerns, Clients will move along. That project isn't looking good (or maybe it is--for awhile). (*I mean as a continuing Jewish Supremacy Colonial State continuing as it is--to the horror of all.)
Anyway it isn't going to have Imperial backing forever. Eventually the winds will change in one way or another. And many clients may flip to friends or even something else.
Changing those winds ought to be the hinge point for the peace movement in USA--the USA itself is behind this whole mess and continues to support it with resources and cover. Second, and I realize this is fantasy now, but talking Zionists down out of the tree by talking sense about it.* It is of course destroying Judiasm and Western credibility generally. This has been our number one security issue since at least 1991, cost us Trillions so far.
(*Here is how I might put it. The wrong path has been followed from the beginning. Letting thugs instead of ambassadors do the work. As the most educated and intelligent Americans and Europeans, Jews could have built a model multi-ethnic state, putting the USA to shame. The end result of taking the low road is that the reputation of Judaism is destroyed in the long run. Depending on how this works out, centuries to come Jews could be too embarrassed to admit they were Jews. That is the likely long run outcome of a militaristic approach that endlessly grinds away at the indigenous population. There is still time to turn back and do things the right way, following Jewish principles--treating their neighbor as best friend. The USA did grant full citizenship to indigenous peoples in 1905. Territories have been mostly stable (though some mining encroachment which has been awful). Israel could do the same thing, and much more.)
So really what both sides should do, IMHO, is nothing. Just wait it out. Gradually work on the politics if possible in a positive way. Or at least keyboard clicks instead of bullets.
For the Zionists this works like this: the cooler they are, the longer their Imperial backing will last. And more perhaps is on the line than that, as I said above, the identity itself is at stake.
For Palestinians, job 1 is survival. Intifada doesn't help that.
That's my chicken dove kitchen table opinion anyway, which I'm sure nobody will follow. But otherwise, my feelings are not so "balanced" as this article.* I believe that Palestinians have a right to defend themselves within their entire original territories, whose dispensation they never agreed to except in one agreement which was fraudulent (Camp David). Meanwhile, until they withdraw from occupied territories and remove all settlements there and all blockades against Gaza, Israelis do not have a right to claim self defense as a justification for any violence they use. They are an invading army/settler-colonial-state, and they have the right to peace only upon withdrawal and cessation of war activities including occupation and blockade at least to current international agreements (which were unfairly decided in their direction in the first place). Or just give up the whole idea of a Jewish Supremacy State, that's now looking like the easier approach. But meanwhile Israel kills far more Palestinians.
(*to be linked soon. Typical mainstream both sides do it. Or that was mainstream long ago. Then it was those damn arab terrorists. Now Israel itself is coming into mainstream US consciousness, more and more, not in a good way. We've passed through both sides do it, and beyond perhaps.)
Anyway it isn't going to have Imperial backing forever. Eventually the winds will change in one way or another. And many clients may flip to friends or even something else.
Changing those winds ought to be the hinge point for the peace movement in USA--the USA itself is behind this whole mess and continues to support it with resources and cover. Second, and I realize this is fantasy now, but talking Zionists down out of the tree by talking sense about it.* It is of course destroying Judiasm and Western credibility generally. This has been our number one security issue since at least 1991, cost us Trillions so far.
(*Here is how I might put it. The wrong path has been followed from the beginning. Letting thugs instead of ambassadors do the work. As the most educated and intelligent Americans and Europeans, Jews could have built a model multi-ethnic state, putting the USA to shame. The end result of taking the low road is that the reputation of Judaism is destroyed in the long run. Depending on how this works out, centuries to come Jews could be too embarrassed to admit they were Jews. That is the likely long run outcome of a militaristic approach that endlessly grinds away at the indigenous population. There is still time to turn back and do things the right way, following Jewish principles--treating their neighbor as best friend. The USA did grant full citizenship to indigenous peoples in 1905. Territories have been mostly stable (though some mining encroachment which has been awful). Israel could do the same thing, and much more.)
So really what both sides should do, IMHO, is nothing. Just wait it out. Gradually work on the politics if possible in a positive way. Or at least keyboard clicks instead of bullets.
For the Zionists this works like this: the cooler they are, the longer their Imperial backing will last. And more perhaps is on the line than that, as I said above, the identity itself is at stake.
For Palestinians, job 1 is survival. Intifada doesn't help that.
That's my chicken dove kitchen table opinion anyway, which I'm sure nobody will follow. But otherwise, my feelings are not so "balanced" as this article.* I believe that Palestinians have a right to defend themselves within their entire original territories, whose dispensation they never agreed to except in one agreement which was fraudulent (Camp David). Meanwhile, until they withdraw from occupied territories and remove all settlements there and all blockades against Gaza, Israelis do not have a right to claim self defense as a justification for any violence they use. They are an invading army/settler-colonial-state, and they have the right to peace only upon withdrawal and cessation of war activities including occupation and blockade at least to current international agreements (which were unfairly decided in their direction in the first place). Or just give up the whole idea of a Jewish Supremacy State, that's now looking like the easier approach. But meanwhile Israel kills far more Palestinians.
(*to be linked soon. Typical mainstream both sides do it. Or that was mainstream long ago. Then it was those damn arab terrorists. Now Israel itself is coming into mainstream US consciousness, more and more, not in a good way. We've passed through both sides do it, and beyond perhaps.)
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Critique of Alinsky Method
I like this critique of the Alinsky Method.
I've always thought that it must go that way, and Staughton Lynd describes from his own experiences as an Alinsky teacher.
I've always thought that it must go that way, and Staughton Lynd describes from his own experiences as an Alinsky teacher.
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