“Their wars feel viscerally disconnected from our jobs, our families, and our physical existence in time and space. We are alienated from the violence projected in our name.” 100%. I work with kids whose parents are generally enlightened (not so much so that they see through Kamala Harris, but…), yet three of them have asked me if I’m Jewish or Palestinian. They simply can’t understand the depth of my horror at what’s going on. I know they’re not getting as much information as I am, and that they don’t see themselves as “activists,” but really! To be genuinely puzzled as to why someone would go to demonstrations these days….SMH
Full disclosure Leighton, I was a bit hesitant to subscribe (although I u)timately did) because it seemed like you'd be hesitant delve into this subject (if for no other reason than due a frequent employer of yours). This took cojones to write, and you did it pretty fairly and pragmatically. Glad I took the chance to hear you out.
The biggest problem as an American trying to understand this conflict is that we have no idea whats true or not. Hamas plays a game of propaganda where civilian casualties are the point. This is their playbook: Hide all their military infrastructure under/amongst civilians. Commit atrocities against Israel to provoke them to attack civilian targets. Collect international sympathy and support when there is inevitable collateral damage. The incident recounted here seems like propaganda: I have a hard time believing the IDF would behave this way.
Im not sure what you’re referencing there but Im fairly certain that Hamas committed unspeakable atrocities on October. This site that you're referencing hardly seems non-biased. We know that Hamas intentionally causes civilian deaths for propaganda purposes. We know that they have lied about events in the past (claiming that Israel bombed a hospital when really it was their own rockets). Therefore it is sensible to be skeptical and think critically about the types of claims being made by Mondoweiss.
Look Leighton this is a bad article. The more I peruse this site “Mondoweiss” the more Im skeptical of their claims. They have a banner reading “One Year of Genocide” so they obviously have an axe to grind. Think this is going to be the end of my paid subscription for you. I thought you were above this type of yellow journalism but apparently not
Wow. Are you actually on the payroll of the Israeli government or is being gullible your hobby? If you can really look at what the Israelis are doing in Gaza, as opposed to reading from IDF or US State Department briefings, and say this has not been a year of offensive, avoidable and ultra-violent war making, then you lack the capacity for critical thought. It’s missing, and I’d be careful around insurance and real estate people and used car salesmen if I were you.
The people we are killing through our surrogate Israel have relatives and allies living within our own borders. We let the same enemy in, Israel’s enemies are now our enemies and they are American citizens; we are now Israel, the whole world is now Israel.
I fear Immigration will lead to war of all against all.
I just read the Atlantic piece by Robert Worth “ the Iranian period is over”. Lebanon is not a country. It is a set of tribes. Lebanon has always been a war of all against all .
That’s what’s been done to the American demos. There no longer is a Demos. There are just tribes that don’t get along. Lebanon is unfixable and America is increasingly unfixable.
The panacea of liberalism is becoming evermore obvious.
America has been destroyed by the liberal notion that everyone’s the same, that we all can get along. Our author says we consider ourselves special and exempt from history and this is our undoing.
Israel takes precautions to avoid civilian casualties. Hamas leadership has made it clear that casualties among its civilian population, much of it effectively captive, are a necessary cost to achieve whatever nihilistic objective Hamas seeks. Hamas made that clear to locals by ejecting then executing any remaining supporters of the Palestinian Authority. It continues to use civilians as human shields. Imagine the craven nature of a regime whose fighters seek shelter in tunnels beneath hospitals and schools.
Now that the narrative seems to be gowing away from Hamas and its leadership is either dead or in hiding, there emerge tales of IDF atrocities. Perhaps those same Hamas leaders think this will provide the motivation of indignation needed for their remaining front line terror troops to continue the fight. Surely the hungry ordinary people would end it tomorrow if they could. So how else to keep the cannon fodder between Hamas leaders and the IDF? But it won't last.
Jesus, who are these disturbed individuals? Are these regular trolls or just freelancers? As if evil governments didn’t do enough damage, we have to put up with demented citizens who’re glad to help man the Death Star propaganda machine. How sad for our country and for the world.
“Like teenagers, we Americans live under an illusion of invincibility.”
True, and our Hollywood long ago made violence entertaining. But is the United States “the most belligerent tribe of them all?” In the history of the entire world — no.
“Their wars feel viscerally disconnected from our jobs, our families, and our physical existence in time and space. We are alienated from the violence projected in our name.” 100%. I work with kids whose parents are generally enlightened (not so much so that they see through Kamala Harris, but…), yet three of them have asked me if I’m Jewish or Palestinian. They simply can’t understand the depth of my horror at what’s going on. I know they’re not getting as much information as I am, and that they don’t see themselves as “activists,” but really! To be genuinely puzzled as to why someone would go to demonstrations these days….SMH
Full disclosure Leighton, I was a bit hesitant to subscribe (although I u)timately did) because it seemed like you'd be hesitant delve into this subject (if for no other reason than due a frequent employer of yours). This took cojones to write, and you did it pretty fairly and pragmatically. Glad I took the chance to hear you out.
The biggest problem as an American trying to understand this conflict is that we have no idea whats true or not. Hamas plays a game of propaganda where civilian casualties are the point. This is their playbook: Hide all their military infrastructure under/amongst civilians. Commit atrocities against Israel to provoke them to attack civilian targets. Collect international sympathy and support when there is inevitable collateral damage. The incident recounted here seems like propaganda: I have a hard time believing the IDF would behave this way.
You think Hamas is the only one engaged in atrocity inflation? Remember the 40 beheaded babies that Joe Biden “saw pictures of”?
Im not sure what you’re referencing there but Im fairly certain that Hamas committed unspeakable atrocities on October. This site that you're referencing hardly seems non-biased. We know that Hamas intentionally causes civilian deaths for propaganda purposes. We know that they have lied about events in the past (claiming that Israel bombed a hospital when really it was their own rockets). Therefore it is sensible to be skeptical and think critically about the types of claims being made by Mondoweiss.
But be entirely credulous of claims of the IDF, to be “unbiased.” Interesting.
Look Leighton this is a bad article. The more I peruse this site “Mondoweiss” the more Im skeptical of their claims. They have a banner reading “One Year of Genocide” so they obviously have an axe to grind. Think this is going to be the end of my paid subscription for you. I thought you were above this type of yellow journalism but apparently not
Assumed I’d lose subscribers on this one. Have a nice weekend.
Wow. Are you actually on the payroll of the Israeli government or is being gullible your hobby? If you can really look at what the Israelis are doing in Gaza, as opposed to reading from IDF or US State Department briefings, and say this has not been a year of offensive, avoidable and ultra-violent war making, then you lack the capacity for critical thought. It’s missing, and I’d be careful around insurance and real estate people and used car salesmen if I were you.
Where did I say that?
"I have a hard time believing the IDF would behave this way."
They seem like such nice people….in what hall of funhouse mirrors?!
The above
The people we are killing through our surrogate Israel have relatives and allies living within our own borders. We let the same enemy in, Israel’s enemies are now our enemies and they are American citizens; we are now Israel, the whole world is now Israel.
I fear Immigration will lead to war of all against all.
I just read the Atlantic piece by Robert Worth “ the Iranian period is over”. Lebanon is not a country. It is a set of tribes. Lebanon has always been a war of all against all .
That’s what’s been done to the American demos. There no longer is a Demos. There are just tribes that don’t get along. Lebanon is unfixable and America is increasingly unfixable.
The panacea of liberalism is becoming evermore obvious.
America has been destroyed by the liberal notion that everyone’s the same, that we all can get along. Our author says we consider ourselves special and exempt from history and this is our undoing.
Israel takes precautions to avoid civilian casualties. Hamas leadership has made it clear that casualties among its civilian population, much of it effectively captive, are a necessary cost to achieve whatever nihilistic objective Hamas seeks. Hamas made that clear to locals by ejecting then executing any remaining supporters of the Palestinian Authority. It continues to use civilians as human shields. Imagine the craven nature of a regime whose fighters seek shelter in tunnels beneath hospitals and schools.
Now that the narrative seems to be gowing away from Hamas and its leadership is either dead or in hiding, there emerge tales of IDF atrocities. Perhaps those same Hamas leaders think this will provide the motivation of indignation needed for their remaining front line terror troops to continue the fight. Surely the hungry ordinary people would end it tomorrow if they could. So how else to keep the cannon fodder between Hamas leaders and the IDF? But it won't last.
That is indeed a comprehensive regurgitation of IDF talking points.
Nation states are war machines. This and other such horrors won't end until we wake up and stop feeding them our money, time, and blood.
I hope you are right because if not, you are advocating blood libel and jew hatred.
And you’re advocating Islamophobia and the genocide of Muslims. See what I did there? What an inane “argument.”
Jesus, who are these disturbed individuals? Are these regular trolls or just freelancers? As if evil governments didn’t do enough damage, we have to put up with demented citizens who’re glad to help man the Death Star propaganda machine. How sad for our country and for the world.
“Like teenagers, we Americans live under an illusion of invincibility.”
True, and our Hollywood long ago made violence entertaining. But is the United States “the most belligerent tribe of them all?” In the history of the entire world — no.
Our naïveté is stunning, though.
Certainly not in the history of the world. But at this moment in time? Absolutely. Nobody else has the power to be.