Judging the Jewish state as if it was a quintessential member of "the West" only puts unrealistic and misguided expectations on Israelis and, by extension, the Jewish People.
thank you Alex for a very informative and perspective changing article. It helps to explain some of the differences of viewpoints and tension between Israeli and US ignorant politicians
I think I knew this was true but didn’t know that I knew it. It strikes me that the “pro-Palestine” miscreants are so obviously guilty of massively projecting their own hatred of the West and themselves onto Israel, accusing it of representing not just a Western country but a uniquely evil one. They think Israelis are white supremacists and colonizers who want to genocide innocent brown ppl in order to steal land. It is so ahistorical and anti-intellectual such that it’s kind of comical, yet very depressing.
They have no idea what it would be like to live surrounded by countries that want to kill you! And then the world turns on you and has no empathy for people who have suffered so much. Unimaginable. I think Israelis are some of the strongest people who I respect and admire so much.
Israel is patterned on the norms and values of western European nations. The surrounding Arab nations are not.
Here’s the real problem you’re facing. Westerners (my countrymen included) are falling victim to a cult version of Christianity - progressivism (many Jews are falling victim to this cult as well - a surprising thought, eh?) I instinctively support Israel, as a Christian man who takes truth and justice seriously, because the Israeli nation takes truth and justice seriously. I don’t support Hamas, or angry Arab tribes, because I can plainly see that they do not take truth or justice seriously. They take power and victory seriously.
Do not twist yourself into knots - the west is going through immense spiritual turmoil right now and Israel simply must stay steadfast while the west (please, God) extirpates cultish beliefs, returning to the pursuit of truth and justice.
Codicil: because Israel and Israelis are also vulnerable to the predominant western (Christian) cult - progressivism - there is much in Israel, I am certain, which I might object to. Like the veneration of homosexuality, or the dishonesty surrounding the practice of abortion. But I cannot seriously object to either of those things, unless I keep truth and justice at the top of my value hierarchy (as a Christian I believe God, truth, & justice are unified - perhaps you do as well). So I bang on about truth & justice.
Arabs and Muslims - all that prevents me from becoming your champion is your insistence that falsehood can serve the purposes of the one true God. Don’t war anymore with Israel, unless and until you win your spiritual war against the veneration of falsehood. Tall order, I know.
What is "Western" about Israel is its value of basic rights, such as freedom of speech, freedom or the press, free elections, and maintaining a functioning democracy. This is in spite of its founders being dedicated Socialists, mostly of Eastern European origin and initially being admirers of the Soviet Union.
What is positive about this Westernization is the day-to-day tolerance practiced between Rivlin's "tribes."
By the way, Stalin was a dedicated anti-Zionist. Part of his motivation in recognizing Israel may have been to help get the British out of the Middle East.
Interesting piece, but I think it is quite wrong to say that Western nations aim at integration. They simply don't and those that actually call for it are typically labelled as far right or something similar. I would also contend that, though Israel and the western West have indeed diverged in various ways, Israel does remain fundamentally Western in its ethos; perhaps, actually, MORE Western since the western West is increasingly bypassing democracy (cf the EU) and turning its back on the nation state. At least, that's what the elite establishment is doing. I reckon ordinary folk retain A LOT more trust in these traditional Western traits. Which may give us some cause for hope, perhaps, even as we are inspired by the resilience of the Israeli people in the face of genuine oppression.
Thank you! So interesting!
Wonderful thoughtful piece. I learned a lot. Thank you.
thank you Alex for a very informative and perspective changing article. It helps to explain some of the differences of viewpoints and tension between Israeli and US ignorant politicians
I think I knew this was true but didn’t know that I knew it. It strikes me that the “pro-Palestine” miscreants are so obviously guilty of massively projecting their own hatred of the West and themselves onto Israel, accusing it of representing not just a Western country but a uniquely evil one. They think Israelis are white supremacists and colonizers who want to genocide innocent brown ppl in order to steal land. It is so ahistorical and anti-intellectual such that it’s kind of comical, yet very depressing.
They have no idea what it would be like to live surrounded by countries that want to kill you! And then the world turns on you and has no empathy for people who have suffered so much. Unimaginable. I think Israelis are some of the strongest people who I respect and admire so much.
Israel is patterned on the norms and values of western European nations. The surrounding Arab nations are not.
Here’s the real problem you’re facing. Westerners (my countrymen included) are falling victim to a cult version of Christianity - progressivism (many Jews are falling victim to this cult as well - a surprising thought, eh?) I instinctively support Israel, as a Christian man who takes truth and justice seriously, because the Israeli nation takes truth and justice seriously. I don’t support Hamas, or angry Arab tribes, because I can plainly see that they do not take truth or justice seriously. They take power and victory seriously.
Do not twist yourself into knots - the west is going through immense spiritual turmoil right now and Israel simply must stay steadfast while the west (please, God) extirpates cultish beliefs, returning to the pursuit of truth and justice.
Codicil: because Israel and Israelis are also vulnerable to the predominant western (Christian) cult - progressivism - there is much in Israel, I am certain, which I might object to. Like the veneration of homosexuality, or the dishonesty surrounding the practice of abortion. But I cannot seriously object to either of those things, unless I keep truth and justice at the top of my value hierarchy (as a Christian I believe God, truth, & justice are unified - perhaps you do as well). So I bang on about truth & justice.
Arabs and Muslims - all that prevents me from becoming your champion is your insistence that falsehood can serve the purposes of the one true God. Don’t war anymore with Israel, unless and until you win your spiritual war against the veneration of falsehood. Tall order, I know.
What is "Western" about Israel is its value of basic rights, such as freedom of speech, freedom or the press, free elections, and maintaining a functioning democracy. This is in spite of its founders being dedicated Socialists, mostly of Eastern European origin and initially being admirers of the Soviet Union.
What is positive about this Westernization is the day-to-day tolerance practiced between Rivlin's "tribes."
By the way, Stalin was a dedicated anti-Zionist. Part of his motivation in recognizing Israel may have been to help get the British out of the Middle East.
Interesting piece, but I think it is quite wrong to say that Western nations aim at integration. They simply don't and those that actually call for it are typically labelled as far right or something similar. I would also contend that, though Israel and the western West have indeed diverged in various ways, Israel does remain fundamentally Western in its ethos; perhaps, actually, MORE Western since the western West is increasingly bypassing democracy (cf the EU) and turning its back on the nation state. At least, that's what the elite establishment is doing. I reckon ordinary folk retain A LOT more trust in these traditional Western traits. Which may give us some cause for hope, perhaps, even as we are inspired by the resilience of the Israeli people in the face of genuine oppression.
Hits the mark! Israel cannot be defined as media would have it.
This has always been baffling to me. It's just a way to continue to hold Israel to unreasonable standards.
Thank you Isreal for defending the West and our democracy! Those in the west that are against you are ignorant cowards. I am always with you!
For me very thought provoking article.