The only tragedy of Zionism is that the Israeli people who only want to live peaceful lives not only are denied this but BLAMED for the ongoing state of war brought about by their enemies. Another tragedy is that left wing allegedly Zionistic Jews of whom Thomas Friedman is the best representative make their Zionism conditional on a state of reality that doesn't exist and cannot exist. Friedman and his ilk would rather mourn the loss of their Disney World fantasy Israel than support a free, liberal Jewish state, warts and all in its struggle against a relentless monstrous enemy.
You write: 'This was not merely about creating a safe haven; it was about restoring the dignity that comes with sovereignty.' Well, The same could be said about the creation of a Palestinian state and its meaning for Palestinians. But IN FACT this can now only be seen through the military lens, that in fact in practice, most Palestinians in Gaza and The West Bank want a sovereign state as a necessary step to rearm themselves for a War of Annihilation (which is why they elected Hamas in Gaza, and who have said so) against The Jewish People. That is why they cannot have a state, and after their behaviour on 7/10 are not going to get one. It should be said again that most Jews do not want such a reciprocal outcome against Palestinians. Again, how do we know this? Because 20 percent of Israelis are Arabs who get equal rights as The Jewish People of Israel AND ARE TREATED BY US JEWS AS SUCH, and Israeli Arabs are absolutely DELIGHTED to live as sovereign citizens in a First World country such as ISRAEL!
Excellent piece about the complexities of Zionism.
I never viewed Zionism as a particularly left or right issue. The issue was the creation of the Jewish homeland, that's what Zionism is at its core. Why does it need to be politicized? In fact if anything, I view the creation of the modern Jewish state as a largely socialist endeavor at the beginning.
The fact that the activist class is now bastardizing the term 'Zionism' doesn't change its actual meaning.
Why is Zionism the only nationalistic vibe that’s worthy of a UN resolution? It’s ok that Israel is surrounded by ethnostates including the somewhat democratic Turkey. Japan is very homogeneous and they like it that way. But Israel is a problem because? It’s not like it was built in a unique way unless you consider the toil of people who made Aliyah and the absorption of persecuted middle eastern Jewish refugees. But the Middle East was carved up colonially and rather stupidly with future hazards you see now in order to appease a small nobility. I cannot be charitable about the protestors. They look like Nazi youth. People act as if that movement wasn’t also largely built on conformity. It’s chilling how easily the force of anti semitism builds up to a critical mass. Remember the refrain “I was only following orders.” Supplanted Jews are vermin pretty fast. I get the impression if the protestors really had to feel the pushback en masse you’d get a lot of it was the other guy and these flimsy unstudied principles would go out the window. I worry about this generation not least of all because many of them will be in positions of power. The student who asked for humanitarian aid after breaking school rules and the law is in some kind of teaching position not too funny however much her clownish self aggrandizing delusional request entertained people. I’m worried about a generation that thinks the arbitrary protection of feelings is more important than freedom of speech. That justifies violence so readily. That thinks friendship with someone with any differing political or social views is unthinkable. Many appear brainwashed there’s no other word for it but maybe I’m being generous in the assumption there was any laundry in there to begin with. I love America. I’m not giving it over to monstrous souls and monstrous ideas. But if Jews are besieged and let there be no doubt Jews are we belong together at a Masada. But fighting. So…am yisrael chai.
Zionism is not a tragedy; only a triumph. Liberalism is an ideology; even a moral philosophy if one could pin it down. But it is not a sociological description. But of all the modern ideologies it was most in line with how modern society functioned, engendering freedom, choice, tolerance. Today, however, liberals have become illiberal, defending when not promoting censorship, and prioritizing right-thinking attitudes and identity over personal freedom. Which shows how liberalism is no longer even an ideology in tandem with how modern society works. Instead, it is contributing to its collapse. Ironically, Zionism has a built-in immune system to this suicide, precisely because Israel is both Jewish and democratic, secular and religious, and the tension keeps the Jewish state alive and ready to fight for itself; which is more than you can say for fickle Europe, nasty Britain, and the increasingly feckless United States, not to mention Canada, Australia and the rest of the mindless West. No need to worry about Israel not being democratic or liberal; it is the only successful modern nation-state these days, even with its mindless progressive camp led by the descendants of the Old Yishuv socialist elite who have morphed into Steven Spielberg fans and only regret they do not live in Brooklyn.
Brilliant analysis, Joshua. I think ‘tragedy’ is too strong a word, but the alliteration makes for a catchy title to your essay. As an aside, I would really appreciate receiving your emails in a slightly larger font. Will also explore controls for that at my end.
To borrow a line from Israeli politician Yair Lapid, “The State of Israel wasn’t founded because we thought antisemitism would disappear. The State of Israel was founded so we can tell antisemites to go screw themselves.”
The only tragedy of Zionism is that the Israeli people who only want to live peaceful lives not only are denied this but BLAMED for the ongoing state of war brought about by their enemies. Another tragedy is that left wing allegedly Zionistic Jews of whom Thomas Friedman is the best representative make their Zionism conditional on a state of reality that doesn't exist and cannot exist. Friedman and his ilk would rather mourn the loss of their Disney World fantasy Israel than support a free, liberal Jewish state, warts and all in its struggle against a relentless monstrous enemy.
You write: 'This was not merely about creating a safe haven; it was about restoring the dignity that comes with sovereignty.' Well, The same could be said about the creation of a Palestinian state and its meaning for Palestinians. But IN FACT this can now only be seen through the military lens, that in fact in practice, most Palestinians in Gaza and The West Bank want a sovereign state as a necessary step to rearm themselves for a War of Annihilation (which is why they elected Hamas in Gaza, and who have said so) against The Jewish People. That is why they cannot have a state, and after their behaviour on 7/10 are not going to get one. It should be said again that most Jews do not want such a reciprocal outcome against Palestinians. Again, how do we know this? Because 20 percent of Israelis are Arabs who get equal rights as The Jewish People of Israel AND ARE TREATED BY US JEWS AS SUCH, and Israeli Arabs are absolutely DELIGHTED to live as sovereign citizens in a First World country such as ISRAEL!
Excellent piece about the complexities of Zionism.
I never viewed Zionism as a particularly left or right issue. The issue was the creation of the Jewish homeland, that's what Zionism is at its core. Why does it need to be politicized? In fact if anything, I view the creation of the modern Jewish state as a largely socialist endeavor at the beginning.
The fact that the activist class is now bastardizing the term 'Zionism' doesn't change its actual meaning.
Why is Zionism the only nationalistic vibe that’s worthy of a UN resolution? It’s ok that Israel is surrounded by ethnostates including the somewhat democratic Turkey. Japan is very homogeneous and they like it that way. But Israel is a problem because? It’s not like it was built in a unique way unless you consider the toil of people who made Aliyah and the absorption of persecuted middle eastern Jewish refugees. But the Middle East was carved up colonially and rather stupidly with future hazards you see now in order to appease a small nobility. I cannot be charitable about the protestors. They look like Nazi youth. People act as if that movement wasn’t also largely built on conformity. It’s chilling how easily the force of anti semitism builds up to a critical mass. Remember the refrain “I was only following orders.” Supplanted Jews are vermin pretty fast. I get the impression if the protestors really had to feel the pushback en masse you’d get a lot of it was the other guy and these flimsy unstudied principles would go out the window. I worry about this generation not least of all because many of them will be in positions of power. The student who asked for humanitarian aid after breaking school rules and the law is in some kind of teaching position not too funny however much her clownish self aggrandizing delusional request entertained people. I’m worried about a generation that thinks the arbitrary protection of feelings is more important than freedom of speech. That justifies violence so readily. That thinks friendship with someone with any differing political or social views is unthinkable. Many appear brainwashed there’s no other word for it but maybe I’m being generous in the assumption there was any laundry in there to begin with. I love America. I’m not giving it over to monstrous souls and monstrous ideas. But if Jews are besieged and let there be no doubt Jews are we belong together at a Masada. But fighting. So…am yisrael chai.
Zionism is not a tragedy; only a triumph. Liberalism is an ideology; even a moral philosophy if one could pin it down. But it is not a sociological description. But of all the modern ideologies it was most in line with how modern society functioned, engendering freedom, choice, tolerance. Today, however, liberals have become illiberal, defending when not promoting censorship, and prioritizing right-thinking attitudes and identity over personal freedom. Which shows how liberalism is no longer even an ideology in tandem with how modern society works. Instead, it is contributing to its collapse. Ironically, Zionism has a built-in immune system to this suicide, precisely because Israel is both Jewish and democratic, secular and religious, and the tension keeps the Jewish state alive and ready to fight for itself; which is more than you can say for fickle Europe, nasty Britain, and the increasingly feckless United States, not to mention Canada, Australia and the rest of the mindless West. No need to worry about Israel not being democratic or liberal; it is the only successful modern nation-state these days, even with its mindless progressive camp led by the descendants of the Old Yishuv socialist elite who have morphed into Steven Spielberg fans and only regret they do not live in Brooklyn.
Brilliant analysis, Joshua. I think ‘tragedy’ is too strong a word, but the alliteration makes for a catchy title to your essay. As an aside, I would really appreciate receiving your emails in a slightly larger font. Will also explore controls for that at my end.
There are strong differences of opinion in many countries. Never apologize for success!
What Zionism did not accomplish was the end of anti Semitism
To borrow a line from Israeli politician Yair Lapid, “The State of Israel wasn’t founded because we thought antisemitism would disappear. The State of Israel was founded so we can tell antisemites to go screw themselves.”
That was never a possibility or a plan.
There will never be an end to antisemitism, so placation is not necessary but self defense certainly is!