It may also be that they lie to themselves to avoid confronting facts that put into question their own beliefs. If they tell what they make themselves believe to be the truth, they are not technically or intentionally telling lies. But the import for your argument is the same: it must be clear, in the final account, that what is happening now was already happening all the way along. It is a time for everyone to be prepared to leave our theoretical comfort zones for the sake of actual (not imagined) human suffering. A capacity for self-critique is crucially lacking
Spot on as ever. I suppose one should be glad that even certain elements of the morally and intellectually moribund establishment are now prepared to criticise Israel. But it’s sickening that it’s taken so long and that it has the distinct whiff of self-preservation about it.
Very true and important article. There can be no atonement if no responsibility is accepted. Our politicians are too venal to be shamed into remorse, but the mainstream media is cracking finally, but, as you write, really only to deflect from their collective responsibility. We need more articles like yours, and we all need to stop being silent. I'm a subscriber to the Washington Post, and my comment to yesterday's article finally acknowledging the starvation in Gaza was as follows: "What has been planned and was happening has been quite clear since October 2023. Israeli leaders never hid their explicit intention to eradicate Palestinian occupation of Gaza, whether by direct violence, starvation, ethnic cleansing (moving them out to other locations). In a just world, all of the WaPo writers who have downplayed or ignored or misrepresented what has been happening since October 8th would soon be on trial for aiding and abetting a g'cide. This is of course true of the NYTimes and all other mainstream media in this country. I've had to seek other news sources to have any idea of how bad it has been, basically since October 8th. Now that children are literally starving, people are trying to provide cover for their future reputations. Sorry. It won't work." Of course, Prof. Amar, as you so eloquently wrote, it was all obvious long, long before 2023....
With at least a million people in Gaza adjudged to be at level 5 starvation, the level at which refeeding can cause death, (and humanitarian organizations can only estimate the number) it seems the coordinated scramble is on by Western "liberals" to distance themselves from the impending mass starvation. Meanwhile, israeli and US officials, not to mention the always-reliable German government, are fully and openly on board with this consummate evil. Mainstream politics in the West is a sewer not a stream, and all of the above are swimming in it.
I have only watched Pierce Morgan initially and realized he was playing dumb to cash in on this genocide and slaughter with endless moronic debates that he just couldn't figure out. His biggest asset is his dumbfounded look with sleepy dull eyes and small mouth a Hallmark of a confused look. But sure still makes him a lot of money.
You're right on Russia and Ukraine, but pathologically wrong on the Gaza situation. There is no Gaza genocide. On the contrary, Hamas seeks genocide of the Jewish people - which if you know your Islamic eschatology, is exactly what Islam sees for the future: the total extermination, not of the state of Israel, but of the Jews as a people.
The war in Ukraine will end, (President Trump prefers peace to war) ; the EU can pay for weapons for NATO ; most Americans do not want to pay for this war, even if a trade deal has been signed.
If Trump "prefers peace to war," than why is he bombing Somalia, bombing Iran, giving weapons to Ukraine, and funding and arming a genocide in Gaza? Trump is golfing while Gaza starves. Trump is a con man, and he certainly has you fooled.
Your articles are so insightful and important! Thank you.
It may also be that they lie to themselves to avoid confronting facts that put into question their own beliefs. If they tell what they make themselves believe to be the truth, they are not technically or intentionally telling lies. But the import for your argument is the same: it must be clear, in the final account, that what is happening now was already happening all the way along. It is a time for everyone to be prepared to leave our theoretical comfort zones for the sake of actual (not imagined) human suffering. A capacity for self-critique is crucially lacking
Dear Tarik (I could be your mother) You couldn't said it better, nor longer, nor shorter.
As the Russians say refering publicly to NATO. Will we ever get to the root causes the real deeper
root causes?
Your Patagonian-Spanish follower
Spot on as ever. I suppose one should be glad that even certain elements of the morally and intellectually moribund establishment are now prepared to criticise Israel. But it’s sickening that it’s taken so long and that it has the distinct whiff of self-preservation about it.
Very true and important article. There can be no atonement if no responsibility is accepted. Our politicians are too venal to be shamed into remorse, but the mainstream media is cracking finally, but, as you write, really only to deflect from their collective responsibility. We need more articles like yours, and we all need to stop being silent. I'm a subscriber to the Washington Post, and my comment to yesterday's article finally acknowledging the starvation in Gaza was as follows: "What has been planned and was happening has been quite clear since October 2023. Israeli leaders never hid their explicit intention to eradicate Palestinian occupation of Gaza, whether by direct violence, starvation, ethnic cleansing (moving them out to other locations). In a just world, all of the WaPo writers who have downplayed or ignored or misrepresented what has been happening since October 8th would soon be on trial for aiding and abetting a g'cide. This is of course true of the NYTimes and all other mainstream media in this country. I've had to seek other news sources to have any idea of how bad it has been, basically since October 8th. Now that children are literally starving, people are trying to provide cover for their future reputations. Sorry. It won't work." Of course, Prof. Amar, as you so eloquently wrote, it was all obvious long, long before 2023....
With at least a million people in Gaza adjudged to be at level 5 starvation, the level at which refeeding can cause death, (and humanitarian organizations can only estimate the number) it seems the coordinated scramble is on by Western "liberals" to distance themselves from the impending mass starvation. Meanwhile, israeli and US officials, not to mention the always-reliable German government, are fully and openly on board with this consummate evil. Mainstream politics in the West is a sewer not a stream, and all of the above are swimming in it.
Thanks for your always pertinent article, translated in French here : https://zanzibar.substack.com/p/votre-cerveau-en-mode-centriste
“Are they really all just so cynical?” I love how you answer your own question. Bravo Tarik, excellent article, outstanding righteous rage.
I have only watched Pierce Morgan initially and realized he was playing dumb to cash in on this genocide and slaughter with endless moronic debates that he just couldn't figure out. His biggest asset is his dumbfounded look with sleepy dull eyes and small mouth a Hallmark of a confused look. But sure still makes him a lot of money.
Excellent and eloquent as always. But there's an error: the genocide in Gaza has been going on almost two years, not three!
Your anger, your words, resonate deeply.
I hold what ludicrously passes as ‘media’ culpable for both conflagrations. Neither would be possible without their Orwellian newspeak.
“Gaza’s Willing Executioners”
You're right on Russia and Ukraine, but pathologically wrong on the Gaza situation. There is no Gaza genocide. On the contrary, Hamas seeks genocide of the Jewish people - which if you know your Islamic eschatology, is exactly what Islam sees for the future: the total extermination, not of the state of Israel, but of the Jews as a people.
The war in Ukraine will end, (President Trump prefers peace to war) ; the EU can pay for weapons for NATO ; most Americans do not want to pay for this war, even if a trade deal has been signed.
If Trump "prefers peace to war," than why is he bombing Somalia, bombing Iran, giving weapons to Ukraine, and funding and arming a genocide in Gaza? Trump is golfing while Gaza starves. Trump is a con man, and he certainly has you fooled.