Thanks for recording and sharing this conversation, truly. It may be noise for someone but I found it uniquely constructive, enlightening, and somewhat therapeutic to listen to and reflect on.
While I'm sitting here feeling helpless and depressed (ie emotional) about many of the exact same things, it's interesting to realize I don't have to wear the claim by Israel that you guys do and I can't relate to the events the way Jews might, especially the ones who have a personal narrative that allows them to see these things for what they are, ethnic cleansing flirting with a genocide. I can't escape the connection it all has to USA legacy of ethnic cleansing and genocide, and the enabling role of the USA empire in all of the history and current events, but I'm not saddled with the added ethnic/family connection to work through on top of that.
EDIT and actually being aware of this now, I should probably make an effort to check in with jewish friends rather than avoidance, they aren't all rabid zionists
Thanks again, I feel like your opinions are valuable and would be a mistake to not be shared.
Yes, seconded, it was so worth listening to, very thoughtful conversation at a time when the stakes are so high and people are so inflamed. Particularly the articulation of the fact that it's not just Jews worldwide who have a claim on Israel, but the state of Israel who has a claim on representing Jews worldwide--I had not heard that explained so clearly anywhere else.
this was good, also the only podcast to point out the realities of the Jewish diaspora (being extremely Zionist in theory and practice while quarrelling with your existing family in Israel over some slight and not talking to them)
Would love having Miko Peled on! He’s a neighbor here in DC, I’ve met him a few times at some local community organizing efforts. Great voice on these issues and knows the Israeli psyche quite well.
Yasha do you have any reading on the phenomenon of diaspora becoming counterintuitively more nationalist as they become more integrated? I’d be very interested to learn about that. Seems to me like a side effect of the our current extreme focus on identity.
Regarding your doubts about recording this episode, I can say I found it very worthwhile to listen to.
Good question. I'm year late to answering it...or not really answering it. In short: on that very narrow subject I can't really think of an example. There's a book on Chrystia Freeland's grandfather and Canada's Nazi-adjacent Ukrainian immigrant community that's coming out now. I feel like it could have glimpses into this phenom.
Good discussion, and good to know I’m not alone in being upset with current situation in Gaza and the failure of the western media to explain the history of why there are over two million people crammed into Gaza in the first place. I really fear that in the short term Palestinians, and especially those in Gaza, will be going through a very dark period in their history. However I don’t see how a state like Israel, which is addicted to war (quoting Norman Finkelstein here) can survive in the long term. Have seen clips of huge demonstrations in the Arab world in support of Palestinians. Sooner or later these countries will develop strong leaders unwilling to follow the dictates of Israel’s sponsors, the US and EU. When you are surrounded by people who hate you because of your past behaviour, and you make zero efforts at diplomacy or accommodation in your region, what chance is there of survival as a state. I’m saying this because I am also concerned about the safety and security of Israelis, and the viability of their society, given its current trajectory.
People are losing patience with Israel. I don’t understand why they don’t care about what they’re creating against them. Like, just move out of Israel. It seriously drives me nuts. They will create an army against them.
Thanks for recording and sharing this conversation, truly. It may be noise for someone but I found it uniquely constructive, enlightening, and somewhat therapeutic to listen to and reflect on.
While I'm sitting here feeling helpless and depressed (ie emotional) about many of the exact same things, it's interesting to realize I don't have to wear the claim by Israel that you guys do and I can't relate to the events the way Jews might, especially the ones who have a personal narrative that allows them to see these things for what they are, ethnic cleansing flirting with a genocide. I can't escape the connection it all has to USA legacy of ethnic cleansing and genocide, and the enabling role of the USA empire in all of the history and current events, but I'm not saddled with the added ethnic/family connection to work through on top of that.
EDIT and actually being aware of this now, I should probably make an effort to check in with jewish friends rather than avoidance, they aren't all rabid zionists
Thanks again, I feel like your opinions are valuable and would be a mistake to not be shared.
Yes, seconded, it was so worth listening to, very thoughtful conversation at a time when the stakes are so high and people are so inflamed. Particularly the articulation of the fact that it's not just Jews worldwide who have a claim on Israel, but the state of Israel who has a claim on representing Jews worldwide--I had not heard that explained so clearly anywhere else.
this was good, also the only podcast to point out the realities of the Jewish diaspora (being extremely Zionist in theory and practice while quarrelling with your existing family in Israel over some slight and not talking to them)
Would love having Miko Peled on! He’s a neighbor here in DC, I’ve met him a few times at some local community organizing efforts. Great voice on these issues and knows the Israeli psyche quite well.
Katie Halper interviewed Peled recently. You can find it on her YouTube channel.
He was on Breakthrough News too. With Brian Becker. It was good.
Yasha do you have any reading on the phenomenon of diaspora becoming counterintuitively more nationalist as they become more integrated? I’d be very interested to learn about that. Seems to me like a side effect of the our current extreme focus on identity.
Regarding your doubts about recording this episode, I can say I found it very worthwhile to listen to.
Good question. I'm year late to answering it...or not really answering it. In short: on that very narrow subject I can't really think of an example. There's a book on Chrystia Freeland's grandfather and Canada's Nazi-adjacent Ukrainian immigrant community that's coming out now. I feel like it could have glimpses into this phenom.
Great show. Honest discussion. Thank you.
Re: your upcoming show on Tarkovsky, I wonder if you've ever seen this:
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt1373300/
Good discussion, and good to know I’m not alone in being upset with current situation in Gaza and the failure of the western media to explain the history of why there are over two million people crammed into Gaza in the first place. I really fear that in the short term Palestinians, and especially those in Gaza, will be going through a very dark period in their history. However I don’t see how a state like Israel, which is addicted to war (quoting Norman Finkelstein here) can survive in the long term. Have seen clips of huge demonstrations in the Arab world in support of Palestinians. Sooner or later these countries will develop strong leaders unwilling to follow the dictates of Israel’s sponsors, the US and EU. When you are surrounded by people who hate you because of your past behaviour, and you make zero efforts at diplomacy or accommodation in your region, what chance is there of survival as a state. I’m saying this because I am also concerned about the safety and security of Israelis, and the viability of their society, given its current trajectory.
People are losing patience with Israel. I don’t understand why they don’t care about what they’re creating against them. Like, just move out of Israel. It seriously drives me nuts. They will create an army against them.