The only thing more depressing than watching a couple of irreconcilably polarized ideological camps attempt to bait one another–and Lord, is that a depressing spectacle–is when they somehow succeed in doing so. Contrary to what that link might have suggested (no, CUGOP isn’t bringing Jesse Helms to campus. At least I don’t think they are…) I refer to the sado-masochistic relationship between campus Zionists and anti-Zionists–that perpetual, self-destructive tit-for-tat, that ever-vigilant saboteur of calm, rational dialogue.
Call it our own cycle-of-violence: anti-Zionist group runs a pseudo-historical postering campaign claiming that Zionist thugs conspired to push them off their land, pro-Zionist group runs a pseudo-historical postering campaign claiming they didn’t (from the LionPac email: “tomorrow we will be posting our own fliers on campus stating our position.” Umm, get ready?). Engineering student writes a petulant op/ed slamming America’s largest Jewish campus group for being–gasp–pro-Israel, local chapter prez inexplicably follows the hunger-strike model of every group commenting on everything ever, and decides to slam back.
Way to raise things to an unnecessarily confrontational level, guys. More proof that the Zionist and anti-Zionist blocs totally deserve each other.
Of course, more on this tomorrow. But hopefully not a lot more.
CODA: So I’m reading that last thought of mine and wow…probably “unnecessarily confrontational,” ironically enough. Know that I mean “deserve” in the best possible sense, and that it’s always wonderful to see two passionate groups of smart people who actually give a damn grinding it out over the course of semesters and years–even if the best they can hope for is an excruciatingly permanent impasse.
read the fliers before writing about them. The LionPAC fliers never even begin to claim that Israel has always been right. Instead, they recognize that there has been suffering on both sides, and ask that we move forward instead of continuously bickering.
Said please,
On April 29, 2008 at 10:55 am:
here’s a link to the fliers - http://www.lionpac.org/response_to_nakba.pdf
Said followup,
On April 29, 2008 at 11:06 am:
well, “a plague on both their houses” is, at least, political progress for armin.
“Let’s recognize that each side has suffered, that each side has legitimate claims. It’s time to look forward.”
ie, “we won, now stop whining.”
Said abcd,
On April 29, 2008 at 1:24 pm:
Dare I suggest that Zionists may actually have shoved the Palestinians off the land? There isnt really anything pseudo about that history. cf Benny Morris, Avi Shlaim, et al.
Said Disciple of the New Historians,
On April 29, 2008 at 5:13 pm:
[…] political debate–of toleration, of talking things out, of intellectual pluralism. But the aforementioned Hillel president puts him to shame: “Al Nakba” is a term that makes many Jewish students feel […]
Said This Week’s Take-Home Message: “Discourse” is Bullshit » The Commentariat | SpecBlogs.com,
On April 29, 2008 at 1:13 pm: