Very interesting, informative, and thought-provoking article. Perhaps it's time for me to reread Arendt, as well and find out more about the other writers mentioned. Thanks for reminding us that we may be facting, not a political problem, not a Nazi problem, not a Russian problem, not an Israeli problem, not an Islam problem, not a Hindu problem, not an American problem, but a human problem. One that has brought our species to the brink of annihilation.
May we find a better way, one that leads away from the retribution road, and soon.
The author of this essay distorts Hannah Arendt and most certainly distorts the current conflict in Gaza.
First a few words about Gaza and Ghettos are in Order:
Gaza was vacated by Israel in 2005 when the IDF, and Jewish residents of Gaza, exited Gaza.
The Arabs said our sin was the occupation of Arab land.
We Jews gave the Arabs Gaza.
And Gaza rewarded our peaceful overtures with bloodshed.
The Jews of the Warsaw ghetto did NOTHING to offend or harm germans or Germany prior to World War Two. Nevertheless, the Germans sought to slaughter every last Jew.
By contrast, prior to Israel's invasion of Gaza, Gazans breached the border with Israel and kiled 1200 Israelis in one day.
Consequently, it is intellectually dishonest -- nay it is a misrepresentation designed to stimulate rage and perhaps violence against Jews – to content that the Gazans of today are something along the lines of the Jews of the European ghettos of the 40’s.
And this is the true tie in to Hannah Arendt: In Eichman in Jerusalem, Arendt, in the most urbane and erudite language, said “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” She said that Eichman appeared very commonplace, ordinary, grey, indeed banal. She said that evil does not necessarily glower like a ghoul, or fulminate like a madman. Evil can assume the most ordinary forms.
And I would say that the scads of academics, activists and collegiate cowards who appear, at first blush, to be intelligent and civil and house trained are another example of the banality of evil. They seem inoffensive. but by contorting the facts to malign and convict Israel and the Jews they are well on their way to becoming utterly evil.
How benevolent of you, allowing the locals to live in an open air prison in their own land.
The Israel Lobby has done a great job of hiding Israeli actions against Palestinians (& yes they haven’t been appreciative enough of the crumbs they’ve been allotted), but the world is large and awakening to their plight.
Very interesting, informative, and thought-provoking article. Perhaps it's time for me to reread Arendt, as well and find out more about the other writers mentioned. Thanks for reminding us that we may be facting, not a political problem, not a Nazi problem, not a Russian problem, not an Israeli problem, not an Islam problem, not a Hindu problem, not an American problem, but a human problem. One that has brought our species to the brink of annihilation.
May we find a better way, one that leads away from the retribution road, and soon.
Well said. Thank you.
I hope you don’t get excoriated Richard by the Israel Lobby for daring to come to the defense of anything that might discredit Israel.
It's interesting that I too have come around to Arendt after ignoring her my entire life. The Eichmann book is dynamite.
Yes, it's interesting, isn't it? The Eichmann book speaks to the present moment.
The author of this essay distorts Hannah Arendt and most certainly distorts the current conflict in Gaza.
First a few words about Gaza and Ghettos are in Order:
Gaza was vacated by Israel in 2005 when the IDF, and Jewish residents of Gaza, exited Gaza.
The Arabs said our sin was the occupation of Arab land.
We Jews gave the Arabs Gaza.
And Gaza rewarded our peaceful overtures with bloodshed.
The Jews of the Warsaw ghetto did NOTHING to offend or harm germans or Germany prior to World War Two. Nevertheless, the Germans sought to slaughter every last Jew.
By contrast, prior to Israel's invasion of Gaza, Gazans breached the border with Israel and kiled 1200 Israelis in one day.
Consequently, it is intellectually dishonest -- nay it is a misrepresentation designed to stimulate rage and perhaps violence against Jews – to content that the Gazans of today are something along the lines of the Jews of the European ghettos of the 40’s.
And this is the true tie in to Hannah Arendt: In Eichman in Jerusalem, Arendt, in the most urbane and erudite language, said “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” She said that Eichman appeared very commonplace, ordinary, grey, indeed banal. She said that evil does not necessarily glower like a ghoul, or fulminate like a madman. Evil can assume the most ordinary forms.
And I would say that the scads of academics, activists and collegiate cowards who appear, at first blush, to be intelligent and civil and house trained are another example of the banality of evil. They seem inoffensive. but by contorting the facts to malign and convict Israel and the Jews they are well on their way to becoming utterly evil.
David Gottfried
Writes Mad Dogs and Englishmen on Substack
“We Jews gave the Arabs Gaza.”
How benevolent of you, allowing the locals to live in an open air prison in their own land.
The Israel Lobby has done a great job of hiding Israeli actions against Palestinians (& yes they haven’t been appreciative enough of the crumbs they’ve been allotted), but the world is large and awakening to their plight.
Anti Zionism is not anti semitism.