The New Discourses Podcast with James Lindsay, Ep. 197
The Jewish Question, which is “what do we do with the Jews?” rests on the presumption that they aren’t wanted here, or maybe anywhere. It is therefore intrinsically antisemitic. Since the catastrophe of World War II, all civilized societies have come to recognize this fact and refuse the Jewish Question except in the dark margins of society (at least, until recently). With the state of Israel on the world stage again, though, the question hasn’t gone away but has changed shape. Now, instead of asking about what we do with the Jews, presuming they aren’t wanted, it is a sign of nationalist erudition to ask what we should do with Israel, still on the presumption that it isn’t wanted. This is called “the Israel Question,” and it is merely a proxy for the Jewish Question in our post-WWII world. In this episode of the New Discourses Podcast, host James Lindsay explains in thorough detail how the Israel Question is just a modern reinvention of the Jewish Question that hides the same darkness. Join him to learn why almost all anti-Zionism is just the same old antisemitism pretending to be high-minded global politics and foreign affairs.
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6 comments
This analysis basically degrades this entire subject into a pile of mush.
And I don’t particularly disagree with that.
We are spending too much time arguing about issues that aren’t worth our attention, and too little time arguing about issues that are.
And though this brings up the question of whether James really had to spend an hour and a half trying to convince us that all the propaganda we hear about this subject is totally unconvincing, this is his way.
There’s still a lot of oil in the Middle East, and the West wants it. Somewhere along the way it was decided to install what amounted to a bunch of anti-West governments and cultures in the Middle East. This guarantees conflict in the region at least until the oil runs out, if not longer. And that’s crazy.
Excellent work; well researched; understands Biblical worldview and divine revelation of Scripture. .
Greetings: Is it possible to get written transcripts of any of the NEW DISCOURSES PODCASTS? Specifically, “The Israel Question as the Modern Jewish Question”?
Thank you
Regards
A very clear analysis of a very important issue. Two comments: i. Sadly, there was a place for the Jews to run to during the Second World War: Israel, or the League of Nations Mandate for Palestine. It was set up by the League, voted on by the world community as the place for the Jews to build a homeland, and included Judea, Samaria, and Gaza. The Ottomans had ceded their empire to the victors of the First World War, who came up with the idea of “mandates” as embryonic states — not colonies — and handed the matter over to the League, which itself had also emerged from their discussions. The Jews were assigned a small corner of the former empire but it became only a quarter of its original size when the British severed the lion’s share to create what became Jordan. Britain, the mandatory power, was charged with helping the Jews settle the territory but instead shut the gates to Jewish but not Arab immigration.
I’d also suggest that ii. while Zionism originally meant a belief that a Jewish state should exist, since 1948, that issue has been settled. Since then Zionism has meant a belief that the world should, at the very least, leave Israel in peace, and that Zionists should support — even love — the country.
James, I am in agreement with your points. Israel is a free sovereign nation that has a right to defend itself. This is especially true given its inception in 1948 and the constant threats its people have faced. It’s antisemitic to think otherwise. But an interesting (and confounding) fact is that about 20% of American Jews are anti-Zionist. Some are from ultra-orthodox sects, and others are for socio-political reasons like pro-Palestinian sympathizers. And how about the fact that a prominent Jewish thinker developed the Communist ideology that so many countries adopted in the last century around the world, and still lingers? There are grey areas in human nature.
Seeing Lindsay (is he jooish?) pimp out this tired rhetoric is beyond depressing.
Israel is committing genocide and inciting WWIII by proxy control of the US government and direct control of the media.
It’s easy to verify.
Using this kind of sad sophistry to pretend anti-Israel is anti-Jewish is infantile and transparent. It’s also derivative of ADL and other hyperventilatingly pro-Zionist organizations.
What a tragic fall from the excellence of the Hoax Papers.