Why does the left rip down the posters of the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas?
It’s no puzzlement why Palestinians or other Arabs in this country might do it. But what about the non-Arab contingent ripping down these posters?
Jeff Jacoby has an explanation, and I think he’s spot on:
The posters went viral overnight. Within days they were appearing everywhere, a powerful symbol of Israel’s anguish and of the desperate yearning for the captives’ safe return. Then came the backlash. “Within minutes or hours of going up,” reported the New York Jewish Week, “many of them had been partially ripped off the subway station’s walls, tears obscuring the victims’ faces or details about their lives, while others were defaced with marker or surrounded by messages such as “Free Palestine.” On a poster of two of the youngest hostages, 3-year-old twins Emma and Yuli Cunio, Hitler mustaches were drawn on the girls’ faces. On other posters, the words “Lies” or “Actors” were scrawled. …
The “Kidnapped” fliers are intolerable to the haters because they so urgently challenge the antisemitic paradigm. They make it vividly clear that in the war between barbarism and civilization, between oppressor and oppressed, it is Jews who are under attack. That infuriates those whose worldview revolves around the certainty that Israel and its supporters are the victimizers. The outpouring of sympathy for Jews kidnapped by Palestinian terrorists — and the moral force of that sympathy — is anathema to them.
The idea that Jews might be victims has caused many people the world round to rip off the masks of civilized pretense – the excuse that their hatred of Israel had nothing to do with hatred of Jews. Clearly, it has everything to do with hatred of Jews.
This also harks back to yesterday’s post of mine on oppressors versus the oppressed. Simply put, the left only cares about two categories of people, oppressed and oppressor. The Palestinians have long been defined as oppressed, which means that anything awful they do cannot be judged as bad; it is always the fault of the oppressor. The left defines Israel as the oppressor. Therefore, the crimes of Hamas and the jubilation of the Palestinians about those crimes cannot be acknowledged as such because that would upset the groups’ placement in the all-important hierarchy of victimhood.
Israelis cannot be oppressed; they are always oppressors. Therefore obvious victims such as those on the posters must be denied and canceled, and reminders of their victimhood cannot be allowed to be seen and/or must be denounced as lies.
Jews as victims creates cognitive dissonance with previously held notions by leftists of the way the world works, and the place of different groups in it. Cognitive dissonance is intolerable for most people, and they will do almost anything to resolve it, including denying incredibly strong evidence.
Same parallel with blacks cannot be racist. Simply another front in the multi front war against Jews. Oh, another front:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/23andme-user-data-targeting-ashkenazi-jews-leaked-online-rcna119324
Jews have been the objects of envy for centuries. I think that is at least a major root of the trouble. In the “10,000 year explosion” the author attributes rapid evolution in Ashkenazi Jews to the restriction in occupation. Money lending required improved mathematical ability. Many of the nobility got themselves into financial trouble through stupidity and were bailed out by Jews. They resented this fact. Churchill, in his “History of the English Speaking Peoples” attributes the expulsion of Jews from England in 1290 to the indebtedness of the nobility. To this day, the most persistent residual of anti-Semitism resides in those who are poor and who are exemplars of Heinlein’s “bad luck.” Muslims are probably the most prominent of the “bad luck” population.
Israel has apparently gone beyond just posters. Daily Mail says they have put up a web site called Hamas Massacre with all the pics and videos. However, they gave no link and I couldn’t find such a site via DDG. Anyone have the link?
To this day, the most persistent residual of anti-Semitism resides in those who are poor and who are exemplars of Heinlein’s “bad luck.” Muslims are probably the most prominent of the “bad luck” population.
Yeah, there’s something like 1.8 billion Muslims in the world, and the overwhelming majority of that population resides in very poor countries. Conversely, there’s 16 million Jews in the world, most of whom live in wealthier countries (the US and Israel most prominently).
But in the case of many Muslims, it’s much more than simple envy that motivates their antisemitism, although that’s no doubt certainly part of it. But it’s easy to hate someone who is better off than you.
neo,
I believe it is even more fundamental than your explanation*.
They cannot bear to see the truth.
When evil is ascendant in human history Jewish people are the canaries in the coal mine. Jewish people have a thousands year history of attempting to live according to a covenant with a monotheistic God and to follow His edicts. Being a chosen people means God works through that group to demonstrate the proper way to live and interact with one another.
Even secular people, even atheists, know this about the Jewish people. Even if one does not believe in God the Jews are a reminder that there may be a God.
On a prior thread someone asked, “Even if one is antisemitic why waste the energy?” Why bother to put on a coat and leave the comfort of one’s apartment on a cold, autumn day to trudge through town and tear down pictures?
It’s the moral equivalent for why McDonalds doesn’t put scales in their restaurants. Why Apple stores don’t have photos on their walls of the poor Africans mining the minerals that go into iPhones, Macs and iPads.
What if those pictures of Israeli hostages are the truth? What does that mean for people living a secular life? If I want to live in a society that can mutilate children based on my theory of gender, abort feti based on my theory of pediatrics, impoverish people based on my theory of economics and environmentalism… My world doesn’t have room for a people succeeding in accordance with God’s law.
If the Jews are right I’ve wasted my life and done grave harm. And those hostage photos are a reminder of the harm my views cause in the world.
*I credit author Andrew Klavan for leading me to my understanding.
Rufus T. Firefly:
Yes, I believe that’s also the case.
physicsguy, although I’m uncertain of the particular website the DailyMail refers to, i am aware of the dedicated Memri archive (Hamas Atrocities Documentation Center [HADC]) created and announced a few days ago. That announcement page, together with links to access it, is here: https://www.memri.org/reports/special-announcement-%E2%80%93-hamas-atrocities-documentation-center-hadc
Not Israeli govt., but a private institution
Oh, it’s much simpler than that.
Hamas—Arabs in general—don’t DO atrocities. Period. (Just ask His Excellent Excellency, President Erdogan—and HE should know…)
So HOWDARETHOSEJEWS accuse decent Arabs of committing atrocities when EVERYONE KNOWS it’s da JEWS who do it. CONSTANTLY.
Rufus is correct. It is the inability of theirs to see the reality of their desires posted on a wall for others to see.
This is why you’ll see their spokesmen spout a hate-drivel and immediately stop an interview on the first questioning of them and their motives.
There is also a real ignorance of the violent history of Islam in Western Civilization. How often have we heard about the ” Crusades” by people who do not realize that the Crusades were after centuries of Islamic expansion by the sword? At this point, what percent of the population even realizes that Istanbul was once Constantinople? Unfortunately the Western Crusaders helped to weaken the Byzantines before the Muslims finished them off. Bad Popes…What percent of the population would even realize that white western captives were rowing galley ships for Muslim navies ? ( And vice versa).
”Israelis cannot be oppressed; they are always oppressors.”
Not quite true, but true within the context of the current issue. In modern leftist thought Jews are always the oppressors of Muslims, but they are still victims of Christians. I think Neo understands this — she does mention “the all-important hierarchy of victimhood” after all — but it still needs mention.
I think this may explain some of the reluctance of liberal Jews to break with the left. They are steeped in leftist thought and don’t want to give up their position on the second-lowest rung of the ladder lest they find themselves on the lowest rung.
Mike K is on the right track.
Cognitive dissonance is intolerable…
It is. So is humiliation. Most of those who hate the Jews feel humiliated by them in some way.
Israel already killed any hostages with all the bombings of hospitals and apartment buildings so even if they were ever real to begin with, Israel killed them.
I can understand the impulse to tear them down, and Neo and Rufus both give good explanations for that impulse, at least among some. But it strikes me that this tactic has been so widely adopted. I don’t think these people just woke up one day and decided they had to tear down these posters.
Sure, some see it on social media and decide to join in the fun. But the scale of It makes me think it’s organized. As with the BLM/Antifa riots of 2020, it ain’t spontaneous.
Toy tonka:
Thanks so much for enlightening us with your great wisdom.
Actually, thanks for perfectly illustrating the sort of anti-Israel tactics I’ve described in this post.
Next on your list: Holocaust denial.
RockMeAle:
I agree that it’s organized. Most of what the Left and the other pro-Palestinians do is organized.
between qatari outfits like al jazeera, and their more tabloid, middle east eye, more seemingly respectable outfits like arabella partners, then adjuncts like bytedance, tiktok’s main headquarters,
mkent:
Not exactly. I wrote “Israelis” rather than “Jews” in that sentence because in terms of Israel in the intersectional lineup, it’s Israelis as oppressor and Palestinians as oppressed, and Christians don’t enter the calculus much (although they certainly exist in the area). For Jews, however (as opposed to “Israelis”), I agree that some Leftists do consider that Christians persecute Jews, and that in that sense Jews retain a small scrap of victimhood. It certainly is true that, historically, Jews were heavily persecuted by Christians. There is still a bit of that, but it’s not official, and in fact Christians are among the biggest champions of Jews and Israel these days. That’s a fact of which not all Jews are aware, especially older ones.
Richard Cook, indeed I’ve encountered that idiocy that blacks cannot be racist. Our university invited a black speaker to say that very thing at a university-wide faculty seminar. I walked out. Perhaps I should have verbally denounced that statement, but didn’t because I was already on the university’s DEI blacklist and was told by the dean that any further issues would be the end of my employment.
Rufus T. Firefly, in regards to Israel being the chosen people, with which I agree, in Romans 11 Paul says, “Now if their wrongdoing proves to be riches for the world, and their failure, riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be! But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles… if their rejection proves to be the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?”
The day will come when Israel will be the shining beacon for the entire world, and Israel’s glory will outweigh their current suffering as much as the sun outshines the moon. But that is not THIS day. Yet…
Jon baker writes, “what percent of the population even realizes that Istanbul was once Constantinople?”
All us Four Lads fans do, of course! https://youtu.be/dPg4bE_X5So?si=11_hP-hzIjw3cu2E
Jon baker writes, “what percent of the population even realizes that Istanbul was once Constantinople?”
–Rufus T. Firefly
So that’s what happened to Constantinople!
I was wondering. It used to be a hip, happening place. Then crickets…
My man Ruy Texeira, the consultant who came up with “The Emerging Democratic Majority” story which has mesmerized Democrats since Obama’s election, and who calls himself these days, “The Liberal Patriot”, now calls out the progressive left:
___________________________________________
The Progressive Left Is a Paper Tiger: Time to call their bluff.
Large segments of the progressive left disgraced themselves by indulging in demonstrations and statements that, directly or indirectly, excused Hamas’s terrorist massacre. For that, they were rightly condemned across the political spectrum, including by many Democrats. But the progressive left has not given up on pushing their “decolonialist” perspective within the Democratic Party, demanding that Biden soften his support for Israel and calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the conflict. This policy recommendation is backed up what is essentially a threat: if Democrats don’t move in the direction recommended by the progressive left, “their” voters, especially young voters, will fail to be “energized” in 2024, endangering Biden’s re-election and Democratic electoral prospects generally.
But is that really true? Leaving aside the question of whether that would be a responsible use of their power (I don’t think so), do they even have that kind of power? I doubt it. In fact, I think the progressive left is more of a paper tiger, claiming power and influence way above what they actually have.
https://www.liberalpatriot.com/p/the-progressive-left-is-a-paper-tiger
___________________________________________
Texeira goes on to support his claims with poll results indicating that while the young are more progressive than the old, the radical leftist young, who are backing Hamas now, are a minority within the Millennial/Gen Z (18-44 year old) cohorts.
It is shameful that any Americans are backing Hamas, of course, but I suspect Hamas overplayed their Nazi hand here.
well we’ve seen in as a a happening place in three bond films (Skyfall was the the third one,) as well as films like Topkapi, more of a caper film
@roy tunka
Ah yes. A genocidal nutjob peddling blood libel. I hope Neo has banned your asshole.
Then why does Hamas keep claiming to have them, dipshit?
And by bombing of hospital you mean the one where it is confirmed Hamas rocketed the hospital Parking lot and lied about it?
It’s somewhat rare to see a racist, genocidal Jew Hater so virulent their claims can be debunked by reference to Hamas’s own claims. But here we are.
https://www.nytimes.com/article/israel-hostages-hamas-explained.html
well we’ve seen in as a a happening place in three bond films
But it wasn’t called Constantinople then…
Maybe the brightest guy I ever knew was obsessed by Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire. I never figured out the attraction.
I wonder how many people know Istanbul means “to the city”. Kind of like changing Boston to Beantown.
Oppressed = labor/poor/Native Americans/African Americans/Women/LBGTQ/poor Muslims/etc.
Oppressor = Capitalists/Colonialists/whites/Jews/anyone who is economically successful/etc.
It’s the Marxist playbook, but with different players. They use language to create concepts to justify their revolution.
If you’re successful, it’s always done on the backs of, or at the expense of those who are less successful. It’s a zero-sum description of the world and its resources. When instituted it has always resulted in poverty and suffering for the masses.
In fact, it’s such a proven failure that only an academic could believe it could work.
The enraged Muslims control nations that cover maybe a third of the Earth, and yet they feel victimized by letting the Jews live on a tiny sliver of land that was the Jews historic homeland.
What really enrages them is that the Jews have turned that sliver of land into a successful economy. Either Allah wills it this way, or maybe the Muslims need to rethink their economic ideas.
The Marxists have always hoped to use the Muslims because they can cast a lot of them as victims of the “successful” Jews. If Western Civilization falls, the Marxists and the Muslims will be fighting over the scraps.
Shall we play “Can you Spot the Difference”?
(Or, perhaps, the game should be renamed, “What’s WRONG with this Picture”?…)
“Gazans who were in Israel when Hamas attacked returned home;
“Cabinet decides: Thousands of Gazan workers who were in Israel when Hamas brutally massacred Israeli civilians will be returned to Gaza.”—
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/379645
Jus’ askin’, mind you…
This Time It’s Different Dept.
Leo Kearse is a Scottish comedian who brings the hammer down on Woke. I don’t know how he gets away with it — Scotland is pretty woke these days. Plus his accent is glorious. I would spread it on toast if I could.
Kearse calls the Hamas attacks a “Bud Light moment for wokeism.” It’s looking that way to me.
The video is funny, but jam-packed with real detail, often in video form. including cell phone footage of that idiot Cornell prof, Russell Rickford, practically creaming over how “exhilarating” and “energizing” he found the Hamas attacks.
____________________________
There’s not a lot of good news coming out of the Gaza crisis, but one ray of light is that the reaction from students and professors in the West has woken up university funders to what exactly they’ve been funding.
Wokeism started on universities. Gender ideology, Marxism, critical race theory, decolonialism – it all sounds like loopy student nonsense. But the Hamas attacks showed us exactly what theories such as decolonialism mean in practice.
Elite universities have lost hundreds of millions, if not billions, in funding over this, and students have lost job offers. It’s a proper Bud Light moment for universities. Hopefully this is the start of the end of wokeism.
–Leo Kearse, “The Israel conflict is a Bud Light moment for wokeism – pro-Hamas unis are losing funding and jobs”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aHh_pdNQBA
____________________________
I see YouTube is again playing the game of not providing transcripts for conservative content.
Well…Istanbul just happens to be one of the world’s most fascinating cities…for many reasons…
Over the past several decades, Christians (and other religious groups, e.g., Yazidis) have been victimized far more than Jews.
This is not by design—that is, if there had been Jews there they would have been targeted—but because Christians et al. were/are living in proximity to those who would do them violence, whether in Iraq or Egypt or Sudan or Nigeria, etc., with no “strong man”, e.g., Saddam Hussein around to offer protection.
I had a fantasy that Israel might send military, under the radar of course, to help protect the Yazidis or Nestorians, etc.—you know, “the right thing to do”(TM)—but it remained just that—a fantasy…
Barry Meislin, I’ve been watching the Armenian situation. It looks like Azerbaijan will launch a war on another Armenian area. The Gatestone Institute reports on this, and the Hamas-like atrocities the Muslim Azers commit against the Armenians, one of the oldest Christian groups in the world. Horrible. Soldiers who behead Armenians are treated as heroes.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/20123/new-war-armenia-azerbaijan
You see a lot of istambul in turkish soaps dubbed in spanish commissioned by the would be sultan erdogan,
Erdogan is a country boy who challenged the urban elites with the help of sufi gulen who he has a trotsky like relation with
Someone noted the machkala rioters were speaking in turkic not russian that was erdogans influence
Kate, sounds terrifying.
I had thought that the Russian’s were trying to defuse things there and also that they were helping out the Armenians, not that the Russians are all that reliable these days…and, of course, they have other things to keep them busy….
Still, one wonders where the international community is….
A problem, in addition, is that Israel has had close ties to Azerbaijan for quite a while now, for strategic (and other) reasons…
Azerbaijan is allied with Israel and Turkey, as well against Armenia as against Iran (and Russia), while Armenia is a puppet of Russia and is allied with Iran against Israel, Azerbaijan and Turkey. Armenia ain’t necessarily the good guys in this picture, though their Western propaganda machine is quite effective.
Russia intervened to evacuate (permanently) about 150,000 Armenians from the small enclave inside Azerbaijan. Now targeted is a southern Armenian area. Alliances are messy, but one should not forget the Turkish killing of a million or so about one hundred years ago.
I had a wonderful Armenian-American housemate (Roland H) for years back in ’86-’92 (attended his wedding in ’92!). His folks were born in Syria and Lebanon after their parents survived the Turkish killings and expulsions of Armenians, shoved around the middleeast from Lebanon to Egypt and back to Lebanon before emigrating to the US where he and his elder brother were born. So, I’m acquainted with the history somewhat, I think I can say.
Tearing down the posters may be a good thing. It shows us who the bad guys are.
If, I give it four times, one walks past a wall with hostage posters, it becomes wallpaper unless the goal is to go to the wall and witness it another time. I speak of those going last on other business.
To see and hear reports of their destruction refreshes harshly the original message.
I’m convinced this is all “Critical Theory” writ large for the Left.
The “White European Colonizer Jews” are the oppressors & the “indigenous POC Arabs” are the oppressed.