Progressive Politics After Gaza

The Israeli assault on Gaza was so odious that it seems almost grotesque to draw positive lessons from it.  Nevertheless, there are lessons to be learned.

They reflect poorly on the usual suspects – Republicans of course, but also the national Democratic Party and the Obama administration.  The handful of so-called “progressives” in the Senate and House come off even worse, if only because more is expected of them.

Every member of the House and Senate, every single one, is now on record in support of Israeli war crimes and crimes against humanity.

They don’t have the excuse that they are only reflecting attitudes that are pervasive in their time and place.  This is a lame argument whenever it is raised, but it hardly applies in this case. The overwhelming majority of people on earth abhor what Israel has done.

Cowardice, ignorance, and malice account for their moral and political turpitude; there are no mitigating factors.

What are the implications for American citizens who uphold minimal standards of moral decency?  This question calls out urgently for an answer.

* * *

To this end, the first order of business is to get past the media-induced miasma that disables serious reflection on Israel and Palestine in the political culture of the United States today.

There are two ways to do this.

The most direct is to counter Israeli – and American – “public diplomacy” point by point.

This is not hard: the propagandists’ talking points are transparently indefensible — belied by facts, and refuted by logic.

In practice, however, defeating the propaganda onslaught can be an arduous task.

It used to be harder.  In the pre-digital days, Israeli propagandists, and Americans and others who parroted their confabulations, had an easier time spinning facts in ways that suited their purposes; and an even easier time keeping pertinent facts out of public awareness.

All they needed is what they still have: effective control over major media.

Nowadays, though, thanks to social media, anyone can be a journalist.  Control of major media therefore no longer translates into control of news.

In Gaza, Israel lost control of the news – not completely, but to an unprecedented degree.

This makes rebutting Israeli propaganda easier.  As real news gets out, Israel’s defenders become more desperate and their already implausible justifications become more far-fetched.

There are many readily available and thoroughly cogent rebuttals out there in cyberspace — quite a few have appeared on this site – and in print media.  The more, the better; every little bit helps.  After a while, though, there are diminishing returns.

Moreover, rebuttals are politically efficacious only insofar as people pay attention; and, even then, only to the extent that they can be moved by reason.  These conditions are seldom met.

How could they be in a world in...