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The US is funding the Israeli assault on Palestine. Why would the US military contradict the same country it is actively supplying with weaponry--not to mention billions of dollars in aid? This proposal is actual nonsense.
Aside from the (rather crazy) idea about invading Gaza, I find it refreshing that at least a major Leftist philosopher has the courage to criticize out loud the circus of identity that has become the de facto "progressive" politics of the West. Knowing Zizek's musical taste, I can assume that he agrees that what presented at Eurovision has nothing to do with music. Like all artistic events of the West, Eurovision now has become a contest of identities, in which the most "marginalized" identities are supposed to win. What does "marginalized" mean? Just look at the outfits: it means clownish kitsch.
Why would the U.S. do this? As far as I know, there are no oil fields in Gaza. Not to mention this ignores the perspective of Palestinians that know how much violence the U.S. is responsible for as an occupying force.
In any case, the US empire is already invading Gaza - Israel is their settler-colonial outpost, de facto HQ of CENTCOM, the 49th state of the USA, founded 1948. They could halt the genocide at any time by cutting off the ammo and cash.
Ukraine was also invaded by the US empire, which is what Russia responded to. For Ukraine to have avoided destruction, NATO was the entity they needed to defend against. The best way to help Ukraine is for NATO to get the hell out of there, yet you advocate the opposite.
Let's not forget that "Israel" was a White Supremacist project from the very start. The first British Governor of Palestine, Sir Ronald Storr, wrote that English policy was to "set up a little loyal Jewish Ulster in a sea of potentially hostile Arabism." The Jews were to keep the Arabs divided and under pressure, just as the Protestants in Ulster were to keep the Irish divided and weak. Storr went on to become Governor of Apartheid Rhodesia - where the white settlers had the very same function. After WW2, the Yanks took over the British Empire and all its policies - including the Little Jewish Ulster in Palestine.
As has been evident for some time now, Zizek is using his "public reason" in the same manner as many pro-American, pro-imperialist, anti-democratic and fundamentally "racist" rightwingers use theirs.
The unpleasant choices facing the left are real; Zizek does not speak to them from the left.
I disagree that the USA should invade Gaza. Any invasion means casualties, especially if you are fighting Hamas. Israel is already trying to invade Gaza in the exact same way the USA would. What would be the difference? Also, there is a possibility Putin may have armed Hamas for them to attack Israel on Oct. 7th precisely so the USA would intervene. That then creates the perfect opportunity for China to invade Taiwan and for North Korea to invade South Korea.
I think the USA should chose very wisely what conflicts it gets involved in. You can't just say that because WW2 could have been avoided had countries been more proactive, the same goes for WW3 with nukes, drones and Fukuyama.
Right now I think the true imperialist power is taking risks via 3-letter agencies, not boots on the ground. But to say something even more ludicrous than you, the USA should invade Israel and make it the Puerto Rico of the middle east then do the same in Ukraine. If you are going to use global imperialist power, may as well build an empire. Then give them independence like the Brits with India, etc.
Now that I've proven myself a complete idiot, I'll go watch Sergei Loznitsa’s The Invasion like you suggested. I just need a comrade to share a link to the film on one of those streaming websites.
Yet again your lack of compassion for and understanding of Israel and Israelis is your weak spot. The country has shrunk since Hamas attacked Israel simultaneously with Hezbollah and Iran on October 7. The south and north of Israel are largely unlivable. Israel will always represent minority politics in its region, not majority politics. There are Israelis weighing leaving the country with their families becausd the Muslim MiddleEast often makes life unbearable for minorities, political and ethnic. Your knee-jerk sympathy for Palestinian refugees in Gaza amid this horrible war is admirable but your understanding of the history of the region, including why Israeli intellectuals are supporting Palestinian statehood- to weaken Hamas and make Palestine accountable for its actions- is apparent.
The US is funding the Israeli assault on Palestine. Why would the US military contradict the same country it is actively supplying with weaponry--not to mention billions of dollars in aid? This proposal is actual nonsense.
Yeah this is Zizek at his worst. Having an opinion on everything results in a nonsensical proposal once in a while
This is armchair philosophy in the best and worst sense
They make toilets with armrests now?
Aside from the (rather crazy) idea about invading Gaza, I find it refreshing that at least a major Leftist philosopher has the courage to criticize out loud the circus of identity that has become the de facto "progressive" politics of the West. Knowing Zizek's musical taste, I can assume that he agrees that what presented at Eurovision has nothing to do with music. Like all artistic events of the West, Eurovision now has become a contest of identities, in which the most "marginalized" identities are supposed to win. What does "marginalized" mean? Just look at the outfits: it means clownish kitsch.
Why would the U.S. do this? As far as I know, there are no oil fields in Gaza. Not to mention this ignores the perspective of Palestinians that know how much violence the U.S. is responsible for as an occupying force.
There actually is oil off the coast of Gaza, iirc.
Well that didn't take long: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8OoE41s0PU/
The title is an oxymoron.
In any case, the US empire is already invading Gaza - Israel is their settler-colonial outpost, de facto HQ of CENTCOM, the 49th state of the USA, founded 1948. They could halt the genocide at any time by cutting off the ammo and cash.
Ukraine was also invaded by the US empire, which is what Russia responded to. For Ukraine to have avoided destruction, NATO was the entity they needed to defend against. The best way to help Ukraine is for NATO to get the hell out of there, yet you advocate the opposite.
Let's not forget that "Israel" was a White Supremacist project from the very start. The first British Governor of Palestine, Sir Ronald Storr, wrote that English policy was to "set up a little loyal Jewish Ulster in a sea of potentially hostile Arabism." The Jews were to keep the Arabs divided and under pressure, just as the Protestants in Ulster were to keep the Irish divided and weak. Storr went on to become Governor of Apartheid Rhodesia - where the white settlers had the very same function. After WW2, the Yanks took over the British Empire and all its policies - including the Little Jewish Ulster in Palestine.
As has been evident for some time now, Zizek is using his "public reason" in the same manner as many pro-American, pro-imperialist, anti-democratic and fundamentally "racist" rightwingers use theirs.
The unpleasant choices facing the left are real; Zizek does not speak to them from the left.
He is a neocon. He insults his readers, ridicules them.
The miserable leftists (the leftists who defend Russia and Putin) are just right wing populism' court jesters.
I disagree that the USA should invade Gaza. Any invasion means casualties, especially if you are fighting Hamas. Israel is already trying to invade Gaza in the exact same way the USA would. What would be the difference? Also, there is a possibility Putin may have armed Hamas for them to attack Israel on Oct. 7th precisely so the USA would intervene. That then creates the perfect opportunity for China to invade Taiwan and for North Korea to invade South Korea.
I think the USA should chose very wisely what conflicts it gets involved in. You can't just say that because WW2 could have been avoided had countries been more proactive, the same goes for WW3 with nukes, drones and Fukuyama.
Right now I think the true imperialist power is taking risks via 3-letter agencies, not boots on the ground. But to say something even more ludicrous than you, the USA should invade Israel and make it the Puerto Rico of the middle east then do the same in Ukraine. If you are going to use global imperialist power, may as well build an empire. Then give them independence like the Brits with India, etc.
Now that I've proven myself a complete idiot, I'll go watch Sergei Loznitsa’s The Invasion like you suggested. I just need a comrade to share a link to the film on one of those streaming websites.
Wow we had the same crazy idea (go into Gaza). Maybe I really am not a *complete idiot!
Yet again your lack of compassion for and understanding of Israel and Israelis is your weak spot. The country has shrunk since Hamas attacked Israel simultaneously with Hezbollah and Iran on October 7. The south and north of Israel are largely unlivable. Israel will always represent minority politics in its region, not majority politics. There are Israelis weighing leaving the country with their families becausd the Muslim MiddleEast often makes life unbearable for minorities, political and ethnic. Your knee-jerk sympathy for Palestinian refugees in Gaza amid this horrible war is admirable but your understanding of the history of the region, including why Israeli intellectuals are supporting Palestinian statehood- to weaken Hamas and make Palestine accountable for its actions- is apparent.
Very good essay, but your points on Ukraine and the solution to the massacre in Gaza are... not very good.
Racist sicko and pseudo Intellectual
Nazi sympathiser
Thanks for the deal, pal
Great piece.