Watching the local NBC News debate moderator jump on Assemblyman Zohran Memdani for having the audacity to say that the mayor of NYC (who has no constituents anywhere east of Queens, let alone across the Atlantic Ocean) should maybe stay in the five boroughs to WORK, instead of go out gallivanting in Israel, was just a perfect demonstration of how pervasive Islamophobia and racism is in our local government and media. They didn’t question Brad Lander for saying that his first hypothetical foreign trip as mayor would be to Canada. Again, the NYC mayor going on a foreign trip for a photo op is absolutely ludicrous. Have we learned nothing from Eric Adams’s Turkish Airlines debacle? Also, does the media not understand how they are feeding into antisemitic conspiracy theories by saying that every US politician must go kiss the ring of the Israeli Prime Minister?
states have zero right to exist, people have a right not just to exist, but to live a peaceful life enjoying all of their human rights.
Israel already exists
And as the world’s only repulsive single “ethno state” founded in and living on violence, bloodshed and the evil determination to exterminate the entire population who it oppresses, it must cease to exist. And the sooner the better.
When confronted with the recurring question by a reporter on whether Israel has the right to exist, Francesa Albanese simply replied - "But Israel does exist!"
It's a manipulative question that serves as a litmus test of ideological loyalty to an ethnostate. It's a kneejerk reaction that deflects from Israel's and the west's crimes. It's a question that makes it seem like Israel perpetually faces an existential threat to its existence, & it is used to justify limitless violence against Palestinians and to silence those who question this narrative and demand accountability.
Israel is essentially a criminal organization with the trappings of a state. As a criminal organization with the trappings of a state, it's signature criminal activity is state terrorism. In its state propaganda it endlessly labels Hamas and Hezbollah and others as "terrorist organizations", and maintains they have no right to exist. If Hamas and Hezbollah have no right to exist, why should Israel, a far greater terrorist than they are, itself have any right to exist?
Maybe you’re thinking of Max Weber’s definition of the state as a “community that claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory.”
Been reading more on Weber. What’s interesting is how his ideas laid the groundwork for critiquing state power through a Marxist lens, even though he was against communism, revolution, and class struggle. So radicals essentially took his theory and turned it inside out to expose how the state's use of violence serves empire and capital. Weber was fine with state violence & saw it as necessary for law and order. It’s fascinating how someone can so precisely conceptualize these dynamics and still accept them as a sobering, necessary reality.
And, it reminds me how, to this day, many people quickly turn their ire against protestors and lament the destruction of private property. We've been conditioned to see the state as having moral authority. But what about people? And it feels almost unconscious. I've been reading Instagram comments today on the LA protests and there's so much animosity towards the protestors. It also reminds me of how some people justify or overlook war crimes and mass starvation under the logic that 'war is war' or 'civilians die.'
I forgot where I read that states do legal terrorism. That is, they grant themselves the right to do violence under the guise of law and order, spread freedom, whatever. Oppose state violence and you're branded a terrorist.
I think anyone should agree that if one defines Israel’s existence as Israel having consistent borders within which it maintains at the very least a de facto monopoly on violence, then Israel does not exist and has never existed except, perhaps, in antiquity.
Which is to say that, because in terms of Israel’s right to exist Israel does not exist, Israel’s right to exist is legally moot.
From the river to the sea is colinear!
(Israel has zero width and zero volume but infinite height, considering at the very least the fact that it nonetheless physically obstructs ships on the Mediterranean from reaching the East Bank of the Jordan River.)
Watching the local NBC News debate moderator jump on Assemblyman Zohran Memdani for having the audacity to say that the mayor of NYC (who has no constituents anywhere east of Queens, let alone across the Atlantic Ocean) should maybe stay in the five boroughs to WORK, instead of go out gallivanting in Israel, was just a perfect demonstration of how pervasive Islamophobia and racism is in our local government and media. They didn’t question Brad Lander for saying that his first hypothetical foreign trip as mayor would be to Canada. Again, the NYC mayor going on a foreign trip for a photo op is absolutely ludicrous. Have we learned nothing from Eric Adams’s Turkish Airlines debacle? Also, does the media not understand how they are feeding into antisemitic conspiracy theories by saying that every US politician must go kiss the ring of the Israeli Prime Minister?
states have zero right to exist, people have a right not just to exist, but to live a peaceful life enjoying all of their human rights.
Israel already exists
And as the world’s only repulsive single “ethno state” founded in and living on violence, bloodshed and the evil determination to exterminate the entire population who it oppresses, it must cease to exist. And the sooner the better.
Absolutely brilliant as always, and so very helpful. Thank you.
When confronted with the recurring question by a reporter on whether Israel has the right to exist, Francesa Albanese simply replied - "But Israel does exist!"
It's a manipulative question that serves as a litmus test of ideological loyalty to an ethnostate. It's a kneejerk reaction that deflects from Israel's and the west's crimes. It's a question that makes it seem like Israel perpetually faces an existential threat to its existence, & it is used to justify limitless violence against Palestinians and to silence those who question this narrative and demand accountability.
Israel is essentially a criminal organization with the trappings of a state. As a criminal organization with the trappings of a state, it's signature criminal activity is state terrorism. In its state propaganda it endlessly labels Hamas and Hezbollah and others as "terrorist organizations", and maintains they have no right to exist. If Hamas and Hezbollah have no right to exist, why should Israel, a far greater terrorist than they are, itself have any right to exist?
Maybe you’re thinking of Max Weber’s definition of the state as a “community that claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory.”
I did in fact have that wording in the back of my mind, having come across it somewhere only quite recently. Didn't know it was from Weber, though.
Been reading more on Weber. What’s interesting is how his ideas laid the groundwork for critiquing state power through a Marxist lens, even though he was against communism, revolution, and class struggle. So radicals essentially took his theory and turned it inside out to expose how the state's use of violence serves empire and capital. Weber was fine with state violence & saw it as necessary for law and order. It’s fascinating how someone can so precisely conceptualize these dynamics and still accept them as a sobering, necessary reality.
And, it reminds me how, to this day, many people quickly turn their ire against protestors and lament the destruction of private property. We've been conditioned to see the state as having moral authority. But what about people? And it feels almost unconscious. I've been reading Instagram comments today on the LA protests and there's so much animosity towards the protestors. It also reminds me of how some people justify or overlook war crimes and mass starvation under the logic that 'war is war' or 'civilians die.'
Ah yes, Weber. It's coming back to me now. Thanks for the reminder 👍
I forgot where I read that states do legal terrorism. That is, they grant themselves the right to do violence under the guise of law and order, spread freedom, whatever. Oppose state violence and you're branded a terrorist.
Meant my comment above as a reply to you, but it works for both I suppose
As always, thank you. The kids brandishing flags and deadly slogans are the creepiest sight of the week. I feel sorry for them.
I think anyone should agree that if one defines Israel’s existence as Israel having consistent borders within which it maintains at the very least a de facto monopoly on violence, then Israel does not exist and has never existed except, perhaps, in antiquity.
Which is to say that, because in terms of Israel’s right to exist Israel does not exist, Israel’s right to exist is legally moot.
From the river to the sea is colinear!
(Israel has zero width and zero volume but infinite height, considering at the very least the fact that it nonetheless physically obstructs ships on the Mediterranean from reaching the East Bank of the Jordan River.)
How depressing that the Dems are still engaging in their flag-waving purity tests. They’ve learned nothing, have they?
What a shitty world we have.
no.
no.
Before I even read it, my answer is no.
Now to read.
Stop Genocide. Free Palestine.