First of all, thank you for the succinct historical, religious and political overview on Zionism. Secondly, you’ve now brought us to the point of what Zionism meant when Israel was formed in 1948, what (many) Jews, Israelis and gentiles (particularly older ones) still consider it to mean and what some academic and political circles consider it to mean. The problem with what you call the “…particularly stupid things…” being said about Zionists is that this video does nothing much to address what Zionism has come to mean over the last seventy years due to the accumulated actions of the State of Israel. We’re obviously on far too large a topic to address all the whys and wherefores and so forth of the ongoing conflict of the last few decades here and I’m not trying to get into a semantic argument about what terminology is correct or incorrect. I’m simply pointing out this: For millions - billions even - of people this is no longer what it means to be Zionist, and few people seem to be acknowledging that. Zionist has taken on an entirely different tone and meaning because of the actions over decades of the Israeli government - who it should also be pointed out are not automatically equated with the Jewish people in the same way anymore despite that having been a very useful line of propaganda by Israel’s government for a very long time. Not to minimize the fact that there is, of course, anti-semitism going on and far too much of it. Only that the notion that criticizing the Israeli government is automatically an anti-Semitic act or even necessarily or subconsciously driven by anti-Semitism is foolish. But I digress. Arguing over the semantics of the correct use of the term is a roadblock to progress on understanding. But communication is of the utmost importance and we cannot make progress by dismissing the other side simply because they are using terminology in a different way than you understand the meaning. We reach understanding by agreeing on the terms we are discussing. And no doubt some of those kids are saying some “…particularly stupid things…”, but then so are the Zionists, (as you understand the term). In many, if not most cases, neither side is trying to understand the other and these misconceptions on terminology and barriers of semantics create a useful shield to hide behind so we don’t even have to listen, and we can simply dismiss. We need to be better than that. I might suggest to those that view the term Zionist differently watch this video in its totality for the historical, religious, and political summary and, perhaps, read up a bit on the things you will undoubtedly learn. Just as I might suggest that those who define Zionist as in this video find a credible source to examine the history of the Palestinians and gain some perspective there. I’m not an idealist. I don’t expect to solve the problem, but I do think we should talk about what I see as a huge problem in even *having* a conversation. We have to be able to broadly agree on terminology, or there can be no understanding.
thank you for this video
My pleasure
"if one wants to one can become an informed person and learn a lot, even at Yale" 🤣
As a Sciences Po grad, I’m disturbed to see what’s going on spread to French institutions.
It's disturbing. A worrisome trend.
Keep up the amazing work. Your videos/substack have kept my spirits afloat.
First of all, thank you for the succinct historical, religious and political overview on Zionism. Secondly, you’ve now brought us to the point of what Zionism meant when Israel was formed in 1948, what (many) Jews, Israelis and gentiles (particularly older ones) still consider it to mean and what some academic and political circles consider it to mean. The problem with what you call the “…particularly stupid things…” being said about Zionists is that this video does nothing much to address what Zionism has come to mean over the last seventy years due to the accumulated actions of the State of Israel.
We’re obviously on far too large a topic to address all the whys and wherefores and so forth of the ongoing conflict of the last few decades here and I’m not trying to get into a semantic argument about what terminology is correct or incorrect. I’m simply pointing out this:
For millions - billions even - of people this is no longer what it means to be Zionist, and few people seem to be acknowledging that. Zionist has taken on an entirely different tone and meaning because of the actions over decades of the Israeli government - who it should also be pointed out are not automatically equated with the Jewish people in the same way anymore despite that having been a very useful line of propaganda by Israel’s government for a very long time.
Not to minimize the fact that there is, of course, anti-semitism going on and far too much of it. Only that the notion that criticizing the Israeli government is automatically an anti-Semitic act or even necessarily or subconsciously driven by anti-Semitism is foolish. But I digress.
Arguing over the semantics of the correct use of the term is a roadblock to progress on understanding. But communication is of the utmost importance and we cannot make progress by dismissing the other side simply because they are using terminology in a different way than you understand the meaning. We reach understanding by agreeing on the terms we are discussing. And no doubt some of those kids are saying some “…particularly stupid things…”, but then so are the Zionists, (as you understand the term). In many, if not most cases, neither side is trying to understand the other and these misconceptions on terminology and barriers of semantics create a useful shield to hide behind so we don’t even have to listen, and we can simply dismiss. We need to be better than that.
I might suggest to those that view the term Zionist differently watch this video in its totality for the historical, religious, and political summary and, perhaps, read up a bit on the things you will undoubtedly learn. Just as I might suggest that those who define Zionist as in this video find a credible source to examine the history of the Palestinians and gain some perspective there.
I’m not an idealist. I don’t expect to solve the problem, but I do think we should talk about what I see as a huge problem in even *having* a conversation. We have to be able to broadly agree on terminology, or there can be no understanding.