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© 2021 The Somerville Times. All rights reserved.
(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)
By Ken Brociner
The ongoing controversy over the war in Gaza has, once again, brought to the surface the dividing line between the two wings of the American Left.
The largest and most effective wing of the Left is made up of millions of progressive activists, writers, voters, and elected officials who are pragmatically working to achieve fundamental changes in our domestic and foreign policies. They do so by strategically challenging the powers that be in ways that unite as many people as possible.
Notably, when it comes to issues of war, peace, and social justice, most progressives tend to avoid absolutism. They realize that most conflicts are highly complex matters that require a nuanced understanding of the issues at hand as well as of the world in general.
The other (much smaller and less influential) wing of the Left tends to see the world in simplistic and, at times, deeply troubling ways. As we have seen over the past ten months, this has all too often led so-called progressives to either support or look past such horrific acts of violence as Hamas’ slaughter of over 1,200 mostly unarmed civilians in Israel on Oct. 7 that also included taking over 250 hostages and raping numerous women in the process.
By now you may be wondering what, if anything, this might have to do with Somerville. Unfortunately, there is a direct connection. As many Somervillians know by now, an extremist group that calls itself Somerville for Palestine has become very visible over the past year. It claims it is “for Palestine” – but what is crystal clear to anyone who has paid attention is that they are not only “for Palestine,” they are also virulently against Israel’s very right to exist. On top of that, Somerville for Palestine has not, in any way, criticized the crimes Hamas committed on Oct 7.
In an Aug. 7 letter to The Somerville Times, Somerville for Palestine complained about some of the criticism it had received in a previous letter over its showing of the film “Israelism” in July at the Somerville Armory. But what they didn’t say in their letter is that not only does the film present a laughably one-sided and deeply offensive view of the American Jewish community, it also, as one reviewer pointed out, somehow forgot to mention that Gaza has been controlled by Hamas since 2007!
The event at the Armory was actually co-sponsored by the Jewish organization “IfNotNow.” This group has gone on record condemning “the killing of innocent civilians” on both sides. So why would they so closely align themselves with Somerville for Palestine? One obvious reason is because both groups support one of the film’s main messages – which is that Israel has no right to even exist.
One doesn’t have to uncritically support Israel’s brutal war in Gaza in order to shine a light on such unethical groups on the Left. In fact, along with most progressives, I personally believe that Israel is guilty of committing war crimes in its otherwise justifiable effort to disarm and destroy Hamas.
Groups and individuals on the far- Left have also made it clear that they are perfectly willing to undermine Kamala Harris’ chances to win the November election unless she declares that, if elected, she will meet their demands to totally withdraw U.S. support for Israel.
In fact, Somerville for Palestine is among a number of organizations around the country that have been urging people to go to Chicago this week and engage in what may well turn out to be disruptive protests at the Democratic National Convention. The fact that such protests – which will surely be televised and magnified by the national media – could help elect Donald Trump seems to be of little concern to groups on this wing of the Left.
Furthermore, Somerville for Palestine and other “pro-Palestine” organizations are likely to continue their efforts to reach out to voters in swing states and urge them to leave their ballots blank. Obviously, in a close election doing so is yet another way that activists on the far- Left could help to tip the election to Trump.
The next time you see anyone from Somerville for Palestine holding signs on the street or at an event around town, you might want to ask them why they have refused to condemn Hamas’ crimes against humanity on October 7th and whether or not they are willing to help elect Trump in order to advance their political agenda.
Ken Brociner has lived in Somerville since 1975. His columns, essays and reviews have appeared in In These Times, Dissent, The Boston Phoenix, the Somerville Journal and Somerville Times, among other several other publications.
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Agreed.These protests are short-sighted. Trump getting elected will be worse for Palestinians. Democracy is at stake.
If Ken had his way, we the simplistic U.S. citizens would keep quiet and leave complicated matters involving our tax dollars and done in our name to our trusted leaders. Matters like the invasion of Iraq, supporting apartheid South Africa, and sending 2000lb bombs to Netanyahu. Keep quiet as millions of civilians are denied food & water, as starving children are bombed in hospitals. Keep quiet as Israeli lawmakers and leaders defend the right to rape and torture their prisoners of war.https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-hamas-war-idf-palestinian-prisoner-alleged-rape-sde-teinman-abuse-protest/
Yet activists speaking up, many of them Jewish, are making progress. I am heartened that for the 1st time the DNC held a panel discussion of Palestinian human rights. Shining a light on this darkness & opening conversation where there has been silence is a tiny step in the right direction.
Seriously? You’re publicly pouting and throwing a temper tantrum *in the same way that you did at the School Committee Meeting back in May* because some people have enough of a moral compass and enough human decency to use their collective power as voters to try to pressure the current administration to stop funding and enabling Israel’s ongoing campaign of ethnic cleansing and genocide that’s claimed the lives of anywhere from 40,000 to 200,000 Palestinians and displaced nearly two million more?
I know Vote-Blue-No-Matter-Who-Fucks-You Democrats are entitled brats – they throw the same hissy fit every time someone dares criticize Team Blue or thinks about voting for someone other than the two parties. I just didn’t think they’d be staggeringly, profoundly, childishly selfish and callous enough to prioritize the intangible (and irrelevant) feelings of Team Blue and Zionists over the actual, concrete reality of Palestinian- and Arab-Americans and American Muslims in our own country *and our own community here in Somerville* who have faced racist and Islamophobic harassment and violence from their fellow community members as their own government uses their tax dollars to fund the murder of their relatives, friends, and fellow Arabs and Muslims overseas.
There are actual hate crimes being committed against our Arab and Muslim neighbors and friends and coworkers, but making sure Team Blue wins the kickball tournament and making sure the racist and genocide-denying Zionists feel coddled enough are apparently far more important priorities here.
Grow a sense of empathy, grow a spine, grow a moral compass, and more importantly, grow up.
Love,
Your Conscience
PS The only thing you’re to the left of is my right asscheek.
As a point of clarification, a country cannot commit war crimes. War crimes may only be committed and/or prosecuted against individuals.
Perhaps a more accurate statement would be that “I personally believe that [certain Israeli individuals are] guilty of committing war crimes in [Israel’s] justifiable effort to disarm and destroy Hamas.”
I’m one of the Somervillians who has come to Chicago for the DNC, to protest the Democratic Party’s ongoing sponsorship of the genocide now underway in Gaza. Ken claims that pro-Palestinian groups like Somerville for Palestine are urging swing-state voters to leave their presidential ballots blank in November. I’ve listened to a whole lot of speakers, movement leaders, and some delegates here at rallies, vigils, and meetings. All, like me, are angry or disappointed with the Democratic leadership, and say so. I’ve only heard one public speaker address the question of voting behavior, and here is a paraphrase of what they said (I remember the gist of this one because I was so glad to hear my own thoughts about it so clearly expressed):
“If you live in a blue state where you know the Democratic candidate will win, or if you’re in a red state where you know they will lose – in fact, UNLESS YOU ARE IN A SWING STATE, don’t waste your vote on someone who will say a lot of sympathetic things about Palestinians, but will DO NOTHING to stop the slaughter.”
You see how opposite that is of Ken’s fears?
If anything risks electing Agent Orange, it’s writing off a large chunk of the electorate – young people, Arab Americans, Muslims, non-zionist Jews, antimilitarists and antiracists of all stripes – as “extreme” because we see a better vision for Palestinians and Jews in the Holy Land than endless occupation and apartheid, ethnic cleansing and genocide, all materially encouraged by our own government and paid for by our struggling communities.
Since when do terrorist organizations receive so much support for their actions? These protests support Hamas and their call for the ethnic cleansing of Jews from the middle east. If you don’t believe that, just look around at how many Jews are left in the rest of the Arab countries.
Maybe 20,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed in this war, and yes that’s horrific. Its a shame you would count militants in your numbers falling into the Hamas trap. That is not even close to a definition of genocide! Everyone wants this war to end. What’s your proposal for bringing the hostages home safely without putting pressure on Hamas? US support does just that. Its Hamas who is refusing a deal…not the Israelis. So before you complain that the US is not doing everything they can to end this war, maybe think about what your strategy would be to get Hamas to end this war. Maybe you would be in favor of supplying military force to turn their hand. (Which by the way supplies targeted weapons to limit harm to civilians.) And maybe you’d think twice about protesting your government and fueling Hamas thinking if they hold out a little bit longer, the forces against them will fold.
I’ve known Ken since we were in college together in the late Sixties. He’s been heavily involved in protests against U.S. policies in Vietnam, South Africa, Central America, and Iraq among many other issues. I don’t think he’s urging anyone to “keep quiet” about anything. But how, when and where protests take place should be an important consideration. Many of the leaders of the New Left came to deeply regret the fact their disruptive protests against Hubert Humphrey in 1968 helped to elect Richard Nixon!
Okie is correct. This is just the kind of thing that helped Nixon get. elected.
The protests against Democratic leaders over Gaza policy could backfire in the 2024 election. While advocating for Palestinian rights and a ceasefire is important, disrupting the party risks helping Trump get elected, which would likely worsen conditions for Palestinians and many others.
Consider the broader implications:
– Democracy is at stake.
– A Trump presidency could roll back climate efforts, harming vulnerable populations.
Instead of disruptive tactics, activists should seek ways to make their voices heard without splitting the party. Keeping the big picture in mind is crucial for advancing progressive causes. And learn from history, folks.