The De-Zionization of the American Mind By JEAN BRICMONT "Americans are constantly told that they have to defend themselves against people who "hate them", but without understanding why they are hated. Is the cause our secular democracy? Our appetite for oil? There are lots of democracies in the world that are far more secular than the United States (Sweden, France...) and lots of places that want to buy oil at the best possible price (China) without arousing any noticeable hatred in the Middle East. Of course, it is true that, throughout the Third World, Americans and Europeans are often considered arrogant and are not particularly liked. But the level of hatred that leads a large number of people to applaud an event like September 11 is peculiar to the Middle East. Indeed, the main political significance of September 11 did not derive from the number of people killed or even the spectacular achievement of the attackers, but from the fact that the attack was popular in large parts of the Middle East. That much was understood by Americans leaders and infuriated them. Such a level of hatred calls for explanation. And there can be only one explanation: United States support for Israel. It is indeed Israel that is the main object of hatred, for reasons we shall describe, but since the United States uncritically supports Israel on almost every issue, constantly praises it as "the only democracy in the Middle East" and provides its main financial backing, the result is a "transfer" of hatred. Why is Israel so hated? The constant stalling of "peace plans" in favor of more settlements and more war aggravates that hatred, but the basic cause lies in the very principles on which that state is build. There are basically two arguments that have justified establishing the State of Israel in Palestine: one is that God gave that land to the Jews, and the other is the Holocaust. The first one is deeply insulting to people who are profoundly religious, like most Arabs, but of another creed. And, for the second, it amounts to making people pay for a crime that they did not commit. Both arguments are deeply racist, with their claim that it is right for Jews, and only Jews, to set up a state in a land that would obviously be Arab, like Jordan or Lebanon, if not for the slow Zionist invasion. This is illustrated by the "law of return": any Jew, anywhere, having no connection with Palestine whatsoever, and not suffering from the slightest persecution, can, if he so wishes, emigrate to Israel and easily become a citizen, while the inhabitants who fled in 1948, or their children, cannot. Add to that the fact that a city claimed to be Holy by three religions has become the "eternal capital of the Jewish people" (and only them) and one should start to understand the rage that all this provokes throughout the Arab and Muslim world. ......." For the rest of the article go here: ( oh and check the rest of the site, nice one 'for me at least") http://www.counterpunch.org/bricmont08122006.html
What we have here is psuedo-intellectualism of the worst kind. Let's examine how. "Indeed, the main political significance of September 11 did not derive from the number of people killed or even the spectacular achievement of the attackers, but from the fact that the attack was popular in large parts of the Middle East. That much was understood by Americans leaders and infuriated them. Such a level of hatred calls for explanation." Wow... what a crock of nonsense. To begin with this "attack" was hardly a "spectacular achievement." The United States is a democracy, and just about any goof-ball lunatic muslim extremist can get on a plane and hijack the damn thing. That this is more difficult now than it was back on 9/11 is only because it must be so because crazy, murderous morons of the isalmic fanatacist persuasion are only too ready to take advantage of FREEDOM to kill innocent men, women, and children in the name of their god and cause. Secondly, too say "That much was understood by Americans leaders and infuriated them," is to ignore the incredible sacrifice of Americans from every walk of life. It is the American people who are kicking ass in the Middle East right now, not the American leadership. It is US you pissed off first and foremost. Next time you decide to rearrange one of our sky-lines remember the score as it stands right now: 2 Buildings - 2 Countries. Next time we, the American people, might even get more pissed off... remember that. Next you write: "And there can be only one explanation: United States support for Israel." You idiot. You think we would risk the lives of our children because some leader told us too? Really? You have no understanding whatsoever of what democracy really is. Did you not realize that you were beginning to win the battle for public opinion against Israel UNTIL your muslim terrorists decided to kill innocent American citizens??? Remember, if the American public did not back this war we wouldn't be there. It is US who ultimately decides because no politician likes to commit political suicide. Now the time has come to get out. Why? Because We, the American people have decided we've had enough... we've made our statement. Personally, I think we should have gotten out far earlier. I think we should have just gone in, kicked ass like only we can for a couple weeks, and then pulled out and just let them thar muslim fascist idiots go ahead and kill themselves - the only thing they actually do well. If I were in charge I would say, okay, boyos, they know what we can do - now let's leave this scorpion wasteland desert of a scorched earth of looneybins and get the heck home - back to the land of deoderant and sanity. But remember this, pseudo-intellectual that you are... next time you mess with us - we'll be back. And we will mess you up all over again. Leave us alone. Leave us alone. There, now YOU have YOUR answer. IN Christ