Professor Tony Judt at NYU, whose writings have often appeared on this site, recently gave a lecture at NYU. As always, it is well worth reading. In fact I would argue it is mandatory reading for anyone who considers themself “leftist” or “progressive.” Judt provides the historical background for the political debates of today. He [...]
Israel’s has always been relatively tolerant of internal dissent. Relatively meaning exactly what it says. I often cite the fact that at one time meeting with anyone from the PLO was a crime, and Abie Nathan sat in jail for that crime. It is somewhat disturbing that activists from New Profile were recently arrested. Is [...]
In the run up to the Iraqi war I was involved in a project called Stand Down which attempted to gather bloggers on the “right” and “left” of the political spectrum to write posts in opposition to going to war. Sadly the site is down. I say sadly because it would provide useful documentation of how correct the anti-war [...]
Today is the fourth of July. In regards to patriotism, two quotes by Mark Twain succinctly describe my own attitudes: “Man is the only Patriot. He sets himself apart in his own country, under his own flag, and sneers at the other nations, and keeps multitudinous uniformed assassins on hand at heavy expense to grab [...]
What follows is an article written by Patrick O’Connor, an International Solidarity Movement activist, which records his interrogation by a Shin Bet agent. Based on my own personal knowledge of Israelis who served in the Shin Bet, it strikes me as a 100% accurate characterization of Shin Bet thinking and behavior. I found it particularly [...]
Not too long ago I had a discussion with Asaf precisely on this topic – why I think Ghandi is one of the greatest men who ever lived. It was just after I had seen the movie about Ghandi’s life for a second time. I was gratified to read this article by Niranjan Ramakrishnan, which [...]
Continue reading about Feature: What’s So Great About Gandhi, Anyway?
Many are familiar with this famous quotation: In Germany they came first for the Communists and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Jews and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists and I didn’t speak up because I [...]