message board

[christian]

"You're not my friend if you do not protest genocide" - Kimya Dawson (https://www.tiktok.com/@grandpakimyadawson/video/7336475052537433386)

if you are bombing hospitals, you’re doing wrong - John Darnielle (https://archive.org/details/tmg2023-11-25/tmg2023-11-25-33.flac - Track 32)

Jeffrey,

On 1st May you posted on Facebook that you "needed to learn more" and on 21st May you called on people "unhappy with Biden's handling of Israel/Gaza" to still vote for him. So my question to you is: where are you in your learning process? Have you formulated a position yet regarding the ongoing genocide? Is it good or bad?

Thank you and much appreciated.

christian

[jefflewis]

Hi Christian! Genocide and killing is bad, natch!
As I wrote in my song "1 State Solution" I believe that a one state secular solution is the best solution, and it's the cause that I would align myself with. I'm quite uncomfortable with ethnic nationalism or theocracy, regardless of whose! One person, one vote, equal protection under the law, constitutional democracy, "it must stay democratic, here or overseas." And I believe it's crucial to make sure the Democrats win in the USA election, most vitally regarding worldwide all-species climate crisis, but also related to a number of other smaller topics. Trump must go. Although, ironically, I do appreciate his anti-war stance regarding Ukraine (see my Statics #2 for various thoughts on that).

[christian]

Oof... I didn't know the "1 State Solution" song yet... unfortunately it is pretty disappointing. It is incomprehensible to me that the same person who has made countless "low-budget films" about complex historical topics, namely decolonization, can make such superficial "both sides" drivel.

Apparently I'm not the only one who thinks so:

"I'm really disappointed in the song one state solution. Like, obviously it's about Israel Palestine, and it very much both sides the whole situation, and completely tears out the context of Israel being very much a colonialist project that is funded to the tune of billions and billions and billions of dollars by the american government, and yet treats as if it's just like, you know, two random groups of people who don't like each other very much, as if there's not, like, a power dynamic going on here. Give me a fucking break. Jeff, what's wrong with you?" (https://theneedledrop.com/album-reviews/hey-i-wrote-a-song/)

Are you truly completely blind to the power dynamic? Do you not know that there is an occupying power and an occupied people? Do you truly think that religion is the reason Palestinians are so angry, and not decades of injustice and dehumanization? I am afraid you have fallen victim to the liberal delusion that this is all just a big misunderstanding, and if we just get rid of the extremists and find "peaceful leaders" then this will all be sorted out.

Again, on 1st May you posted you "needed to learn more", from this song I gather you are very much at the beginning of your learning process.

The Biden reference - much like the man himself - has not aged well of course; but this is truly the worst part for me: "Of course I support Biden / despite these countries fighting" is straight up genocide obfuscation. What you really mean to say is "Of course I support Biden / despite him contributing to genocide" - of course that's not so catchy and it's hard to admit to yourself, but that is in fact what you mean.

If the democrats lose, I believe it will in part be due to their complete moral failure on Gaza, and due to people like you trying to sweep it under the rug. You cannot present yourself as the "moral" choice - as opposed to the convicted felon p*ssy graber - and completely fail on the biggest moral issue of our time. I'm afraid it won't work.

[jefflewis]

Have you seen the recent Bernie Sanders message on this? I've been trying to spread it around, I think it's well worth watching and it's a message I would align myself with:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf5MThSniiY