The problem with the 'mistake' of Israel
YoYoPapaya said:
I think it's obvious to everybody but neocons, that Israel was a mistake. At least it should be by now, but I guess some are slower than others.
I think a lot of people will hesitate on the word "mistake". American political language is a volatile stock, and this word can be
extremely flammable.
That is, it
does seem obvious that incorrect, unsuitable, counterproductive, and all sorts of bad decisions have been made along the way. But "mistake"? Yes, mistakes were made, as the saying goes. But is
Israel a
mistake?
Well, Israel in particular? Or is there something about Israel that makes it a mistake?
And
that is where people get jumpy. Defining the mistake that is Israel generally presents such a challenge that people would rather avoid it.
Why is Israel a mistake?
Because it is Israel?
Because of where it is?
Because of
who it is?
Because it is inherently religiously favoritist?
Because it is a bigoted, violative, belligerent state?
I cannot figure to what degree it is simply a headache for most people compared to the equation that goes:
Israel = Jews = ain't touching that with a ten-foot pole. But the tangle over what has happened persists. I mean, let's start with that ever-spectral bogeyman, the anti-Semite trying to hide in legitimate politics.
Okay, so Israel is a mistake. Why Israel? Well, because there shouldn't be religious favoritism. Just like there shouldn't be a Muslim state. Well, okay, but what about Ireland?
(
What?!)
Yeah, you heard me: What about
Ireland?
Something about religious favoritism.
There comes a point at which many people's objections to Israel strike a bit too close to home, and they would have to accept that something they appreciate is likewise invalid.
Surely, though, there is some functional difference between Israel, Iran, and Ireland, for heaven's sake. And, to be certain, there
is. But the difference between functional and principled argument is clear; the one is obliged to practicality while the other is not.
But people find themselves scraping together arcane recipes of logic;
this amount of
this degree of
this context, applied in
this manner explains why Israel and not Ireland.
And most people don't like to do that.
So the proposition of Israel as a "mistake" is the sort of adventure people look forward to like surfing at the event horizon. One wrong twitch and you're left tumbling uncontrollably into sightless, crushing density.
