A friend who follow Chinese cyber in Mandarin extremely closely always notes that we don’t grasp how much self censorship comes into play there as much as the CCP censorship. We train ourselves on context, time, controversy, etc. goodness knows I follow the same rules you apparently do.
If one says anything mildly critical of Israel's actions then one risks the "anti-semite" grenade being hurled at them. I am amazed at how many otherwise-reasonable Americans are quite happy to see Palestinians exterminated in the pursuit of Hamas, or until every last Israeli hostage is recovered. In most cases they are unable to see that the overwhelming majority of Gaza Palestinians have nothing to do with this, and that the vast majority of the dead injured and dead are innocent. AIPAC supports Scott Perry even though he was a key figure in January 6th attempt to overturn an election. For AIPAC, it's all-Israel, no matter what. AIPAC is completely unable to distinguish between American and Israeli interests, and they choose Israel's. And they have no problem with Israel using food and water deprivation as weapons ... war crimes by any definition. A huge number of Israelis simply don't care about what's going on in Gaza. That this will perpetuate hatreds for another couple of generations doesn't seem to matter.
I have deployed to the Middle East since 1979. I have worked with the Israeli military. They don't give a crap about us, or the collateral damage to their "friends" caused by their pursuit of what they see as their interests. The attack in Lebanon the other day that took out Iranian Quds leaders was reckless and escalatory; they don't care. If they drag us into a war (where US "legs" would be critical for Israeli success attacking Iran), well ... that's a feature, not a flaw, in their reasoning. And we have so many other things to worry about worldwide.
Israel is not our friend. I even doubt they are an ally, except where it is convenient for them. We may from time to time have mutual interests. But the sooner we stop rubber-stamping them, regardless of what they do, stop blocking UN action supported by every other ally we have, the better off we will be. What the Israeli government is doing is not in the best long term interest of its diverse citizenry. With their demographical challenges, Israelis can choose to be a democracy or a Jewish state, but not both.
We should be able to talk about all of this respectfully and civilly, but right now things are too raw, and kept inflamed by those pursuing narrow interests.
I'm not at all surprised by this concern. It's a complex issue, made more complicated by political and employer reactions to statements, use of statements out of context, and attempting to gain advantage by tearing down real or perceived opponents or simply appearing as a strong person by taking someone else out.
Even things that should be able to be discussed frankly (e.g., the killing of World Central Kitchen relief workers) and critiqued whether accidental or purposeful will generate controversy, particularly in an election year.
I can't tell you how often I have started and then stopped myself from saying anything. Fear? No, but I don't have time for the controversy that could come from my take. Which is silencing, and probably the desired outcome by some.
Most interesting thought.thank you greatly.
A friend who follow Chinese cyber in Mandarin extremely closely always notes that we don’t grasp how much self censorship comes into play there as much as the CCP censorship. We train ourselves on context, time, controversy, etc. goodness knows I follow the same rules you apparently do.
If one says anything mildly critical of Israel's actions then one risks the "anti-semite" grenade being hurled at them. I am amazed at how many otherwise-reasonable Americans are quite happy to see Palestinians exterminated in the pursuit of Hamas, or until every last Israeli hostage is recovered. In most cases they are unable to see that the overwhelming majority of Gaza Palestinians have nothing to do with this, and that the vast majority of the dead injured and dead are innocent. AIPAC supports Scott Perry even though he was a key figure in January 6th attempt to overturn an election. For AIPAC, it's all-Israel, no matter what. AIPAC is completely unable to distinguish between American and Israeli interests, and they choose Israel's. And they have no problem with Israel using food and water deprivation as weapons ... war crimes by any definition. A huge number of Israelis simply don't care about what's going on in Gaza. That this will perpetuate hatreds for another couple of generations doesn't seem to matter.
I have deployed to the Middle East since 1979. I have worked with the Israeli military. They don't give a crap about us, or the collateral damage to their "friends" caused by their pursuit of what they see as their interests. The attack in Lebanon the other day that took out Iranian Quds leaders was reckless and escalatory; they don't care. If they drag us into a war (where US "legs" would be critical for Israeli success attacking Iran), well ... that's a feature, not a flaw, in their reasoning. And we have so many other things to worry about worldwide.
Israel is not our friend. I even doubt they are an ally, except where it is convenient for them. We may from time to time have mutual interests. But the sooner we stop rubber-stamping them, regardless of what they do, stop blocking UN action supported by every other ally we have, the better off we will be. What the Israeli government is doing is not in the best long term interest of its diverse citizenry. With their demographical challenges, Israelis can choose to be a democracy or a Jewish state, but not both.
We should be able to talk about all of this respectfully and civilly, but right now things are too raw, and kept inflamed by those pursuing narrow interests.
I'm not at all surprised by this concern. It's a complex issue, made more complicated by political and employer reactions to statements, use of statements out of context, and attempting to gain advantage by tearing down real or perceived opponents or simply appearing as a strong person by taking someone else out.
Even things that should be able to be discussed frankly (e.g., the killing of World Central Kitchen relief workers) and critiqued whether accidental or purposeful will generate controversy, particularly in an election year.
I can't tell you how often I have started and then stopped myself from saying anything. Fear? No, but I don't have time for the controversy that could come from my take. Which is silencing, and probably the desired outcome by some.