Israel/Palestine
In reply to the discussion: The war on the Palestinian olive harvest [View all]Shaktimaan
(5,397 posts)Or perhaps many people recognize that using a term like that does more to defer the discussion of any real issues, shunting any discussion off into the realm of arguing over whether the term is accurate or not. At it's very best, the use of that term is intellectually dishonest, seeking to negatively associate the current I/P issue with a different historical concept. It simplifies the similarities and ignores the differences, and there are far more differences than there are similarities.
Even if the term WAS accurate, which it isn't, do you see how quickly this conversation devolved into simplistic name calling? You say apartheid. They say that's dumb. You say apologist. And nothing meaningful gets discussed at all. So for once I'd like to ignore the debate as to whether or not the term is accurate and focus on the fact that it is unhelpful at best and counterproductive at worst. By the latter I refer to those whom the term alienates within Israel and amongst US Zionists... people who you will ultimately need if you have any real desire to effect change in the I/P crisis.