Why I love Norman Finkelstein

"academic" or antisemite, he's got ginormous balls of iron

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNQSV3BBtZ4

:bravo:

 

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I really have to admit that the video comments were rather amusing. I guess that's the kind of crowd he's attracting.

 

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Indeed, you'd be surprised how quickly people devolve into stupidity and incomprehension when faced with facts.

Finkelstein has actually paid for his views with his "academic" career, so its not only courageous, but supremely courageous for him not to be intimidated by the barrage of abuse his views generally bring him.

 

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Interesting. But whoever this user was who posted this comments, it looks like s/he's pretty much agreeing with Dr. Finkelstein's facts.

 

Or attempting to undermine/distract from his aims.

Doesn't take much to do that, does it?

 

True, true.

If that's the case then I have no qualms to say that I agree with Finkelstein.

 

Maybe at some point we can discuss the implications of what he said in the link.

Rather than ponder over what others think he thought or said.

 

Well, I agree that the Holocaust shouldn't be used as a justification for the bad things the Jewish did, or are doing.

I'd like to see the whole speech though...the people there seem to be really emotional, and what not.

 

According to his website, his speaking engagement at University of Waterloo was on "Israel and Palestine: Roots of Conflict, Prospects for Peace"

Hunting through the web, I found a speech of that name here:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5935337125702937135#

Part Two - question answer session of the above

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5935337125702937135#docid=-2935797772899274008

The clothes are different so its not the same occasion, so I cannot vouch if he said the same thing.

 

I don't get why this is so controversial. Perhaps it's because I'm not an American?

 

Oh thanks. Checked it out.

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Interestingly I've still got no clue about why the audience seemed so upset and emotional in the youtube video, or more like..I got a clue, but I can't relate to their outbreak. :bugeye:

 

I don't know anything about Norman Finklestein.
Any relation to Albert Einstein?

No seriously. Let me guess. Gather the facts.

He has a sort of Jewish name.
Sam is praising him.
Sam is obsessed with the Israel/Muslim Conflict.

Don't tell me that he is a Jew who is opposed to Jewish policy.

 

The "facts" that Jewish people are evil and degenerate? Do enlighten us with your appreciation of these "facts".

I dropped him an email once to criticize his criticism of something. He wrote back something pithy, to the effect of "Well, no one asked you." I then wrote back and extended my sympathy on his failure to acquire tenure.

 

Not sure if that is how I would define him.

He makes several good points :

1. Stick to facts
2. Elucidate how uncontroversial the issue of IP is
3. Don't confuse what you want with what Palestinians want
4. Don't base dialogue on the ideology of the person engaged
5. Make it clear that its an issue of basic justice
6. Ignore irrelevancies [like "what about the holocaust???" "one state or two state"? "zionist or anti-zionist"? "right of return??" "Jewish state or state for all citizens"]
7. Show how broad, unambiguous and uncontroversial the global consensus is

But most of all, he says don't forget what its all about - its about the Palestinian people

 

Have you ever heard Noam Chomsky? He is a Jew who is against Jewish policy. Palestinian issue has nothing to do with Islam. As history showed us any identity (religious or national) can be used as an excuse in order to justify the policy of violence against a group of people.

If I follow a principle, let's say: "It is wrong to use violence for political and social gains", so I must defend Jewish people against their oppressors and exterminators who were Nazis. I can not make an exception for Israel. Moreover, Israel is a state mechanism, not a "Jewish" person; so a Jew can oppose Israel on two grounds: Firstly its crime against humanity, Secondly doing this in the name of his/her identity.

 

And just for comparison with Finkelstein, here is what a man with NO BALLS looks like:

http://videos.mediaite.com/video/Obama-Asked-Uncomfortable-Israe

 

You can not compare a politician with Finkelstein, at least you can not expect the same tone from both: Compare Obama with Gandhi, then I'll say yes Obama does not have balls, it's another issue. I would compare Finkelstein with other "intellectuals" or academicians who evaluate the issue on behalf of the main stream Israel policies.

 

I agree, the haphazard displacement of the Palestinian people is a huge tragedy, they should have been entirely relocated by UN troops following the unsuccessful partition in 1948. The holocaust doesn't justify the mistreatment of Palestinians, but it does justify a Jewish state.

 

I disagree that the Holocaust justifies a Jewish state; but ongoing hatred and general intolerance in the ME certainly helped to precipitate it.

 

You're right, I shouldn't compare the "no balls" POTUS who has the power to make a difference with brass balls Finkelstein who will speak the truth even if it means that he has to gamble his career on it.

There is really no comparison at all. See how Finkelstein answered the question and much more in the OP and Obama flubbered and did anything but?

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