I was going to leave this as a comment on MW but decided against it because I suddenly realized that I much prefer to write it up for my own blog – simple as that. But I will be linking it there and people who come to Plato’s to read it will then be able to comment, if they feel so inclined, without gatekeepers reading over their shoulders.
Why James North’s promotion of Max Blumenthal’s book fails as a review is what interests me here, not Blumentha’s book itself. So here’s what I’d like to say to James North after reading his promotional and uncritical review of Max Blumentha’s latest book – James’ article is headlined: ‘Why the mainstream media is still ignoring Max Blumenthal’s excellent book on Gaza’.
Dear James, your review sounds like it was written by Max’s mother. Ridiculous! Blind pampering does not a serious review make. And I just wonder to myself: is that what you guys do all day: sit around figuring out who in your little clique is gonna be written about next? You’re gonna spend your entire lifetime writing about each other and that’s it? Your whole scene is incestuous man – if it weren’t and you guys actually went out into the real big bad world and away from your bubble more often, you’d have your answer as to why the “mainstream media” is not writing about Max. It’s not a mystery, James, nor is it a conspiracy against poor little Max.
Here’s a couple of hints as to why Max’s unimaginatively titled book is going nowhere, James:. First, the whole world saw the assault on Gaza through social media in real time, plenty of it and for 51 days and more and more and more – everybody and their uncle Don saw what was going down, so why should anyone feel the need to buy an unoriginal book on it thereafter? There’s no sense it doing that and wasting time and money. The general mainstream public hasn’t got a clue who the heck Max Blumenthal is – he’s only known in your fishbowl, dude – or as the Brits are wont to say: ‘he’s famous in his own lunchtime’. The guy doesn’t ever say anything new and he’s insufferably un-charismatic: the antithesis of popularity. And getting a nod from Hilary Clinton on his last book has obviously been like the kiss of the anesthetist to Max’s nepotistic career.
I’m getting that your little posse is now pushing to ‘mainstream’ Max but what for? He’s a vicious gatekeeper and he most certainly doesn’t represent Palestine, just his own big mouth and careerism which he has build on the backs of the suffering Palestinians. Who in their right mind would take the word of a serial exploiter seriously? What? Jealous a tad of Peter Beinart’s ‘commercial’ success, is he? Worse: jealous of Alison Weir’s stellar book success in the solidarity movement? Sure looks like it.
This brings me to my second point. Max should be told by someone that his unprovoked and despicable smear-assaults on solidarity movement members through his twitter and through his interviews is the very reason why a growing chunk of the solidarity movement are not interested in his views or his books anymore. Who cares that ‘he is a good writer’? More importantly, he’s a lousy ‘visionist’ and an egocentric team-player who has given the movement nothing but bombastic and hostile divisions. What the heck has he done for the movement to get the full support of its members? He’s only gone and offended most of them with his chauvinism and predatory attacks on undeserving members.
The guy needs emergency PR resuscitation, not a friendly local promoter blowing smoke up his…
I for one wouldn’t buy Max Blumentha’s exploitative trash even if I saw it in the 99c markdown bin.
Rather than promote Palestine directly and fabulously, James, you go wasting your time promoting Max Blumenthal’s dishonorability.
You all need shaking by the shouldesr and waking up to reality: there are more non-Jews in the solidarity movement than there are Jews and these gentile folk’s needs are not being met by your self-chosen clique. Maybe if you catered to them equally and respectfully, books like Max’s might be more popular INSIDE the community which may then legitimately drive its popularity out to the rest of the world. So before you go conspiratorially questioning why the mainstream media is not giving Max a break, you should really concern yourself with why the movement’s media is giving Max two thumbs down.
Wow, just watched that “Syria” interview w Max on the last post. I had to just shut it off when the interviewer, quite clumsily, made Max reinforce his oh-so-impartial and “leftist” point that the poor Syrian refugees that he’d met in the border camps had been “100%” victims of SAA bombings.
This is the type of thing a neophyte propagandist says, not an impartial person who has actually been there(and correct me if I’m wrong, you just don’t “get” to interview Syrian refugees or “activists” if you’re “impartial”).
So, he absolutely is orders of magnitude worse than a “neophyte propagandist”. I quit going to MW when they failed to honestly address what was being done to Lybia. And now Syria. Syria(and Ukraine) are the litmus tests for true journalism. If a person’s dishonest about what has befallen those two places as of late, they’ll be dishonest about everything.
What a foul foul stench. Does the State Department fund MW now?
Point being, SAA is painted as the only aggressor, by Max and his probable bosses, that whole shadowy nest of imperial benefactors, whomever it may contain.
Not the state department but Soros wing of blah blah mystery org.
Yes. It’s all “legal”. 😉
Those mondo punks like max figured out another scam …the anti-Zionist industrial complex
Good work if you can get it
Nice!
Well, who is the main stream media that is ignoring him?….isn’t it the same main stream media controlled by Israel-Firsters?
I think we all know that their control is not a conspiracy theory but a fact.
@Taxi
I really love all the original posts that you have been writing recently. It makes it a joy to come here at the end of the day and relax with your juicy literature. I hope that you find the stamina to continue doing so (easy for me to say!)
Thanks for such great reads!
Thanks, Cloak. I have the stamina for much writing, it’s time that I’m lacking. I’m not one to take my laptop to a cafe to write – too distracting. I’m one who sits solo, perfectly still and in silence to write. Even though I live in the countryside, you’ll be surprised at my daily distractions that keep puncturing my focus. But when I get the ‘right’ time on hand and something’s on my mind, then the words just flow out effortlessly.
And I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your contribution from a few days ago. It really helps the site when others submit original work too. I encourage you to do this again, and I also totally encourage all readers to make original submissions to Plato’s on a topic of their choosing..
Hello everybody,
Taxi bless you,,, you are doing an incredible job… can you get in touch with me,, i love to promote this site …peace Gilad
Mr. Atzmon, how splendid of you to stop by – champagne for you? Glass of holy water perhaps?
Heh.
This is nice and kind of you… I just informed my followers on FB about this precious corner ..will be happy to help and support ..
Gracias, humble gracias.
Hi, Gilad. Great to see you at Taxi’s. Thanks very much for all that you do.
Thank god this isn’t a movement of clones. I’m not going to trash Max, he does some good work.
The obsession with antisemitism is little more than another form of Othering. If we are going to obsess about something it should only be ‘is it true’, if it is not when the truth is explained does a contributor retract what was said?
I’m sure Max has written a fine book. I won’t be reading it, I have too much of other stuff to read. The fact is this isn’t movement about book reading any more than it is a movement about Muslims or Jews. It’s about truth and justice.
You can be honestly wrong but you can’t be dishonestly right. And when you are wrong ADMIT IT!
Good on Max for his effort I hope it sells well. I’m sure he’s been very careful not to be antisemitic. I’m sure he’s gone to great lengths to protect his arse. And I’m just as sure he will have flaming reviews on Amazon about his ‘Jew hatred’.
Good luck to anyone who thinks this and that has some value.
Max has lost credibility in many ways, but he sunk his own boat to be frank about it. I used to listen to him, but right now ‘the Max & Gaza show’ ain’t selling a lot of tickets.
The grumble against Max is not about his books. Its about his ‘motives’ for being involved in I/P in the first place and his ‘dishonesty’ in what he does and says outside his writing about Israel.
The guy is trying to outdo his father’s political ranking. The dude is completely Oedipal.
American, you brought up the problem of not getting the same search results on Google today compared to a decade ago. Here’s an article related to that.
Jews No Longer Run Hollywood, Google Says
https://celebrity.yahoo.com/news/jews-no-longer-run-hollywood-google-says-191004517.html
“The guy is trying to outdo his father’s political ranking. The dude is completely Oedipal.”
FFS, Taxi! By stating: “The dude is completely Oedipal”, you’re implying that Max wants to kill his father, because Max wants to (be the only one who gets to) fuck his mother, which I doubt was your intention.
I like your subtlety.
Oh dear… Max the accuser of antisemitism is an antisemite. Just like I said all the footnotes made no difference. He may as well have called the book “Why Jews Suck”. 😉
—>
Just Another Dishonest Hit-Job On Israel
ByMichaelon July 3, 2015
This is just another dishonest hit-job on Israel. The author is a known anti-Semite who spends 24 hours-a-day thinking of ways to harm Israel. Footnotes mean nothing if there is dishonest intent. Any fact or explanation for Israel’s actions that does not serve the author’s agenda has been left out. It’s as if he wrote a book about the Manson Family wherein he makes Sharon Tate out to be the perpetrator and Charles Manson the victim.
http://www.amazon.com/The-51-Day-War-Resistance/product-reviews/156858511X/ref=cm_cr_dp_qt_hist_one?ie=UTF8&filterBy=addOneStar&showViewpoints=0
“First, the whole world saw the assault on Gaza through social media in real time, plenty of it and for 51 days and more and more and more – everybody and their uncle Don saw what was going down, so why should anyone feel the need to buy an unoriginal book on it thereafter?…Max should be told by someone that his unprovoked and despicable smear-assaults on solidarity movement members through his twitter and through his interviews is the very reason why a growing chunk of the solidarity movement are not interested in his views or his books anymore… he’s a lousy ‘visionist’ and an egocentric…”
That nails it, Taxi. Many of us are growing increasing exasperated in witnessing the attempt by some Jews to filter history. Even if he is presenting a first hand report of his experience in Gaza (and I haven’t read the book and certainly don’t intend to), who would believe him now? He has absolutely no credibility given his lies about a respected member of the solidarity movement.
You know, this policing of the speech and actions of world’s 7 billion non-Jews by a some in the Jewish community is becoming quite tiresome. There are corrupt Jews, just as there are corrupt members of all of the various races, ethnicities and religions that comprise the human family. We have every right to discuss the role that corrupt Jewish individuals played in historical atrocities (the holocaust, the Spanish civil war etc,) just as we have the right to discuss the role that corrupt individuals of any ethnicity or religious group have played.
The key, imo, is to be careful not to generalize about any group because we are, after all, individuals, ultimately each responsible for our own actions and in the end, we’re members of only one tribe— the human family.
My message to JVP and motley gangbangers: if you don’t wanna be examined with disgust then don’t do disgusting things.
“The key, imo, is to be careful not to generalize about any group because we are, after all, individuals, ultimately each responsible for our own actions and in the end, we’re members of only one tribe— the human family.”
Guru words. But guess who won’t accept this equitable universalist principle?
Maybe—but that will be their problem. As per our discussion on tribalism vs universalism on the other thread, those who subscribe to tribalism will find themselves increasing isolated in a world that is rapidly moving past that mentality. If that’s what they want–their choice— as long as they don’t harass the rest of us as we attempt to live inclusive, expansive lives.
I mulled over the ‘some and all’ sometime ago and decided that it is possible and legitimate to view people within a group as ‘individuals’ and also hold a view of their group ‘in general’.
Some might think that is contradictory but I don’t think so—-most groups have traits or beliefs ‘in common’ , that’s why they group, but people in those groups can always deviate from some of the group beliefs or attitudes, be they race, religion,politics or whatever.
The group test is do most of them ‘act as a group’ on issues and most people group identified do whether they are Jewish or some other group. its just more extreme in Jews than most because of the ‘hostility to others’ factor.
I announced on MW one time when they were having one of their marathon discussions on Jews and anti Semitism that I was adopting the same attitude Jews held toward others in my view of the tribe, that is I recognize ‘righteous Jews’ the same way they recognize ‘righteous gentiles’.
But for some reason the Jews on board didn’t take to that idea.
I think I understand your point, American, although I’m not quite sure. Personally, I prefer to be identified as an individual and I just assume that most people prefer to be identified that way as well. I have noticed that some people don’t mind identifying with a group if they feel that it’s personally advantageous or if they feel that the group protects or shields them in some way. Group identity, if motived by either personal gain or fear, is generally temporary, as it drops away if there is nothing to be gained or when the fear is overcome.
We’re all also identified, usually by others (but often we self-identify) as members of a group–either by race, ethnicity, religion etc., but I’ve noticed that even this may be falling away, particularly among young people. There seems to be much less focus on identifying and labeling others and labeling themselves as members of a particular racial or ethnic group and much more acceptance and a pursuit of a diverse racial and ethnic environment. I find this a very hopeful sign for the future.
weareonel says:
September 10, 2015 at 1:35 am I think I understand your point, American, although I’m not quite sure.
I am trying to think of a good way to illustrate what I am saying about being able to hold ‘two views’ at once— one on a group and also on the individuals in it.
Cant think of the perfect one right now but as a sort of example—back when Bruce Jenner was in the news I was sitting next to some local boys and they were talking about it and saying how f this transgender stuff was too weird and so forth—- BUT what a great guy Bruce was and they hoped it all worked out for him. So that is kind of an example of disapproving of certain group but then for whatever reason excepting one of that group from their disapproval or derision.
Thanks for the additional explanation. It seems to me, and please correct me if I’m wrong, that we share common thoughts on the subject, with perhaps the difference being that you may feel that group identity has more of an influence on one’s behavior and choices and I would like to believe that it has less…but you may be right. I may be underestimating its significance.
……’ that group identity has more of an influence on one’s behavior and choices ..wao
It definitely does in the Jewish group, maybe some others, but not as extreme.
We can count on hands and toes the Jews or those born to Jewish families who have broken with the group think…those like Jeff, Gilad, Danna , Avigail, for example.
PS. Taxi, when you have a moment, would you contact me? Thanks.
One other thought. About the “guru words.” I sincerely appreciate the kind words, Taxi—I really do—- but you should know that that’s not me……verrrrrrry far from it, actually—and those who know me would be happy to confirm that fact. 🙂
GAWD… your best work seems to be being as bad as the JVP. Why don’t give Max’s some points for being in Gaza while shit rained from the Zionized skys.
And then maybe look at why there is an issue with people in Gaza doing their own reporting in the English language. Really shitty education! I have one guy I’m mentoring who did English literature at the Islamic University with 3 or 4 writing subjects in English in which NO ONE in the class ever wrote a paragraph in English.
There are bigger issues of bullshit than Max to be concerned about. He’s not perfect but he makes a damn good effort.
I’m still to hear a fuckin apology from Gilad for his promoting of homophobic bullshit that was based on complete misinformation by a wacko! At least Max has more good sense than that!!!
“GAWD… your best work seems to be being as bad as the JVP. Why don’t give Max’s some points for being in Gaza while shit rained from the Zionized skys.”
The point is Alison Weir does equally good work, if not better, and she’s been tarred and feathered for no discernible reason by the JVP and/or Max, who are attempting to control the stage and the flow of information by banning all their members from working with Alison in any capacity, by trashing her work and attacking her publicly, by characterizing her as someone who “possibly might be construed by some people in a certain light as maybe being in a tiny way a little bit racist”, and they refuse to engage with anyone about any of this in any meaningful way. Moreover, Alison is not the first person who’s been subjected to this kind of treatment and she won’t be the last unless something changes.
Alison got the ‘cuts’, 6 on each hand and expelled from JVP school. So did I and Greta. Who gives a fuck. I wrote a bitching letter to the JVP and sent it to all of their email addresses.
http://www.peacepharm.org/node/429
I’m waiting for a respectful reply from…
Gilad for his homophobic bullshit and utter garbage about identity politics
From Ali Abunimah for this crap
http://peacearchitects.org/ohright
From Rich Siegel who instantly defriended me after 6 years of being mates because I don’t support his utter crap on vaccinations.
And I’m sure as hell not going to be caught in a photo opportunity with Neturei Karta, who paid Mexican to protect against the gay right parade in New York and indoctrinate children into a cult that oppresses women. Or post videos from that lunatic Brother Nathanael whose an embarrassment to Christian values.
Nor will I claim Hamas or Iran represent heaven on earth!
I’ve said my bit on antisemitism. If you’re a decent person that is Jewish GET OUT OF THE CULT. Why on earth would you want to taint your integrity by association to lunatics! If someone is a bigot that is what they are, no special word is needed.
Sorry for the ‘eff off but really now, that is a highly offensive view to give of Palestinians. It’s simply not true what you say – there are many articulate and well-educated Palestinians walking the planet.
And Gilar a homophobe? Evidence? Link?
https://youtu.be/kHHitXxH-us
So you think Max wears a Superman leotard under his Dolce and Cabana casuals? He’s that brave that he would walk into a burning building to save an orphan’s kitten? You think he went to Gaza alone without being assigned security details organized for him by his father’s high level contacts within the Knesset? You think the ‘westernized’ hotel where he was staying was a target for the idf and he braved life and limb and stayed there for Palestine?
Get out of town, you’re naive.
I’ve been in a war zone, dude. I survived Operation Grapes of Wrath/1996 when the first Qana massacre went down – I was 24 kilometer away from it – it was the most frightening experience I’ve ever had in my life (well, that and the time I almost got eaten by a bear while camping out in the wilds of Yellow Stone Park – but that’s another story and another kind of terror).
Point is, only a psychopath or a well-guarded person would ever intentionally and voluntarily step into a war zone. Max went to Gaza in relative safety and to get the fucking ‘story’ to sell his book, not to primarily help the Palestinians. If he truly wanted to help the suffering Palestinians, he would have donated the book dosh to Gaza through and through – and we all know he can afford to do that: hailing from an elitist DC family and all that crap.
And fuck off with your ‘Palestinians are not good at English so they need a native speaker to write on their behalf’. Just fuck off and take your snoot with you.
I gave you a case from this week. Clearly a university course in Gaza called ‘English literature’ with 3-4 writing subjects should include actual writing. The young person concerned felt let down by the course. Obviously there is a problem.
Max has some sway. We know from reports his father sends items written by Max to Clinton. I’m not sure of what cash is earned writing a book. Unless you are a well sold author it is usually a cost rather than a return. I would doubt Max is likely to earn money from this to cover the costs.
Does Max do more good than harm? Probably. Will he be remembered as the agent of change? Unlikely, and just as unlikely that anyone will. There is only one thing that has any change of causing change, a massive walk out on the Jewry based on a well reasoned public document. Until the Jewry is shamed into admission of collective crimes against humanity nothing will change. It’s business as usual.
But I appreciate your Zionistic reply… “Just fuck off and take your snoot with you.”
First, sorry for the eff – I meant it as a brush-off and not as spit and a punch in the teeth.
Second, I’m okay to give credit where credit is due – I just cannot find worthy credibility in Max Blumenthal’s schtik.
Third: agree with you on global Jewry admitting to crimes against humanity and paying reparations. But I only see this happening if they are actually defeated and absolutely crushed on the battlefield.
This day will come.
“First, sorry for the eff – I meant it as a brush-off and not as spit and a punch in the teeth.”
Don’t worry I’m used to it.
The fact is the at the JVP, who I forced to return my membership fees, do good work, as does Max. The issue is that they are Jewish and put ‘antisemitism’ above all other issues. Antisemitism is more important than the Palestinian cause which was never more clearly defined than when the IDF thugs teargassed a disabled school while I was ‘there’.
They can bullshit on about how Hamas fired thousands of rocket and they had no choice but to attack. But there is no bloody excuse for lobbing 2 cans of teargas under the open windows of an assembly hall where 200 5-8 year old with disabilities, some in wheelchairs with down syndrome, were rehearsing a performance for their parents to be held the following afternoon. This situation is so common it is considered to be ‘normal life’ for those involved. It doesn’t get to even the Palestinian media because they fear reprisals.
So they can all shove their concerns for antisemitism right up there… it’s the outcome of 66+ years of unbelievable abuse. They are a batshit crazy cult. The fact that Max, the JVP and others can’t shake off this garbage relates to their indoctrination into the goodness of being Jewish, special and chosen. They don’t have the guts to throw off the benefits package of being members of a death cult. They are out to save Judaism. They have as much chance of this as a German claiming to be a good Nazi, bugger all!
Unfortunately in the process of the Zionization of Judaism, others have picked up on the religion as peoplehood garbage.
Yani,
“The fact is the at the JVP, who I forced to return my membership fees, do good work, as does Max. The issue is that they are Jewish and put ‘antisemitism’ above all other issues.”
They maybe “good” at it but they’re not GREAT at it for the reason you mention above. In fact your two sentences kinda contradict each other. The idea is that it’s not good enough that leaders and major spokespersons in the movement are just “good”, they need to be fucking GREAT or pass on the microphone. Like to someone non-jewish.
p.s. I’m amazed you got your money back from JVP lol. Good for you! Big fat bravo, Yani!
Yani, read Noam Chomsky’s account of what Israel did in Lebanon in 1982; it’s guaranteed to give you nightmares:
http://www.chomsky.info/books/fateful01.htm
From Chu’s link above……and let me say I told you so. I noticed years ago that goggle has been changing their search results under pressure from the Jewish groups. If you search anything related to USA-Israel-Jews 250,000 of the 259,000 results you get will be linked to Jewish sites.
Jews No Longer Run Hollywood, Google Says
.
The Wrap
By Itay Hod September 4, 2015 3:10 PM
Jews No Longer Run Hollywood, Google Says
.
“Who runs Hollywood?”
Up until Friday, Google’s widely used “direct answers” search tool offered a decisive answer. Wait for it… “Jews.”
But after that response kicked up an online firestorm on Friday and charges of digital anti-Semitism, the tech giant quickly changed its algorithm to produce a less contentious search result.
Last year, the people at Google started toying with new ways to run searches, inserting a white box above the blue links where it put answers to more complicated questions.
A search for “Who runs Hollywood?” produced a befuddling answer box and link from a right-wing website denouncing the Anti-Defamation League, a prominent Jewish advocacy group.
The same “Jews” answer also appeared in Google’s mobile searches.
News of the problematic answer prompted critical headlines early Friday, with major news sites taking aim at the ubiquitous search engine behemoth.
U.K’s The Guardian went with, “Who runs Hollywood? Google has an answer, but it’s not a good one.”
The New York Daily News opted with: “Who runs Hollywood? Google to fix search result that claims ‘Jews’ do,” and Re/code, a leading tech news site, warned its readers to “Please Don’t Ask Google ‘Who Runs Hollywood’”
“We worked quickly to remove this answer,” a Google spokesperson told TheWrap. “We assure you that the views expressed by such sites are not in any way endorsed by Google.”
In June, Google ran into similar problems when a search for “what happened to the dinosaurs” prompted a response from a Creationist website. That response is still on the site.