Complicity and its Consequences

Apathy, and the Cost of Ignoring Genocide

Reading time: 6 minutes

punditman says…

Now that Israel’s “escalate to de-escalate” tactic is threatening to engulf the Middle East in a full-blown regional war, a little reflection is in order.

Ever since this unholy conflagration began, I've noticed most people I know don't have much to say about it.

I'm talking Canadians here. Whereby the standard opinion on overseas conflict is to feel “sorry” for innocents, blame religion, say “it’s complicated”—and then quickly change the subject: “How about those Leafs?” (It's still pre-season; nobody cares).

I don’t expect the average person to be an expert on geopolitics, or the laws of war, but I do remain perplexed at how many people I meet would rather talk about anything other than an ongoing genocide funded and supported by the West.

I understand the mental health ramifications of obsessing over horrific events, especially if all it does is leave you feeling depressed and helpless.

But it seems apathy is not only widespread, but the default here—which would be somewhat understandable (though still kind of thoughtless) if the conflict were in some far-flung spot and Canada had no real stake in the outcome and no real clout other than to issue travel warnings.

But when it comes to Israel and Palestine, like it or not, Canada is tethered to this one—politically, culturally, morally, and spiritually.

That’s why this time around, with this conflict, I find the level of detachment and complacency eerily disturbing.

One friend says it’s a psychic self-defense mechanism. Another person in my orbit draws a direct line between genocide over there and motorists over here who run red lights and stop signs. Rules…laws? Who cares anymore?

I myself can barely find the words to do justice to this topic because each time I check my phone there's a new massacre.

(As an aside, it's alienating because I seem to exist in an alternate universe compared to many of my contemporaries simply for checking Instagram, al Jazeera or Democracy Now as a counterweight to the incessant propaganda of Western corporate media. Here, for instance, is how the Western press obscured the sheer terror of Israel's pager attacks in Lebanon).

Manitoba writer, Owen Schalk, provides a thorough summary of how Canada has been in lockstep with Israeli actions, as of June. More recently, on September 18, along with Germany and the UK, Canada abstained from a UN motion demanding that Israel end its illegal occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Of course the US voted against the resolution, which was based on the July ICJ ruling that said Israel’s presence in the Palestinian territory is unlawful and must end.

The deaths of more than 41,000 Palestinians—likely much higher according to the Lancet, mostly women and children—and the maiming of tens of thousands more have not stopped America and its allies from continuing to arm Israel while giving it diplomatic and political cover. And, now at this writing, add another 2,000 people killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon, including 127 children and 261 women.

Gwynne Dyer points out that Netanyahu has “promised President Biden to accept a ceasefire five times, and reneged on his word just as many times. (The last time was less than two weeks ago.)” Those who know me, may recall that I've been saying for months that Netanyahu's aim is the same as it's been for years: to draw the United States into a war against Iran. And viola! Just as sure as the tail wags the dog, here we are on the brink.

Yet so many people seem to have some kind of brain block when it comes to Israel. I’m not sure how many times this needs to be stated, but the horrific events of October 7 do not justify the lopsided slaughter and subsequent horrors unleashed in response. Yet I’ve heard and read enough nonsense over the past year, most of it simply parroting the mainstream media narrative that Israel must always be given the benefit of the doubt—right up to the present moment—that it feels like some weird spell has been cast, glitching just enough synapses to allow the madness to continue.

Much of this sentiment comes from the left.

And because of Trump Derangement Syndrome, which has spread far beyond America's borders, one dare not criticize beloved Kamala. One dare not point out her unwavering support for Israel's campaign of carnage and ethnic cleansing, on full display as she continues to parrot worn out platitudes like “Too many Palestinians have died” (what’s an acceptable number?).

Perhaps I`ve missed something but if there is any light between Biden and Harris on this, it’s a flicker I can’t detect.

A Thought Experiment

Imagine if Trump had won the last election. And instead of team Biden/Harris backing Netanyahu’s assault on Gaza—while ignoring warnings that Israel blocked aid in violation of U.S. and international law, the Secretary of State then lying to Congress to keep weapons flowing and the US green lighting Israel's attack on Lebanon—it was Trump overseeing this slaughter and the associated deceptions.

Imagine if Trump was supplying Israel and enabling the “world's most moral army” to wipe out entire neighbourhoods, kill journalists and their families, bomb international aid workers, hospitals, ambulances, schools, refugee camps, wipe out apartment buildings, kill people waving white flags, assassinate negotiators, attack foreign embassies, starve an entire population, torture and rape prisoners and then have a fucking debate about how that's okay in the Israel parliament, etc., etc!

I think most progressives would be losing their minds. And the protests that have been mainly student-led would be wider, deeper, and probably more effective.

Speaking of the Orange Monster, and broken brains, I feel compelled to dispel another dangerous myth that is making the rounds—that Trump, simply because he “didn't start any new wars” is somehow a peacenik. Mehdi Hasan does an excellent job of debunking this deluded misconception (well worth 5:12 of your time).

And, crucially, Trump says he wants Israel to “finish the job”—a terrifying scenario especially for Palestinians and Lebanese.

Nonetheless, it seems party tribalism has clouded the judgment of those who want to avoid this scenario, to the point where many refuse see a harsh truth: Namely, there is a rogue state with a rogue leader who leads a far-right apartheid government who is rampaging through the Middle East and threatening to ignite World War Three, all the while being aided and abetted by the entire Western world’s liberal political class.

I’d say that’s something worth discussing—at the very least!

Please consider giving to these humanitarian organizations:

International Committee of the Red Cross

Humanitarian Coalition

Doctors Without Borders

United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR)

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