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The Reality of Nationhood

Reader comment on item: Does Israel Need U.S. Jewish Support?

Submitted by SAKOVKT (United States), Apr 19, 2016 at 07:35

I think the major factor in all this is that the lofty aspirations of the "Jewish Homeland" has become nothing more than the realities confronting any nation state given similar circumstances.

It was the stateless Jews prior to 1917 propagating a sense of universal humanity which was no small part of the Socialist Movement.

Today, it is Israel telling us that some cultures are better than others.

Well, the circumstances changed, the party line changed, and in no way Machiavelli wouldn't have predicted.

Oh, well.

Who would have thought, centuries ago, that America, the "city on the hill" and light unto the world, could lose so may wars and make a global fool of itself?

It happens! It's discouraging.

Point of fact, who is the iconic American or Jew, today?

Is "Americanism" exemplified by Reagan or Obama? Lincoln or Wilson?

Is "Jewish" Netanyahu or Karl Marx?

"We the People" is a Nationalist Idea, just like "the Jewish State"

Woodrow Wilson's "self determination for all people" is Nationalist.

But Fascism was also Nationalist and America defeated it as an ally of the European Imperial Powers, France and Britain in the cause of freedom,,,,for some, at any rate.

The reality of politics is little more than acquiring power and that's always disappointing.

Now, America seems to preside over a Western Empire without the Imperial title or prerogatives that went with it.

Pretty messy!

The British Empire could preside over its Israeli creation in Jihad Central.

We would certainly have more trouble doing the same thing and the result is that the problem only gets worse as the Nationalist impulse matures in the ME and the weary West retreats behind the politics of human universality.

Distress is the Goddess of Change and, if history is indication, no one is distressed enough, yet, to actually do anything.

I think that's coming.

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Reader comments (37) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
American jewish support for Israel. [39 words]richard feinMay 31, 2016 17:20229772
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Oy Vay [23 words]Barry BlackApr 21, 2016 09:42229067
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A valuable article; a good thing that "Jewish political clout" is eroding, given the great Jewish indifference - if not antipathy - to non-progressive Israel [22 words]MApr 18, 2016 16:22229017
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