The epitome of Judaeo-Christian fundamentalism

November 24

 

GUEST: Ahmad Abuznaid, cofounded of the Dream Defenders, and Executive Director of the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, talks about the links between Black Lives Matter and the fight for justice in Palestine.

US Campaign for Palestinian Rights

Ahmad and I talked about the Zionist movement in the US, and how its fascist roots in Israel have come to dominate much of its political advocacy in America. 

A racist ideology in occupied Palestine won't change to something else when brought to our shores. As Israel turns to the right, the Israel Lobby here can be seen supporting Donald Trump and any number of radical, white nationalist movements. As Israel directs more violence towards its Palestinian population, Zionists spend millions of dollars on US candidates who express racial hatreds and advocate armed rebellion. The settler movement in Israel is the Proud Boys here. Maybe it is time that the rest of us realize that the base philosophy is virtually identical. 

In fact, I can imagine the Proud Boys on their first trip to the Promised Land, that settler paradise that depends on ethnic and racial cleansing. They would first compare guns and other weaponry to be used against the "enemy." Settlers hate liberal Jews as much as they despise Palestinians. The Proud Boys feel the same way about white liberals as they do about Blacks. 

Perhaps the settlers and the Proud Boys would plan some joint maneuvers. Some shooting of young Palestinians, or the destruction of some of their olive orchards. Maybe they would even pray together, as the epitome of Judaeo-Christian fundamentalism. Can our maker be very far away? 

Capitalism's propaganda

November 17

GUEST: Andrea Bauer, Managing Editor of the Freedom Socialist newspaper and author of "Thwarting the Cuban Revolution – the long U.S. war and its bitter fruits,” talks about imperialism being the highest stage of capitalism.

The Ravaging of Ukraine

I wonder as our democracy continues to fail us, if more and more people will start to explore other parties and other philosophies of government. Shall we call them revolutionary parties, to distinguish them from the two party, one corporate rule of late capitalism?

When it comes to war and climate collapse, late stage capitalism has proven itself not only oblivious to the public good, but also primarily responsible for our society's ills. It turns out that making money solves nothing when it comes to the perpetuation of life on our planet. And the greed and obsession needed to make billion dollar fortunes turns people into characters better suited to a Dickens novel. They are venial, petty, selfish, and despicable. 

We can't really close the book on these characters either. Their control of our government and our media is now almost complete. There are uprising here and there, of course. But will our thoroughly corrupted system really be challenged? 

Andrea's description of Ukraine as a war between two capitalist countries was her most provocative statement. Will our thinking have to become  revolutionary to throw off the fog of perpetual war propaganda? Capitalism's propaganda, the transparent medium that we swim in our whole lives.