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josh's avatar

I'm writing this comment just to share this story, because it really frustrates me and I just want to tell someone...so, please, if you don't want to read it is OK.

I was subscribed to Josh Slocum at disaffectedpod.substack.com.

His most recent post mentioned "hundreds of thousands" of "pro-Hamas" supporters that were rallying this weekend. I commented:

"Please don't conflate sympathy for Palestinians with being "pro-Hamas". Most of those hundreds of thousands aren't Hamas supporters, they want justice for the (normal) people of Palestine, and are against the ethnic cleansing and potential genocide we are seeing right now in Gaza. Waving a Palestinian flag is not antisemitic or "pro-Hamas"."

His reply:

How do you know that?

Why were people doing this "free palestine" immediately (IMMEDIATELY THAT DAY) on learning about the rapes and murders by Hamas?

What "potential genocide?"

Be specific. Make sure of that.

My reply: (this actually wasn't my whole comment...don't know where the rest is, it got eaten?)

Likewise, how do you know they do support Hamas?

Some of them probably do; the vast majority are expressing their human horror at seeing the systematic opression of an entire group of people.

Palestinians have been oppressed for the last 75 years. There is a whole history. History didn't begin on October 7. People have been saying "Free Palestine" for at least 50 years. The Hamas attacks were a reminder of this oppression, a reminder that there is an ongoing military occupation of a whole people. Therefore, you are wrong to say people were "doing this "free palestine" immediately". That is wrong, people have been saying that for a long time.

Already 1 million Palestinians have been displaced. That is ethnic cleansing.

When Israel cuts off all fuel, water, electricity, food to the Gaza Strip, that is potential genocide. When you cut off everything people need to live and leave them with no options, you are endangering the lives of every single one of those people. If they all die of starvation, it will be Israel's fault. That would be genocide. Since Israel is withholding all of those things, preventing them from getting in, that is potential genocide.

When you indiscrimantely bomb hospitals, refugee camps, ambulances, whole neighborhoods where you know there are many women and children, you are saying that those humans lives don't matter. That is the road to genocide.

Right now, 10,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed by Israel in the last month, almost 10x the number killed on October 7. Where is your concern for them?

There are multiple politicans, including US Rep. Mast, who have said there are "no innocent civilians in Gaza". That is a prelude to genocide.

He banned me for this comment (24 hours) saying this (two replys):

Nope. I'm not going to do this with you. You may not gloss over the indiscriminate rape and murder of civilians as if you had answered that part. No, sir.

Try someone else. Understand this: you will not get this by me. I'm not like the other people you are used to speaking with. I won't tolerate the maneuvering that you have become used to from other people.

You moral monster.

Yes. I did put you on a timeout from commenting for 24 hours. Why? Oh, I know what you're telling other people. "He can't handle debate, he's a fraud!"

Nope. I want you to have to sit there and not be able to gabble on with your moral equivocation. Enjoy.

(end reply)

*big sigh* what can I say? part of my comment that isn't there was about how I am against all war, dehumanization, and genocide.

also, I love how he doesn't have anything to say about Israel bombing women, children, hospitals, refugee camps. Apparently pointing this out is "moral equivocation".

"You may not gloss over the indiscriminate rape and murder of civilians as if you had answered that part."

he says, which is exactly what he did when he banned me, refusing to recognize that Israel is massacring civilians right this moment.

In the past I had thought he was a bit reasonable, which is why I engaged with him...but I know this is a madness that so many of us have fallen into...it is really discouraging, isn't it?

I did unsubscribe from him. I like to hear differing opinions, but what I can't stand is the negativity, just the constant blast of self-righteous negativity.

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Vonu's avatar

After the Zionists have exterminated the Palestinians and cleared the bodies and rubble, they will build Atlantic City Gaza on the coast and busy themselves with picking tourist's pockets.

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