Just devastating. And Wong's lack of a visit to the kibbutzim attacked by Hamas also speaks volumes about where she stands on the conflict - indifferent
Very thoughtful analysis, Michael! It is sad to see the diminishing support for Israel in the entire West, not only in Australia. Milton Friedman once said that the "society that puts equality before freedom will end up with neither". His words sound like a prophesy now. The liberal progressives think they have a blueprint for freeing the oppressed groups, including Palestinians, Lebanese and even Iranians. In reality theirs is a formula for the oppression of individuals - and, in that, it is not so different from the plans of the populist right and equally extreme. Looking at the history, we know it leads to fascism. Not supporting Israel, the only democratic country in Middle East will eventually hurt the West, but the current politicians will be long gone then.
Thankyou for the analysis of the Biskin Report and Wong's attempt to ignore the conclusion of the report. Wong is a failed minister in several governments now and I guess she manages to hang on to her seat and her job because she plays the factional game well. Her response to October 7 is about that factional game.
Thanks for the update from 'down-under'. Not encouraging. You are correct re the social democratic left historically engaged in working for the good of others. Unfortunately, evil has co-opted the movement with no resolution in sight. If one were to tease them out, I suppose these same trends were present in Nazi Germany and the Russian pogroms. Like Twain said, history doesn't repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme - well, a little editorial license there. The world seems full of Chamberlains, not sure there are any Churchills left.
Michael, I am a fellow Jew, an Australian, an educator and writer of 30+ years; a reader of history and a teacher of Media Studies. I have to tell you that your left-wing belief system - like so many modern Jews around the world - comes from a deeply Humanist heart which was fostered and grown across Europe beginning with 17th century thinkers and writers through to today. But it is utterly, totally blind to the realities of the angry, selfish, jealous activism of left-wing politics which began, in America particularly, in the 1960s, and which has now taken control of all of Western society's institutions - education, mass media, democratic politics, law and order, parenting. Right down to the banning of great literature and the silencing of dissenters. All the classic moves once called fascism. No historical experiment in ideology ever ended with a gentle transition away from extremity. You have unwittingly played your part in feeding the monster. Jews have always been history's coal-mine canaries. Here we go again.
I think this is far too sweeping and apocalyptic. But I don’t think it is possible to examine the issues you raise in a thread like this. The social democratic left has been a great force for good. That’s the left to which I l always belonged.
Tzvetan Todorov once said: "Humanism is a frail craft indeed for setting sail around the world!" The British Humanist Harold J. Blackham tried to warn, in 1968, of the necessity for those who love life, freedom and the human potential for good to be vigilant against those enemies of Humanism who would "dupe, enslave, manipulate, brain-wash or otherwise deprive human beings" of their humanity, who particularly "victimize the young and inexperienced." His insight and those like his have been largely ignored.
Thanks for that, Michael. A few corrections are needed to what you have written, in my view. Firstly, your conflation of Jews with Israel. It might surprise you, but not all Jews are unequivocal supporters of Israel no matter what the actions of its government or military. Not all Jews are Zionists. Since Israel's horrendous, brutal military action in Gaza, which has cost more than 40,000 lives, an increasing number of Jews are questioning Israel and its actions. Is that really surprising? Both the Hamas massacre on October 7 and the human cost of Israel's response, which you hardly mention, are unspeakable. In fact, your lament about the left and the way "Jews have been abandoned" misses a key point: the scale of inhumanity of Israel's response has well overshadowed October 7 and blighted any possibility of Israel having the high moral ground. There is little sympathy for Israel in the general public because its actions (led by a far-right government) have been so disproportionate and so clearly articulated by beliefs of Palestinians as less than human. For me, the issue is primarily not about the left, who supports Israel and how, but about morality and the best of the Jewish tradition. The best of the Jewish tradition would not support the extreme actions of the Israeli government no matter the cost but stand in solidarity with oppressed people everywhere.
These are not corrections in the sense that they are not corrections of facts. They are your opinions. Some of them I almost agree with. Others I would not. I reject your implication that I have no concern about the suffering people of Gaza which is a sort of moral superiority people with views like yours regularly imply. I have no need to declare my humanity, my sorrow for the suffering of the people of Gaza to you. Or anyone else for that matter. For the rest of what you say Sacha, I’ll let my readers judge and respond if they want to. It is not earth shatteringly new.
Michael, actually my "corrections" are of facts. For instance when I say, "not all Jews are unequivocal supporters of Israel" and "not all Jews are Zionists", these are facts, not my opinion. But in your writing you repeatedly refer to "the Jewish community" as if it's a monolith with only one set of beliefs regarding Israel and "Jews" as if all Jews think the same way as you do regarding Israel. As a former journalist, I'm sure you'd appreciate that accuracy is important. And as for "moral superiority", in my view that is precisely the point. If you defend Israel at this point in time, when it is being openly accused of genocide, you have to argue, at least partially, on moral grounds. If not, you accept or concede that its actions are immoral.
Sasha, I do not understand why you need to lecture me about accuracy in journalism. Nor do I understand why you need to go on about my moral failings when it comes to showing sympathy for the suffering of the people of Gaza. Do you really think that people like me are not horrified by what is happening there? So all this lecturing Sasha is not conducive to any sort of dialogue between us. Perhaps best we end it here.
So yes, still true: whatever it takes. So - what will happen in the ballot box next year? Will the disaffected Jewish left turn from Labor to the Teals for representation? Teals talk a good game but in the 47th Parliament (Hansard September 24) they voted with the Greens on substantive measures as follows.
The attitude to Jews here in the UK is indeed bad too but, so far, there has been little attempt to murder any of us, which is more a Far Right thing. But I too feel abandoned and have lost a Hamas-supporting niece. As much as I'm distressed by the murders of Jews in Israel by genocidal thugs, I'm terrified by the creeping annihilation (a different murder) of Jews more covertly by universities, publishers, art galleries, venues etc. Most people, including many Jews, won't even know it's happening, or happened. The Greens here too are more or less Judenrein. And I was shocked in my supermarket this morning that only two of today's nine newspapers carried full headlines about October 7th, instead reporting on the ousting of Sir Keir Starmer's adviser Sue Gray. And there's a repulsive report by Jeremy Bowen on the BBC's website. But Starmer PM gave an excellent speech today and is broadly supportive of Israel and Jews. Also Radio 4's World at One (1pm GMT) was good and Jack Straw (Foreign Secretary in Blair's government) excellent. Nevertheless we'll all have to continue to hide our horns!
Thank you Michael. I too feel after this year that the left is another country. What did you think of the PM's statement today? Less evasive, I thought.
Just devastating. And Wong's lack of a visit to the kibbutzim attacked by Hamas also speaks volumes about where she stands on the conflict - indifferent
Great piece Michael. A horrific day for the world to mark and acknowledge the ramifications of.
I agree Malcolm
Very thoughtful analysis, Michael! It is sad to see the diminishing support for Israel in the entire West, not only in Australia. Milton Friedman once said that the "society that puts equality before freedom will end up with neither". His words sound like a prophesy now. The liberal progressives think they have a blueprint for freeing the oppressed groups, including Palestinians, Lebanese and even Iranians. In reality theirs is a formula for the oppression of individuals - and, in that, it is not so different from the plans of the populist right and equally extreme. Looking at the history, we know it leads to fascism. Not supporting Israel, the only democratic country in Middle East will eventually hurt the West, but the current politicians will be long gone then.
I agree with much of this Chris. But I remain a Social Democrat. I am as far away from the totalitarian Left as I am from the extreme Right.
Thankyou for the analysis of the Biskin Report and Wong's attempt to ignore the conclusion of the report. Wong is a failed minister in several governments now and I guess she manages to hang on to her seat and her job because she plays the factional game well. Her response to October 7 is about that factional game.
To build on your comment, it's all about the numbers (as Michael mentioned in this post).
Getting the Islamic community offside comes at a much risk of costing Albanese and Wong their jobs, when compared to failing to support Jews.
Thanks for the update from 'down-under'. Not encouraging. You are correct re the social democratic left historically engaged in working for the good of others. Unfortunately, evil has co-opted the movement with no resolution in sight. If one were to tease them out, I suppose these same trends were present in Nazi Germany and the Russian pogroms. Like Twain said, history doesn't repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme - well, a little editorial license there. The world seems full of Chamberlains, not sure there are any Churchills left.
Michael, I am a fellow Jew, an Australian, an educator and writer of 30+ years; a reader of history and a teacher of Media Studies. I have to tell you that your left-wing belief system - like so many modern Jews around the world - comes from a deeply Humanist heart which was fostered and grown across Europe beginning with 17th century thinkers and writers through to today. But it is utterly, totally blind to the realities of the angry, selfish, jealous activism of left-wing politics which began, in America particularly, in the 1960s, and which has now taken control of all of Western society's institutions - education, mass media, democratic politics, law and order, parenting. Right down to the banning of great literature and the silencing of dissenters. All the classic moves once called fascism. No historical experiment in ideology ever ended with a gentle transition away from extremity. You have unwittingly played your part in feeding the monster. Jews have always been history's coal-mine canaries. Here we go again.
I think this is far too sweeping and apocalyptic. But I don’t think it is possible to examine the issues you raise in a thread like this. The social democratic left has been a great force for good. That’s the left to which I l always belonged.
Tzvetan Todorov once said: "Humanism is a frail craft indeed for setting sail around the world!" The British Humanist Harold J. Blackham tried to warn, in 1968, of the necessity for those who love life, freedom and the human potential for good to be vigilant against those enemies of Humanism who would "dupe, enslave, manipulate, brain-wash or otherwise deprive human beings" of their humanity, who particularly "victimize the young and inexperienced." His insight and those like his have been largely ignored.
Eloquent as always. Thank you for writing this Michael. Such a sad and demoralising time.
Brilliant and devastating; says it all.
Thanks for that, Michael. A few corrections are needed to what you have written, in my view. Firstly, your conflation of Jews with Israel. It might surprise you, but not all Jews are unequivocal supporters of Israel no matter what the actions of its government or military. Not all Jews are Zionists. Since Israel's horrendous, brutal military action in Gaza, which has cost more than 40,000 lives, an increasing number of Jews are questioning Israel and its actions. Is that really surprising? Both the Hamas massacre on October 7 and the human cost of Israel's response, which you hardly mention, are unspeakable. In fact, your lament about the left and the way "Jews have been abandoned" misses a key point: the scale of inhumanity of Israel's response has well overshadowed October 7 and blighted any possibility of Israel having the high moral ground. There is little sympathy for Israel in the general public because its actions (led by a far-right government) have been so disproportionate and so clearly articulated by beliefs of Palestinians as less than human. For me, the issue is primarily not about the left, who supports Israel and how, but about morality and the best of the Jewish tradition. The best of the Jewish tradition would not support the extreme actions of the Israeli government no matter the cost but stand in solidarity with oppressed people everywhere.
These are not corrections in the sense that they are not corrections of facts. They are your opinions. Some of them I almost agree with. Others I would not. I reject your implication that I have no concern about the suffering people of Gaza which is a sort of moral superiority people with views like yours regularly imply. I have no need to declare my humanity, my sorrow for the suffering of the people of Gaza to you. Or anyone else for that matter. For the rest of what you say Sacha, I’ll let my readers judge and respond if they want to. It is not earth shatteringly new.
Michael, actually my "corrections" are of facts. For instance when I say, "not all Jews are unequivocal supporters of Israel" and "not all Jews are Zionists", these are facts, not my opinion. But in your writing you repeatedly refer to "the Jewish community" as if it's a monolith with only one set of beliefs regarding Israel and "Jews" as if all Jews think the same way as you do regarding Israel. As a former journalist, I'm sure you'd appreciate that accuracy is important. And as for "moral superiority", in my view that is precisely the point. If you defend Israel at this point in time, when it is being openly accused of genocide, you have to argue, at least partially, on moral grounds. If not, you accept or concede that its actions are immoral.
Sasha, I do not understand why you need to lecture me about accuracy in journalism. Nor do I understand why you need to go on about my moral failings when it comes to showing sympathy for the suffering of the people of Gaza. Do you really think that people like me are not horrified by what is happening there? So all this lecturing Sasha is not conducive to any sort of dialogue between us. Perhaps best we end it here.
So yes, still true: whatever it takes. So - what will happen in the ballot box next year? Will the disaffected Jewish left turn from Labor to the Teals for representation? Teals talk a good game but in the 47th Parliament (Hansard September 24) they voted with the Greens on substantive measures as follows.
CHANEY, Kate 73%
DANIEL, Zoe 81%
RYAN, Monique 78%
SCAMPS, Sophie 80%
SPENDER, Allegra 74%
STEGGALL, Zali 76%
TINK, Kylea 76%
I have no idea what will happen. I have no idea what disaffected Jews of the left will do.
Excellent piece, thank you.
The attitude to Jews here in the UK is indeed bad too but, so far, there has been little attempt to murder any of us, which is more a Far Right thing. But I too feel abandoned and have lost a Hamas-supporting niece. As much as I'm distressed by the murders of Jews in Israel by genocidal thugs, I'm terrified by the creeping annihilation (a different murder) of Jews more covertly by universities, publishers, art galleries, venues etc. Most people, including many Jews, won't even know it's happening, or happened. The Greens here too are more or less Judenrein. And I was shocked in my supermarket this morning that only two of today's nine newspapers carried full headlines about October 7th, instead reporting on the ousting of Sir Keir Starmer's adviser Sue Gray. And there's a repulsive report by Jeremy Bowen on the BBC's website. But Starmer PM gave an excellent speech today and is broadly supportive of Israel and Jews. Also Radio 4's World at One (1pm GMT) was good and Jack Straw (Foreign Secretary in Blair's government) excellent. Nevertheless we'll all have to continue to hide our horns!
Thank you Michael. I too feel after this year that the left is another country. What did you think of the PM's statement today? Less evasive, I thought.