I need to document something important that happened in 2009 in American Jewish intellectual life that someday people will look back on in horror.
Twice in the last month I have had conversations with Jewish intellectuals who must go nameless here, who said to me, in virtually these words:
I was appalled by the Gaza war. I don't want to speak out against it.
Both these people are prominent, well-known in intellectual circles. Both rely on institutional support. One is left-liberal, one more centrist. Both are affluent.
I report this because this attitude is widespread; and of course it is all but unforgiveable. Both of them work in the international field, so the statement violates their professional/ethical charge.
This is a secret post because I like these people and won't tell you who I was talking to till they're dead. I did not probe either individual. They spoke in casual conversation, without any beating of the breast, maybe a flicker of anguish, no more.
I would say that the statement reflects fear of being defunded–in a word, fear of the Israel lobby. And also, fear of tribal norms, of being condemned by the tribe as disloyal.
Will these people speak out now that Michael Walzer is going forward?
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