Yesterday Bruce Wolman sent me the following note, about an argument I was having with a progressive Zionist:
It's time to build bridges to the non-Jewish world and stop worrying about
converting more Jews to the cause. Liberal Jews will either come on
board or they won't, but there are diminishing returns arguing directly
with them. Let's work towards a situation where they are forced to
argue with the non-Jewish world, who are still mostly uninformed and
disinterested, and need to be mobilized. The prospects of war with Iran should be the theme to getting their interest level up. I'm not sure Palestinian suffering is sufficient on its own.
converting more Jews to the cause. Liberal Jews will either come on
board or they won't, but there are diminishing returns arguing directly
with them. Let's work towards a situation where they are forced to
argue with the non-Jewish world, who are still mostly uninformed and
disinterested, and need to be mobilized. The prospects of war with Iran should be the theme to getting their interest level up. I'm not sure Palestinian suffering is sufficient on its own.
This echoes a theme I have heard from Anna Baltzer, and Phyllis Bennis too. Pitch your words to a general audience. They are right, and still I admit I am engaged by the Jewish community here, and always will be to some degree..
