The British Catastrophe

**bigross86** · 29 Jun 12,, 13:56

In just a few days, Americans will celebrate their Independence Day. Annually commemorated on July 4th and known colloquially as "the Fourth of July," it is the anniversary of the publication of the declaration of independence from Great Britain in 1776. Patriotic displays and family events are widespread throughout the United States, as people take a day off from work, hold festive barbecues, watch fireworks and display the American flag at their homes. Politicians appear at public events to show their support for the history, heritage and people of their country, while citizens of diverse and varied backgrounds openly express thanks for the freedom and liberties they enjoy. Special honor is reserved for those brave individuals who fought for that freedom, and who continue to battle on a daily basis to maintain it.

Ex-pat Americans, who by and large are fiercely proud of their country - regardless of where they may reside at the present moment - often join in the celebration in absentia. Here in Israel, I have had the pleasure of being at a few such events at the U.S. Embassy, dining on kosher hot dogs and watermelon as the U.S. Marine band played patriotic songs in the background.

Many non-U.S. citizens in the world at large, particularly in the Western world, also share in the joy of America's birthday. They appreciate the gargantuan efforts of America to serve as a symbol of life and hope for people of all denominations, and the laudable mission it has adopted to bring peace and democracy to every nation on Earth.

But there is one Western country that does not join in the party, one nation that prefers to boo and hiss rather than light a sparkler, as they rue the day when America found its freedom. For at least one day, Jolly Ol' England is anything but, as they declare July 4th to be known as British Nakba Day.

Yes, on this day, Brits gather mournfully to grieve for the colonies that were cruelly and mercilessly ripped away from them more than two centuries ago. They watch with bitter disdain as Americans cheerfully dance upon land stolen from them, sovereign British land that THEY rightfully own. Land that Americans were allowed to cultivate and work and reside upon through the gracious generosity of the good King of England, a favor they impudently repaid by rebelling against their king and taking by force that which was not theirs.

And so Brits gather everywhere to shake their fists in anger and declare that they will never forget and never forgive this historic injustice; that they will teach their children's children's children to remember this despicable crime perpetrated upon them, and seek redress for their loss. In England, figures of Washington and Jefferson - among the most heinous of the war criminals - are burned in effigy. Parades are held in honor of Benedict Arnold and other heroes who stood firm against the American terrorists. American products are repudiated and threatened with boycotts; Coca Cola bottles are smashed to the ground and Marlboro cigarettes go up in smoke, while large protests are held in front of the offices of - oh, I can hardly bring myself to pronounce the name - American Airlines.

Bands of Brits who happen to live in the purloined colony also state their case, relying on the gentility and democratic freedoms of America to protect them in their protest. With an ample amount of (fish and) chips on their shoulders, they brazenly lash out at the hand that feeds them. Special vitriol is reserved for cities that have the audacity to call themselves after holy English locales: Birmingham, Alabama; Dover, Delaware and of course New York - including, needless to say, Greenwich Village - are singled out as particular affronts to British sensibilities. "These are OUR names, you can't appropriate them!" yells one disgruntled Brit, Nigel by name.

I ask him why he is so upset, why he is holding a U.S. flag that has the faces of 13 different monarchs - from Henry to George to Elizabeth - in the place where the 13 stars of the original colonies were once displayed. "I declare that large areas of Virginia and North Carolina are rightfully mine!" says Nigel defiantly. "I will let you have New Jersey, but that's it! I want the rest back!"

"But didn't America fight for this land, despite being outnumbered, outgunned and against great odds?" I ask him. "Didn't they deserve their place in the sun - just a small piece, after all, of the gigantic empire England once ruled - and didn't America raise everyone's standard of living? And, by the way, didn't America bail England out of at least two world wars?"

Nigel is unfazed. "Logic will never sway me, for we rule by the Divine Right of Kings. And we will not rest until the Holy British Empire once again rules the world, from sea to shining sea!" And with that, he is off to sample a scone and a spot of tea - English Gray, of course.

The above scenario would be completely laughable if it wasn't so tragically and so realistically played out by the Palestinians on their so-called Nakba Day. Unable to accept the dictates of history, unwilling to raise themselves up through hard work and determination, they prefer to stand on the sidelines, whining over their fate and complaining about other peoples' successes. After sabotaging umpteen opportunities for peace and prosperity, they prefer to wallow in their victim-hood and celebrate their stubbornness.

How very different the Jewish People: We suffered tragedy and indignity a million times worse than anything the Palestinians ever experienced, despite their phony propaganda to the contrary. But rather than moan and groan about the injustices perpetrated upon us, we got back up on our feet and resurrected ourselves. We built a land, and we built a country. We sought friends where we could find them, but mostly we relied upon our own hard work and ingenuity to create something beautiful, to turn sand into Paradise. We chose to look ahead, rather than always over our shoulders; we opted for optimism over pessimism, and progress over an eternal Persecution complex.

I pity the Palestinians, because they - not we Israelis - are their own worst enemies. Truth be told, they DO have a "catastrophe" on their hands - but it is completely of their own making.

Published Friday, June 29 in the Jerusalem Post. Written by Rabbi Stewart Weiss

**astralis** · 29 Jun 12,, 16:50

i seriously laughed out loud when i read this:

We chose to look ahead, rather than always over our shoulders; we opted for optimism over pessimism, and progress over an eternal Persecution complex.

this whole ARTICLE is a good example of the famous Israeli Victimization nationalism, wherein historical situations are constantly compared to what israel has undergone (usually unfavorably); of how the World Has Got it In for Us, intermingled with a sense of Israel Alone pride in themselves and scorn for their enemies.

now that i think about it, it's amazingly similar to the Chinese ultralnationalistic inferiority complex.

**bigross86** · 29 Jun 12,, 17:08

You choose to see victimization in there, I don't see it at all. I see the hypocrisy of the world, I see the double standard applied to Israel, but no victimization. But then again, you would, wouldn't you?

**astralis** · 29 Jun 12,, 17:15

BR,

I see the hypocrisy of the world, I see the double standard applied to Israel,

this IS the thinking of victims.

that the world demonstrates hypocrisy-- are you surprised. that double standards are applied-- are you surprised. they're ALWAYS there; every country is subject to this one way or another by other parties.

that israelis seem to think of themselves as especially subject to double standards is just another demonstration of how they feel constantly victimized.

moreover, one of the reasons why this feeling is prevalent is because it fits perfectly within the Jewish religious myth, and the Israeli national myth, of being God's Chosen-but-always-persecuted People.

But then again, you would, wouldn't you?

perhaps you should explain yourself here.

**JAD_333** · 29 Jun 12,, 17:48

It's a point of view that reasonable people can discuss. Every nation has a narrative that people can poke holes in. But on the whole what matters is how people see themselves. This piece is a view into one nation's narrative, a very patriotic one. I can respect that. I don't see much here to argue about.

**YellowFever** · 29 Jun 12,, 21:12

I mostly agree with the point of the article but it does seem rather tacky to use one of our most honored holiday to try to get his points across, especially with a title like, "The British Catastrophe".

**Parihaka** · 29 Jun 12,, 21:17

It's Earl Grey, not English Grey. Bloody furriners

**bigross86** · 29 Jun 12,, 21:21

Originally Posted by YellowFever

I mostly agree with the point of the article but it does seem rather tacky to use one of our most honored holiday to try to get his points across, especially with a title like, "The British Catastrophe".

The reason it's called the Catastrophe is because that's the translation of Nackba

**Bigfella** · 30 Jun 12,, 00:38

Speaking as one of the HAMAS loving anti-semites hereabouts (I must be, I disagree with BR) I LOVE this stuff. Bad propaganda from the other side is almost as good as good propaganda from your side. Best of all, you guys actually do it for free.

**Parihaka** · 30 Jun 12,, 00:52

Originally Posted by Bigfella

Speaking as one of the HAMAS loving anti-semites hereabouts (I must be, I disagree with BR) I LOVE this stuff. Bad propaganda from the other side is almost as good as good propaganda from your side. Best of all, you guys actually do it for free.

I bet you drink English Grey as well.

Ben, BF's right.

Personally I believe Israel has every right to complain about an incessant western left wing attack over the last 25 years. It has obsessively characterized Israel as the most evil nation in the world.
Never mind your neighbours, never mind the various sundry other petty autocracies and dictatorships and kingdoms making up the bulk of the worlds nations constantly going about apartheid, mass murder and genocide.
Never mind the permanent members of the Security Council, all of whom have committed far worse atrocities in the last twenty five years by a factor of ten or more than is ever claimed of Israel by its worst detractors.

BF is still right. This is a hopeless piece of propaganda that just makes Israel's cause look silly. With this sort of stuff you're fighting Hamas' battle for them.

**Bigfella** · 30 Jun 12,, 02:12

Originally Posted by Parihaka

I bet you drink English Grey as well.

Never been a tea drinker, but if I was it would be English Grey all the way (never did like toffs

).

Ben, BF's right.

Personally I believe Israel has every right to complain about an incessant western left wing attack over the last 25 years. It has obsessively characterized Israel as the most evil nation in the world.
Never mind your neighbours, never mind the various sundry other petty autocracies and dictatorships and kingdoms making up the bulk of the worlds nations constantly going about apartheid, mass murder and genocide.
Never mind the permanent members of the Security Council, all of whom have committed far worse atrocities in the last twenty five years by a factor of ten or more than is ever claimed of Israel by its worst detractors.

My issue is not with Israel's right to complain. Every nation has that, some more than others. I would argue that Palestineans have at least as much right to complain - they don't even have a country. Give me the hypocricy of others over statelessness anyday. My many issues lie elsewhere, not least with the use of nasty personal slurs against people who dare to take a position to the left of Likud. I was a lot more supportive of Israel before I actually began to regularly encounter Israelis directly. I know I'm not the only one.

BF is still right. This is a hopeless piece of propaganda that just makes Israel's cause look silly. With this sort of stuff you're fighting Hamas' battle for them.

Not just this. Pretty much every piece of propaganda BR has posted is this standard or worse. I've long since stopped caring about the damage he does to his own reputation, but it is a wee bit repetitive & tedious.

**JAD_333** · 30 Jun 12,, 02:33

Originally Posted by Bigfella

Pretty much every piece of propaganda BR has posted is this standard or worse. I've long since stopped caring about the damage he does to his own reputation, but it is a wee bit repetitive & tedious.

No doubt Ben could come at it another way, but he is in the thick of the standoff with the Palestinians and will be much affected by the outcome, whereas you and I are not being rocketed or struggling to find a way toward a fair peace with a neighbor. His passions today are where our were centuries ago. Living with a huge unresolved national issue over one's head evokes anger, frustration and even fear. He broadly represents one of the two opposing POVs in that region. If we were in his position, I don't doubt we would argue for the home team. His posts are not always elegant, nor is his bedside manner, but give him credit; he's trying.

**Zinja** · 30 Jun 12,, 03:23

When people trivialise a matter that probably has earned more resolutions at the UN than any other matter by just rubbishing its thesis as cheap propaganda, one understands why those affected feel victimised. Rubbishing their narrative is a very effective way of delegitimising the victims' cause, you are effectively doing cheap propaganda yourself, the very same thing you are accusing the victim of.

**Chunder** · 30 Jun 12,, 04:46

International year of the Anglophile is still in full swing. Whats in store for the next 6 months?

**Chunder** · 30 Jun 12,, 07:22

Originally Posted by JAD_333

If we were in his position, I don't doubt we would argue for the home team. His posts are not always elegant, nor is his bedside manner, but give him credit; he's trying.

Pretty easy to do when there's no Palestinians at all, let alone fluking it with one with a higher education, a career, or an internet connection to contribute to WAB. Carte blanche to jibe, name call, and veil innuendo across multiple threads. There isn't an opposing POV coming from the region. Hardly any wonder some step in to fill the void.