-
Jimmy Wray, R.I.P.
May 25, 2013 | 1 comment
-
BBC World Survey Ranks Israel Near Bottom in Global Popularity
May 24, 2013 | 14 comments
-
Muslim, Er, Youth Riots in Sweden
May 24, 2013 | 10 comments
-
Good Luck Quin
May 24, 2013 | 6 comments
-
One of The London Soldier Beheading Suspects British Born
May 23, 2013 | 9 comments
The Spectacle Blog
Mitt Romney is correct to say he wasn’t specifically speaking about Palestinian culture when he juxtaposed the Israeli and Palestinian economies. Indeed, when Romney spoke about culture he was referring to the work of Harvard economics professor David Landes in his book The Wealth & Poverty of Nations.
So for quoting David Landes, Saeb Erekat called Romney a racist. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Erekat, he is to Mahmoud Abbas what David Axelrod is to Barack Obama. Well, Romney should wear Erekat’s disdain as a badge of honor.
Let me say a few things about Palestinian culture beginning with the economic context. How did Palestinians react when Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in September 2005? By looting greenhouses that contributed to the health of Gaza’s economy. Why? Because they had been operated by Jews who had been evicted by the IDF. The Palestinians cut off their noses to spite their faces.
Whether a Palestinian resides in Gaza under the rule of Hamas or in the West Bank under the rule of Fatah, from the moment they awake until the moment they go to sleep they are inundated with anti-Semitic propaganda in their homes, their mosques, their schools and their media be it print, broadcast or social. Just over two weeks ago, on Palestinian Authority TV, Israel was depicted as a monster that stabs and eats children.
What are we to expect of a Palestinian culture that dances in the streets and hands out candy to children when Jews are murdered as was the case with the Fogel family in March 2011? Can we honestly expect Palestinians to be prepared to live side by side with Israelis in peace when they delight in the slit throat of a 3 month old girl?
So the Palestinian leadership in Gaza and the West Bank is angry at Romney. Well, too damn bad. After all, it is these same leaders who see fit to name schools, soccer fields and streets after suicide bombers and that should tell you everything you need to know about Palestinian culture.
View all comments (16) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Aaron Goldstein
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/07/31/thoughts-on-palestinian-cultur
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
Current Issue
- Of Wizards and Weapons
- Boys and Girls
- Ailes: A Voice for the Silent Majority
The Spectacle Blog
The #FreeKate Narrative Melts Down: Lies Exposed in Florida Teen Sex Case
Robert Stacy McCain | 5.25.13
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
H/T to National Review Online
ADVERTISEMENT
Ken (Old Texican)| 7.31.12 @ 2:31PM
Yep,
Ironic isn't it? The only Palestinians making a good living are doing so in partnership with Israelis in one fashion or another.
Slothful envy doesn't create much value.
Oldefarte| 7.31.12 @ 2:39PM
The Palestinians are to the Middle East as the racial minorities are to the US. The reference to the economic/financial disparities between Israel and Palestine was telling and truthful. Until the Palestinians began to stop concentrating stupidly on making bombs and hating Israelies, and begin economically improving their financial condition, they will forever be impoverished and indigent. The only financial strengths that they possess is from their employments from companies/entities owned/operated by Israelies!!!!!!!!!
Jack in Wi| 7.31.12 @ 7:11PM
Israel is a fascist, racist, terror regime. It treats half the population under it's control worse then Hitler treated them until 1938. Hitler's policies toward the Jews was very similar to Israeli policies toward it's Palistinian majority. That is either we force them out through harrasment or we will just kick them out. Of course Hitler in the end went to murderous genocide. Let us hope that sane Jews take over before that happens. Israel exists on handouts from the Americans, Germany, and the worldwide diaspora. It is time this welfare queen did the right thing and gave all the people under it's control full civil, religious, political , human, and economic rights. Either Israel will end as a modern multi-racial and multi-ethnic society like the USA and South Africa or it will end up like Hitler's Germany a pile of rubble. It is up the Israeli's to decide. The whole world is losing patience.
Skippy| 7.31.12 @ 7:25PM
The whole world will thrill at the sight of Arab cities in flames from Israeli nukes.
Those minarets all falling in the same direction...a thing of beauty.
Trinacria| 7.31.12 @ 8:14PM
Yes, Jack; ain't it a pity? Those poor peace loving, tolerant palestinians were just sitting around mindin' their own business, contemplating the virtues of their tolerant progressive society and their unwavering commitment to equality among men when - lo and behold - those evil jews came along and without the slightest provocation or rational justification began to treat them poorly. It's as damn near an accurate historical account as I've ever heard. And credible, too! Only thing I can't figure is how Bush escaped blame. You're slippin', sport...
Trinacria| 7.31.12 @ 3:41PM
What? A palestinian bitching about being a victim? Someone get CNN on the phone!
CJW| 7.31.12 @ 4:01PM
The culture of a nation includes its political system. Israel is a democratic state, its "neighbors" are not. There is no rule of law in "Palestine" and its government is interested only in attacking Israel.
If the Arabs/Palestinians lived in a democratic state with the rule of law their economy would improve. Look at the Syrians and Lebanese in the USA who have done well.
In the Pgh area, there are numerous businesses owned and operated by Syrians and Lebanese, and numerous professionals including some of the best neurosurgeons and doctors.
Trinacria| 7.31.12 @ 5:15PM
Yes, these insightful chaps have learned that the American system of entrepreneurialism is so wildly successful that even fiegned victimhood can be exploited to one's economic advantage. Good for them, I say; it beats the hell out of strapping a bomb to one's chest.
Trinacria| 7.31.12 @ 5:16PM
Uh, that would be "feigned" victimhood.
CJW| 7.31.12 @ 7:12PM
T
They have studied at the Jackson/Sharpton graduate school of race/ethnic hustling.
W
Trinacria| 7.31.12 @ 8:02PM
And graduated with flying colors (no pun intended...)
Teflon93 | 7.31.12 @ 8:29PM
My mistake---I was unaware hijacking planes and remotely detonating the mentally handicapped in the midst of children are now cultural achievements.
Jake| 7.31.12 @ 10:41PM
Amen, amen to Goldstein's last paragraph.
Palestinians don't just dance in the streets when Israelis are blown up in cafes and on buses ,
they danced in the streets on 9/11.
Romney finally talked truth to power .
When Erakat, the PNA and Ahmadinejad all condemn Romney , he's obviously doing something right.
TW in SC| 8.1.12 @ 9:44AM
Indeed. "If you're getting flak, you must be over the target." so the saying goes.
The gorilla in the room is that after four years of captain "fairness", once again the truth will be explained to the children of the world. The children being all the marxists, neo-fascists and national socialists who so desperately want everyone to be equally miserable in serfdom, except them. And this is what they all fear the most. The truth.
The muslims have been a blight on the face of the earth for quite some time now. Aside from centuries old (and debatable) scientific achievements, they have done little more than occupy space. Aside from oil reserves, (the likes of which are operated by westerners because doing such work is beneath a muslim), the middle east has provided nothing of value to mankind as a whole.