JODIE: The reason it has been difficult for the United States to understand the Palestinian side is not only because of the media but because colonialism is in our history. We can’t face the fact that colonialism is wrong and that it steps on a lot of toes and hurts a lot of people.
It’s funny because I have the opposite impression. Some Americans feel guilty after studying American history. (Why feel guilty? You’re not the ones responsible.) These Americans seek to absolve themselves of that perceived guilt by identifying something far away that matches the “white vs non white” pattern that they’re looking for, so that they can feel righteous by condemning it without actually having to change how they live their own lives.
It’s not like American tax dollars aren’t supporting Israel’s genocide efforts. I’m supporting that regardless of whether or not I want to.
Tell that to the protesters getting assaulted by police.
We still enjoy the benefits of it, and Native Americans still get fucked over by the US government on the regular. Also, have you considered we just maybe think ethnic cleansing is wrong regardless of who does it.
But don’t let me stop you from psychoanalyzing the motives of people you’ve never had a conversation with.
Less about guilt, more of a sorrow and trying to make the future better than the past, instead of the same or worse. I’ve never met anyone that claimed to feel guilt, or looked like they were experiencing it or anything though.
The thing is when you’re the global hegemon there’s no such thing as ‘far away’