Sheryl Weikal4d ago

One question I get a lot is why I'm okay with discrimination against Zionists when I'm so ardently against discrimination against other groups. I thought I'd explain that here.

First, I want to emphasize that I believe in human rights for all humans. That means I think every human being,

Show threadSheryl Weikal4d ago
from the very best to the very worst, deserves housing, good food, clean water, healthcare, education, representation, reproductive services, bodily autonomy, due process, and dignity. I don't believe in torturing anyone, and I don't discriminate on who should get human rights.
Show threadSheryl Weikal4d ago

I just want to be clear on what we're talking about.

With that out of the way, let's talk about discrimination.

Zionism isn't an innate quality. It's a political ideology, like being a Republican. It's a choice, like being a Red Sox fan. It's entirely within the control of the person doing it.

Sly VI4d ago
Show threadSheryl Weikal
That makes it inherently different from, say, race or gender identity or ethnicity or national origin. I don't choose to be trans or to have an Ashkenazi Jewish ethnicity or to be born in Maryland. I just am.
Mar 24 at 5:53pmopenvibe
Show threadSheryl Weikal4d ago

If you discriminate against me on those bases, you are essentially "disagreeing" with an identity.

Now the counterpoint to this is often religious observance. Many people argue that religion is a choice, or miscegnation or intermarriage is a choice, and we protect those.

Show threadSheryl Weikal4d ago

Why shouldn't political views be protected too, they ask?

Well, there's a fundamental difference between, say, being Jewish and being a Zionist. Let's say I'm an observant Jew and keep kosher. The only person that impacts is me and anyone who chooses to participate with me. By contrast,

Show threadSheryl Weikal4d ago
if I'm a Republican, I'm supporting policies which impact the freedoms of OTHER PEOPLE. To paraphrase John Stuart Mill, my right to swing my fist ends with your nose. You are free to believe what you wish. You are not free to force other people to conform to those beliefs.
Show threadSheryl Weikal4d ago
And that's what Zionism is. Zionism is currently forcing Palestinian, Lebanese, and Iranian people (among others) to conform to a Zionist picture of Israel. And that's also why "Zionism is just Jewish self determination" is a red herring. You can self determine all you want:
Show threadSheryl Weikal4d ago

you just can't self determine FOR OTHER PEOPLE. If I "self determine" that I want your house, it's not violating my right to self determination to fight back if I break in with an uzi.

So discrimination against people who seek to use the law to force harm to others is just self preservation.

Show threadSheryl Weikal4d ago

That's why BDS is moral. That's also the difference between political discrimination and all other kinds. It does not harm you to refuse to let you harm other people. It DOES harm you to refuse to accept you for who you are.

And no one's identity is truly hurting others. That's just a choice.

Show threadTattie4d ago
@theleftistlawyer yup. The only way I can make sense of the Zionist argument is to realise that it hinges on the understanding that Palestinians are not people.