• eldavi@lemmy.ml
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    3 days ago

    look at the smiles on their faces; they’re proud at what they had done

  • fossilesque@mander.xyz
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    3 days ago

    Israel is on another planet. I do not know to start deprogramming a population on that scale other than through shock.

    A short story, because it has been on my brain a lot in the last 2 years. I have no way to verify this, but this interaction really rattled me when it happened. Many years ago, around 2008, I was at a festival in Germany and I sat down in line waiting for a meet and greet to start. The guy next to me sat down and had sort of a mental breakdown (?) about a girl and life in general. He said he had deserted from the IDF because he couldn’t stand what he was being made to do, and ran to Germany because of a girl. He detailed a bit about it and how they had harassed children, etc. I can’t remember all that he said but I was in shock. I think about that moment a lot and hope that that guy is ok, found some peace and learned to forgive himself. It really made me see Israel quite differently going forward. I was largely ignorant, a product of Catholic School and they are responsible for the majority of the Zionist slop, but I never really thought about it before then. That moment and the book School of the Americas by Leslie Gill are probably what radicalised me.

    • Farhad@freefree.psOP
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      3 days ago

      @fossilesque I met a few Israeli soldiers who were part of the “refusenik” movement when I was active with Amnesty. The group changed its name to “Breaking the silent”.

      I heard similar testimonies from the soldiers who served during the second Intifada and had traumatic memories about their treatment of Palestinians, specially children.

      I sill in touch with one of them who lives in Canada.

      • fossilesque@mander.xyz
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        3 days ago

        He spoke about it like heartbreak and I knew it was real. I hope yours that got out find the good path and kindness.

  • Raltoid@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    I’m honestly surprised someone hasn’t pulled a “Borat 2” yet.

    Just use survivor quotes from almost a century ago, and present them as if said today. Many will vehemently defend those violent acts, thinking it was about recent times.

    And it would be double irony because of that actor would probably be among those defending.