The French Philosopher

Gilad Atzmon
Gilad Atzmon's Blog

("Mosquitoes as big as this!!! Yes! Yes! I assure you!")

What makes one a philosopher? Probably, the capacity to aim at the essence of things, while celebrating the love of wisdom (from philo- "loving" + sophia "knowledge, wisdom). Though Bernard-Henri Lévy presents himself as a French philosopher, he seems to lack that elementary capacity. Unlike a true philosopher, Lévy engages in an endless spin, typical to a Hasbara agent.

A few days ago the Huffington Post gave a platform to the alleged ‘philosopher’ Lévy.

Lévy doesn’t approve of the BDS (Boycott, Disinventment, Sanctions) campaign. He claims it is “anti democratic”. I was expecting Lévy to eloquently advocate ‘freedom of speech’ and human rights, but the Zionist ‘intellectual’ failed miserably. Lévy followed the well-trodden Judeo centric Zionist template and spread half-baked ideas that hardly form an argument. Pathetically, in most cases, Lévy’s ranting proves counter effective to his cause.

“First of all” he said, “one boycotts totalitarian regimes, not democracies... One can boycott Sudan, guilty of the extermination of part of the population of Darfur. One can boycott China, guilty of massive violations of human rights in Tibet and elsewhere. “

For some bizarre reason, Lévy seems to be convinced that his beloved Jews-only state is an ‘exemplary democracy’. “One does not boycott the only society in the Middle East where Arabs read a free press, demonstrate when they wish to do so, send freely elected representatives to parliament, and enjoy their rights as citizens.” says Lévy.

I guess that Lévy either, doesn’t know or just pretends not to know that in the ‘Jews only democracy’ laws are racially orientated. The Law of Return, for instance, favours Jews and Jews only. Lévy should also learn about the case of MK Azmi Bishara who had to run for his life for suggesting that Israel be better transformed into ‘state of its citizens’ based on equality.

But it actually goes much further; Lévy’s argument is totally flawed and counterproductive to his Zionist cause. It is actually democracies, rather than dictatorships, that should be subject to humanitarian boycotts; it is in democracies where people are complicit in their government crimes. We must boycott Israel because in the Jewish state every citizen is culpable in the war crimes committed by the democratically elected government. We must boycott Israel because 94% of its Jewish population supported the IDF’s genocidal tactics during Operation Cast Lead. We must boycott Israel because its State-terror policies are a reflection of the public’s true will as proven in polls and democratic elections.

According to Lévy, in a democracy the voters have the power to sanction, modify, and reverse the position of their government. It would be fabulous if Lévy could enlighten us and suggest how exactly the Jews only Democracy is progressing towards an acceptance of universal rights for all.

Like all Hasbara agents, Lévy is outraged by the attempt to de-legitimise Israel, yet, the philosopher in him fails to tell us what is exactly so wrong in de-legitimising a racially driven murderous collective. I also wonder what is so unacceptable about de-legitimising a state that was illegitimate to start with.

Lévy doesn’t approve of the ‘one state’ enthusiasts. He far prefers to divide the land into two states. Someone better remind the lame mind that Israel is currently one state that is located between the river and the sea. Those who support one state are actually far from being radical. They have their feet on the ground. They accept Israel being one state, with one international dialling code, one electric grid and one sewage system. However, the supporters of one state also realise that one state Israel is dominated by Jewish Talmudic racism that is far more vicious than Nazi ideology. The one staters also realise that by the time Jewish racist ideology will be defeated this one state between the river and the sea, will be Palestine.

Lévy is furious with one state advocate Ali Abunimah, co-founder of Electronic Intifada who according to him “does not hesitate to compare Israel to Nazi Germany.” It would be slightly useful, if ‘philosopher’ Levi would be kind enough to suggest to us once and for all, what is so wrong about comparing the Jews only State with the Aryan only State also known as Nazi Germany.

Towards the end of his Huffington Post article, Lévy comes with something that could almost pass for an argument. For Lévy, the Western world should have hoped to be “cured of its worst criminal past”. It would be helpful and productive if Lévy and other Zionists grasp that it’s actually the West’s problematic past that shapes our criticism of the Israeli murderous present. It is our troubled past that makes us into enemies of racist Israel.

I was looking forward to read a Zionist ‘thinker’ advocating Israel. Lévy obviously failed. However, I’ll admit, that like Lévy, I also have reservations regarding the BDS movement; for instance I believe that if the demand to boycott Israeli academics is valid, we should also boycott academics and intellectuals who advocate Israeli policies and Zionism worldwide, because Israel is racist to the bone and racism must be opposed. If the BDS movement is taking itself seriously, it should also move forward and demand to boycott Lévy, Alan Dershowitz, David Hirsh and many others.

On one hand, a move like this would prove the BDS movement’s integrity. On the other hand, as an advocate of freedom of speech, I actually want Dershowitz, Hirsh and Lévy to speak their minds. I believe that together with Mark Regev, they are the best promoters of Zionist tribal morbidity.

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Gilad Atzmon was born in Israel in 1963 and had his musical training at the Rubin Academy of Music, Jerusalem (Composition and Jazz). As a multi-instrumentalist he plays Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone Saxes, Clarinet and Flutes. His album Exile was the BBC jazz album of the year in 2003. He has been described by John Lewis on the Guardian as the “hardest-gigging man in British jazz". His albums, of which he has recorded nine to date, often explore political themes and the music of the Middle East.

Until 1994 he was a producer-arranger for various Israeli Dance & Rock Projects, performing in Europe and the USA playing ethnic music as well as R&R and Jazz.

Coming to the UK in 1994, Atzmon recovered an interest in playing the music of the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe that had been in the back of his mind for years. In 2000 he founded the Orient House Ensemble in London and started re-defining his own roots in the light of his emerging political awareness. Since then the Orient House Ensemble has toured all over the world. The Ensemble includes Eddie Hick on Drums, Yaron Stavi on Bass and Frank Harrison on piano & electronics.

Also, being a prolific writer, Atzmon's essays are widely published. His novels 'Guide to the perplexed' and 'My One And Only Love' have been translated into 24 languages.
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URL: http://www.a-w-i-p.com/index.php/2011/02/04/the-french-philosopher