http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1158057.html
http://theonlydemocracy.org/
http://www.taayush.org/?page_id=49
http://www.machsomwatch.org/en
In Isarel it's a routine to violently arrest anyone who practices being a citizen in a democratic state. Over one hundred arrests in Sheikh Jarrah only, including the arrest of Hagai Elad (http://coteret.com/author/hagaielad/). I don't even start pouring information about Bil'in and Na'alin and the south of mount Hebron etc, etc, it's pretty much endless. The Supreme Court is a sad joke here and Israel is in a big problem.

http://www.ir-amim.org.il/eng/

Resistance

Some words I like to remember about Resistance

“Ladies and Gentlemen, I find it extraordinarily difficult to find words to describe this factor, and this is no accident, since we are attempting to describe in theoretical terms an element of morality that is actually foreign to theory — and so to describe it in theoretical terms is not without an element of absurdity. But I believe that we found a clue to it a little while ago when I was telling you about the concept of resistance, even though what I was saying then was that resistance today should be sought in the drive towards theory. For that something should be done is a belief held by everyone nowadays; what is found to be problematic is when someone decides not to do anything for once, but to retreat from the dominant realm of practical activity in order to think about something essential. Now what I wish to emphasize is the factor of resistance, of refusing to be part of the prevailing evil, a refusal that always implies resisting something stronger and hence always contains an element of despair. I believe that this idea of resistance, then, may help you best to see what I mean when I say that the moral sphere is not coterminous with the theoretical sphere, and that this fact is itself a basic philosophical determinant of the sphere of practical action.”
SOURCE: Adorno, Theodore W. Problems of Moral Philosophy, edited by Thomas Schröder, translated by Rodney Livingstone (Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2001), p. 8

In the end, glorification of splendid underdogs is nothing other than glorification of the splendid system that makes them so. (Adorno)

Bernard

It is one thing to glorify underdogs and another to understad what the hell is going on under your nose. I hope that the list of links I placed above falls under the second category. Also, bringing to ones' notion the hypocrisy of this state or another has nothing to do with gloryrifying anybody but with a call for help. If you can't help, at least have the decency not to insinuate that those who take risks and often get punished for that are a bunch of glory seekers.

Bernard

Nice Adorno-quote.
As Brodsky wrote: “At all costs try to avoid granting yourself the status of the victim.’
It cannot be enough repeated.
To err on the side of the citizen when the citizen is up against the state is not necessarily the same as glorifying the underdog, but I agree: it’s a thin line.
And when the state becomes the underdog we speak about ‘a failed state.’
We hardly speak about failed citizens, although there must be plenty of them.

@Neria
I did not insinuate that those underdogs are glory seekers themselves.
A lot of us (Arnon included) put useful information on this site from time to time , like you did today.

@Arnon
I think the ‘status of the victim’ is mostly granted to someone by means of a third person, the others. First it can be beneficial to accept that status, but in the end it will become a dead end street.
About Adorno, I have read too that he concluded that resistance, if impossible by the overwhelming power of an aggressor, can also mean to cooperate with that aggressor but at the lowest possible level (if you want to survive, at least). Hereby I like to refer to Primo Levi.

Bernard

I think that many victims know that they are victims without the acknowledgemnet of a third party. When it comes to goverments that refuse to acknowledge their various violations of the international law, a third party, let's say the International Court of Justice, is necessary in order to declare victims as such. It has some legal consequences. Akcnowledged victimhood, as you pointed out, can be beneficial if it creates real conditions for healing. This brings to my mind Mandela's initiative of the Truth and Reconciliation commisions. It seems inevitable to go through this stage in order to go on with life. I personally think that at all costs one should try to grant oneself the status of a victim (as long as there is any truth about it), it cannot be enough repeated. Nevertheless, when this status serves as an excuse to turn others to victims its legitimacy is over. Sometimes a third party is needed in cases where either individuals or states must be reminded that their use of the status of a victim is either abused or simply outdated.

Bernard

Most people (and states) grant themselves the status of the victim – whether other parties recognize this status is of lesser importance. A person who believes that he is a victim will only feel more victimized when others refuse to grant him this status.
Of course the status of being a victim is often used as an excuse for aggression and violence.
By the way: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1161447.html

Failed

I can't get it out of my head. Now I see failed creatures everywhere, a failed cat and even one in the mirror. It is all too much: I want to get rid of that stupid smile on my face. I am a victim of Arnon, alas.

Hi Bernard,

thanks for the Adorno quote!

I wonder.... did you get (kind of) violent this weekend since nobody acknowledged you as Arnon's victim?