Thread by @rayandawud

As Israel’s genocide in Palestine continues, I’ve sought an answer to the question of what could cause humans to be so devoted to evil and ignorance.

I found answers in George Orwell’s writing. Zionism may be the symptom but the root cause is nationalism. a 🧵:

In 1945, as WWII was ending, Orwell penned his essay “Notes on Nationalism.” In it, he defines nationalism as “the habit of identifying oneself with a single nation or other unit, placing it beyond good and evil and recognizing no other duty than that of advancing its interests.”

Orwell defines nationalism as synonymous with a desire for power for the unit for which he or she identifies with. Nationalism need not be associated with a nation per say; it could also be loyalty to an ideology such as Communism or, as he explicitly calls out, Zionism.

Orwell describes nationalists as, in their nature, dishonest, even to themselves. “Every nationalist is capable of the most flagrant dishonesty.” He adds that people of strongly nationalistic outlook often perform this sleight of hand without being conscious of dishonesty.”

To follow through on this dishonesty, the nationalist must “suppress both his sensibilities and his intellectual honesty.” While not all forms of nationalism are the same, there are key characteristics that each nationalist embodies.

1️⃣ The nationalist is obsessed. As we’ve seen with Zionism, especially American Zionists, their loyalty to their dogmas and political entity is absolute. As predicted by Orwell, the “smallest slur” against their ideology results in the labeling of the voice as “antisemitic.”

2️⃣ The nationalist often projects his nationalism onto other nations. This explains, in part, why American Zionists are more extreme (and ignorant) than Israeli-born Zionists. Orwell describes this phenomenon as allowing the person to be much more nationalistic and dishonest.

3️⃣ The nationalist is indifferent to reality. Double standards are invisible to the nationalist and they often have a remarkable capacity for disbelieving atrocities committed by their own “nation.”

Not only does the nationalist hold a disbelief in his own side’s capacity for atrocities, but their disassociation with reality can be clinical. Their battle is much less for the truth and more to score points over an adversary and validate his own dogmas.

Orwell mentions Zionism several times in this essay as a nationalist movement and recognizes its violent nature. Note that Zionism was included in this critique of Nationalism before the creation of the Israeli state in 1948 and alongside his explicit shunning of antisemitism.

Orwell points out that nationalism is not absolute; one can be a nationalist part-time or succumb to nationalistic thought patterns as an emotional response.

By now if you’ve read the excerpts from Orwell’s analysis you should recall numerous parallels from dangerous political dogmas in recent history: the USSR, Nazi Germany, MAGA America, Brexit UK, present-day Turkey and Egypt and of course, Zionism.

Unfortunately, Orwell offers no clear remedy for the virus that is nationalism. Until we cure humanity, the words “never again” will remain a meaningless phrase uttered in contempt of those murdered. His final words on the topic offer a path forward - one we must all pursue.

I encourage all to recognize their own nationalistic biases and to take the time to read Orwell’s essay. We must continue to prioritize humanity over nationalism predicated on borders drawn by empires based on religion and ethnicity. orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-fou…