Friday, September 29, 2017

Countering BDS

Hat tip Jerusalem U

I have seen my share of pro-Palestinian students and promoters of the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions (BDS) movement on campuses over the years. One thing I have learned is that they reject any attempt by pro-Israel students and others to engage in meaningful dialogue. There are two reasons I see: One is that they are incapable of debate, so they resort to chants and shouting down the pro-Israel side. The other is that what they want is not a solution acceptable to both sides. What they want is the total elimination of Israel. That's why you always hear that dopey chant," From the river to the sea. Palestine will be free". What that means is that they envision a future state of Palestine from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. In other words, no Israel.

I have received the below from Jerusalem U, and I am happy to cross post it below.
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Has the BDS Met Its Match?

In today’s world, everything is sensationalized. This is particularly true regarding the various stories we see plastered all over large media networks and our own social channels (Facebook, etc.). Gone are the days of true and honest intellect, and dialogue. Nowadays, it’s essentially about who shouts the loudest. Facts? History? Education? Those are for losers!
If you are all about sane thinking, today’s world must sicken you to the core. And thus, it may seem difficult to keep up with the “modern” times. In many people’s minds, you can’t rationalize with people who are simply all about yelling. It’s almost like the guy who comes to a rally with a sign that reads “I have a sign.” There is no purpose to these rallies, and no facts to back up many (if not all) of their claims, yet most of the sane thinkers out there are terrified of this. Why?
The reason is because many people feel like they can’t fight this. The thing is that as it currently stands, this is true. Most people can’t effectively reason with the other side.
Let’s take the BDS for example – one of the loudest groups on the planet. They walk into stores with their signs and chants. Ten-twenty years ago, this wouldn’t have garnered any attention. But because of today’s world, the media jumps all over it. After all, it’s fantastic for ratings, so why not? When people try to debate them, these BDS adherents have none of it. People have become annoyed at the BDS. Why won’t they listen? Why won’t they hear the other side? It’s simple: a lack of proper education.
There are no shortages of videos showing discussion between pro-Israel activists and BDS members. It almost always ends the same way: in a shouting match. But if you were to analyze these videos, you’d quickly understand why. Many of the pro-Israel activists simply aren’t educated enough to engage properly.
Yes, it’s an old adage that holds true here: “it all starts with education.” Organizations like Jerusalem U have seen a recent surge in popularity. There are a wealth of video courses that come with the proper resources and tools to help fight the BDS, especially on college campuses in the US where BDS activity is rampant. For example, Step Up For Israel is a mini-series that educates people on how to counter the many arguments BDS activists throw around. By simply using these educational resources, we can quite literally take out the BDS, and do so in an effective manner to boot.

And in a world where the average IQ has dropped considerably year over year, it makes it all that much easier.
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For those of you, especially on college campuses who see all this agitation going on and are trying to decide which side is right, consider this:

Which side engages in disruption, intimidation and shouting down of others? 
Which side tries to shut down the other sides events?
Which side aligns itself with terrorist groups in the Middle East like Hamas and Hizbollah?
Which side usually condemns America?

This is why I support Israel.


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