You Say You Want a Revolution

The universal nature of settler-colonialism.

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Jonah’s never-ending vacation brings him to Prague on today’s worldly Ruminant, but fleeing deeper into Europe can’t help him escape his mid-life crisis. After a few brief musings on such intellectually stimulating subjects as toilet paper and Indonesian cuisine, he dives into less significant issues like the House speakership debacle, the ideological origins of left-wing opposition to Israel, and the ongoing dumbification of the GOP. Get your Che Guevara shirts ready for an interesting ride.

Show Notes:

– Eli Lake on Frantz Fanon

– Frantz Fanon’s The Wretched of the Earth

– Edmund Burke on the East India Company 

– Orwell on Gandhi

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Comments (71)
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  1. Avatar photo
    C C Writer

    The comments are back here, too.

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    Matt Stokes

    So much good stuff here - but the idea that Eli Lake has a nuanced take on Russiagate is interesting. As far as I can tell, his take is hardly distinguishable from that of the Federalist.

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    SandyG

    Jonah, I didn't listen, I only saw a reference on this mornings' Dispatch. I have a question for you. But first, I want to clarify something. The only left-wing opposition to Israel today is with the far left, yes? One of the TMD commenters assured me rhis morning that you make that distinction about those segments of the Left. Your phrase "left-wing opposition to Israel" didn't make that qualification.

    Here's the question: Do you know about the progressive Israeli academics who published a letter that characterized the response from "certain American and European progressives regarding the targeting of Israeli civilians by Hamas, a response which reflects a disturbing trend in the global left's political culture" (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/24/yuval-noah-harari-backs-critique-of-leftist-indifference-to-hamas-atrocities)? I think this letter shows that a split is emerging within the progressive Left. If you agree with that interpretation, then I can say w have yet another segment!

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    Kimbaukusfitzgibbon

    Jonah,
    I love hearing about your mom. I especially appreciated your story about an ideal book cover. You will talk about her more when you are ready. I did also appreciate your advice on family narratives and their unique importance.

    May your memory of your mom be a blessing.

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    Porouke

    Hot take: the desire to wear a Che t-shirt and a MAGA hat (especially 7 years on) come from the same part of the lizard brain. It is ultimately a way to make a nihilistic statement.

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      BWG

      Ok, now I have an almost uncontrollable desire to wear both at the same time, just to see what comments I get.

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  6. Austin from Atlanta

    Jonah,
    My mother died three years ago in her late 40s. She had me pretty young and we were quite close. Your point about the grief hitting you in all the obvious ways and all the non-obvious ways and those two playing off each other in novel ways is spot on. Whishing you the best & safe travels. -Austin

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    Ben Connelly

    I really like that idea that each family is its own civilization. Every family has its own particularities in the same way that every individual is particular. Jonah, I like hearing you talk about your family and I find it inspiring. Good luck to your daughter in her time abroad. I know what it’s like to get homesick and miss one’s family and country while studying abroad, and also what it’s like to be alone in a foreign country, studying or traveling around. I hope she enjoys the rest of her time there.

    I suspect that my family was a bit like yours in that we were always self-conscious about our particularities. When I was a kid I thought what we had was normal, but as I’ve grown older I’ve realized that we were incredibly fortunate. There’s a myth out there that there are no happy families and that all families are dysfunctional. I feel bad for people who believe that.

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  8. Ashleighrourke

    Thank you so much, Jonah. In particular, the last 6 or so minutes. I appreciate your wisdom shared!

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    CynthiaW

    When circumstances preclude the publication of a Wednesday (or a Friday) G-File, is there any reason that an editorial employee at The Dispatch couldn't send an email to the newsletter's subscribers, saying, "We regret that there will be no G-File today"? I used to get an email from the Wall Street Journal if, say, flooding prevented the paper's being delivered.

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    Charley Warns

    I'm a Roman Catholic who believes The Passion of the Christ by Mel Gibson to be a divinely inspired masterpiece (God works through the agency of man). Pat Robertson, if he was still around, may have argued (or maybe not, just speculating) that God is still ****** off and using Hamas as His agents; yet I can't imagine any other Christian making that type of unhinged argument. I'm 100% on Israel's side on this as they didn't do anything to deserve such a heinous (or any) attack. They're a peaceful nation. They're a valuable friend and ally to the U.S.

    Is it possible to decontextualize the human agency of a Trump supporter? Let's put what Mark Levin said about Liz Cheney into context. I think it's always the same context. The whole is the sum of the parts and the whole is a basket of deplorables.

    Jonah gives the perfect rebuttal: "Give me your best argument that justifies beheading babies." If a cop wants me to explain for his report why I punched some guy in the nose, I need to come up with something specific that serves as a direct cause (e.g., the guy lifted my wallet). It's like with Ukraine; that Putin was concerned about Ukraine joining NATO is obviously not justification to invade Ukraine, bomb apartment buildings, torture civilians, kidnap children, and rape women.

    I like the term "radical chic." That perfectly describes their mindset.

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