Next, he moves on to consider the responses from major geopolitical players, Russia, China, and the like. Since they obviously have a vested interest in perpetuating the Middle East conflict, he dismisses them too.
Mr. Dershowitz can live with the position held by the U.S. and the State department; whether tacitly or overtly, they support Israel. But what exercises his conscience most is the UN view (and that of the European community): how can they condemn Israel in light of their own charter?
Let’s shelve for the moment the merits or the demerits of Mr. Dershowitz’s argument. What I want to focus on now is Dennis Prager’s response in “Dissecting Dershowitz” in the Jewish World Review, January 6, 2009. It’s short and sweet.
In essence, Mr. Prager criticizes Mr. Dershowitz for suffering from cognitive dissonance, an uncomfortable feeling caused by holding two contradictory ideas at once. What makes Mr. Prager’s argument all the more compelling is he seems to agree with Mr. Dershowitz on all the major points. Then he poses the question, “Why on earth, Alan, would you want to continue as a member of the Left when the Left’s position on such an important (to you) issue is equivalent to that held by the UN, which you yourself have characterized time and again as verging on moral idiocy? Wouldn’t it make more sense under the circumstances to switch sides and join the right wing or the conservative party? The Christian right in particular,” concludes Mr. Prager, “all believers in Judeo-Christian values, are the most stalwart supporters of Israel. Wouldn’t you be more comfortable in their midst?”
Thus stands the challenge. “Put your money where your mouth is, Alan, or shut up,” Mr. Prager is saying, in effect. And it appears that he has presented Mr. Dershowitz with a foolproof argument. The fact that it isn’t so, that Thomistic or Aristotelian logic doesn’t apply to cases like that, that Mr. Dershowitz’s options aren’t as clear-cut as Mr. Prager would have us believe, is a most significant thing indeed. I believe Mr. Prager is aware of the fact, or at least suspects that ‘tis so (and so, too, does Mr. Dershowitz), which is why he issued his challenge in the first place, knowing full well that it couldn’t be met. And so this debate, I predict, will peter out; don’t expect Mr. Dershowitz to respond.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Cindy D
Roger,
Wow! I read it. It was pretty amazing. Now I'll have to think a lot.
Exciting ideas.
2 - Roger Nowosielski
Thank you, Cindy. It blew my mind to once I got into it. Never gave it much thought before. Things are way clearer now. Baronius and Dan Miller steered me in that direction, and I'm thankful.
Roger
3 - Dan(Miller)
Roger,
Good article! I don't agree with everything you say, but then I don't necessarily agree with everything I say.
I will withhold further comment until after Part II appears.
Dan(Miller)
4 - Roger Nowosielski
I am glad, Dan. In a sense, I was conflicted about breaking it up into two parts, but the alternative was equally unattractive. As it is, I don't want to reveal all my cards, although I fail to see how some of you astute individuals will fail to see where I'm going with this.
Roger
5 - Cindy D
Roger,
Did you come here as a child or adult?
6 - Cindy D
(i'm trying to figure out why flower power is distinguished from hippie)
7 - Cindy D
And I know I might sound picky. But,it's not. I can't really understand something if I don't attend to every word as carefully as I can.
8 - Roger Nowosielski
No distinction, Cindy, just alliteration.
Re: your other question, I had a delayed adolescence. But I ain't disclosing my age. Let's just say I was coming of age; and it was the best of times.
Roger
9 - Cindy D
lol
well i know we have the same birth day within days.
mine is Nov. 15
10 - Cindy D
age shmage. my husband is 67
11 - Roger Nowosielski
Well, so you're a Scorpio?
Let's just say I was in a PhD program in 1971 (NYU and the New School) and had a privilege to be exposed to the best minds of the latter 20th century - philosophy, sociology, mathematics, you name it.
12 - Roger Nowosielski
"People in power have been noticing your accomplishments for a while -- they approve."
That's the horoscope, by the way, if you believe in any such thing.
13 - Cindy D
wow new school cool.
you an astrologer?
SDS is active again, i'm sure you know, right?
14 - Cindy D
you should have attached the soundtrack to ohio to your article. (sorry, only i do things like that)
i had to go dig it up.
15 - Roger Nowosielski
New School was great, especially for its interdisciplinary seminars: Chomsky on linguistics and politics (he was young and handsome then), Leontieff, a Noble Prize Winner in economics, things like that. And so was NYU - it was a seat of learning then and great fun.
No I'm not an astrologer, just thought I might throw that in from Yahoo homepage.
Why O-hai-O? Are you there?
16 - Cindy D
NO WAY!!!! you took classes with Chomsky?
17 - Cindy D
He's still handsome now.
18 - Cindy D
lol :-)
19 - Cindy D
you know about looks...
they depend on the person. that's what i've found.
whoever i have ever loved was always the most beautiful.
sort of like a person is something then that makes them look wonderful.
20 - Roger Nowosielski
His hair was jet black, like a shoe polish; and he'd comb it back, like Tyrone Power!
No, just sat on a couple of seminars.
21 - Cindy D
haha nah, not an astrologer. i was a card carrying skeptic. now i am a skeptic without a card. michael shermer was very disappointing when he decided capitalism is some sort of expression of evolution.
and he only though he used to believe in the supernatural
22 - Cindy D
he teaches some classes for Zcom u know. there is this seminar thing. maybe i'll do it one day
chit..know what happene to me today? an amazing thing
23 - Roger Nowosielski
Re #19,
But I grew up with an image of movie starts when there were still heroes: Gable, Power, Robert Taylor, not to mention the leading ladies. Even Bogart had charisma.
Who is Michal Shermer? NG, by the way, was a Wicca. She dropped a curse at my feet. Read all about it in my novel. But I shouldn't be telling you what's ahead. In due time.
24 - Cindy D
I just bought a book. literally on wednesday. it's called wobblies & zapatistas
it is a dialogue, between a marxist and an anarchist. andrej grubacic is one of the authors (the anarchist). so i get in my e-mail from zmag/zcom/znet the next day--they have a interview with andrej grubacic about the book. okay that's cool.
i go to the site and i see, he has a page on the site. so i befriended him and he accepted. now i can ask him direct questions. how cool is that?
25 - Cindy D
NO! a wicca? how do you imagine i am like a person that could be a wicca? lol that is hilarious