The Internet and the American Mind
Published in Al Masry Al Youm
(Egypt) on 2 March 2009
by Amgad Haykel (link to original)
(Egypt) on 2 March 2009
by Amgad Haykel (link to original)
Translated from
by Kirsten Beck.
Edited by Bridgette Blight.
When former Malaysian President Mahathir Mohamad declared a few years ago that Israel controls the world by controlling America, everyone attacked him. Israel did not sit back, accusing him of anti-Semitism. But what he said is true. Israel, as is known, dominates the American economy and American politics. Most importantly, it dominates the media, as Jews dominate Hollywood studios, major newspapers, and news stations such as CNN, which is owned by the Jew Ted Turner. Each of them works to persuade the American people to adopt the Israeli position and convince them of its fairness.
If the press and media are the main sources for information and the way in which awareness is shaped into opinions, then a competitor has emerged. It is more accessible to the human mind, easy to use, comprehensive, and free of charge: the Internet.
The remarkable aspect of the Internet is that it is interactive: the user not only has unlimited access to information but has the opportunity to interact with others, to dialogue, to express opinions, and to engage in direct discussions with other users from around the world--and all without borders. It is an effective political and international weapon. Decisions are not made in democratic countries without considering individuals and their convictions first. So do the Arabs use this new available weapon, which is free for all, in their conflict with Israel?
Other than some small websites that have been created, there has appeared what is termed e-jihad, which is often nothing more than young Arab hackers attacking Israeli websites and destroying them, or posting pictures of children in Gaza or the Palestinian flag. But is this the right way?
Let's look at what Israel has done on the Internet during its war in Gaza this year: it knows the horse that it is playing-- the American society, who elects who governs the world. Therefore, Israel has worked to bring its views to them by posting more than fifty short videos, ranging from one to five minutes, on the most important websites that are frequented by the young people of America and the world, especially the website YouTube. Each of these films supports the Israeli point of view and justifies what Israel is doing. For example, I saw a one-minute film depicting a school opening in Gaza and another video of Khaled Meshaal promising the destruction and removal of Israel. A third depicts weapons found inside a mosque, and so on.
The American mind is the target. What must be done is not attacking Israeli sites or hacking into them, but instead we must fight using their same weapons. Weapons that we did not have before the Internet age. Israel had unique control of the American mind through Jewish domination of newspapers and media. But now there is no justification for us to remain silent as individuals, groups, or governmental bodies.
In addition to the work of governments and movement-based organizations, I think that it is necessary that every person fluent in English who enjoys a measure of culture, particularly political science students and graduates of the American University, go to these famous websites like YouTube and Yahoo Answers, which allow those who enter to leave a comment or provide another side to discussions, which are often heated, and to express their views.
The internet also provides factual support for those Americans who understand that all Muslims are terrorists, that Israel is defending itself and its land, which it has owned for thousands of years, that even after giving land to the Palestinians, they continue to commit acts of terrorism, that Israel won the October War of 1973 and so on. These ideas are plopped into their minds until they are taken for granted. I am exhausted from debating with them on these sites.
Finally, I would like to recommend a site dedicated to assisting in this task. This site must be delivered to every American: www.ifamericaknew.org. It explains to Americans with statistics, graphs, and references all the facts that do not reach them about Israel and Palestine. Also the Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International sites provide reports that include unbiased documentation of the human rights and international law violations of Israel.
Each of us has the right and the ability to access American citizens--the American citizen is the real ruler of his country, which has ruled the world and supported Israel--and to talk and respond to facts. After many long years of Israel monopolizing the only sources of information on the Arab-Israeli conflict, the time has come to use this right and this ability as individuals. Before we blame crippled governments, remember that they do not prevent us from performing this work.
If the press and media are the main sources for information and the way in which awareness is shaped into opinions, then a competitor has emerged. It is more accessible to the human mind, easy to use, comprehensive, and free of charge: the Internet.
The remarkable aspect of the Internet is that it is interactive: the user not only has unlimited access to information but has the opportunity to interact with others, to dialogue, to express opinions, and to engage in direct discussions with other users from around the world--and all without borders. It is an effective political and international weapon. Decisions are not made in democratic countries without considering individuals and their convictions first. So do the Arabs use this new available weapon, which is free for all, in their conflict with Israel?
Other than some small websites that have been created, there has appeared what is termed e-jihad, which is often nothing more than young Arab hackers attacking Israeli websites and destroying them, or posting pictures of children in Gaza or the Palestinian flag. But is this the right way?
Let's look at what Israel has done on the Internet during its war in Gaza this year: it knows the horse that it is playing-- the American society, who elects who governs the world. Therefore, Israel has worked to bring its views to them by posting more than fifty short videos, ranging from one to five minutes, on the most important websites that are frequented by the young people of America and the world, especially the website YouTube. Each of these films supports the Israeli point of view and justifies what Israel is doing. For example, I saw a one-minute film depicting a school opening in Gaza and another video of Khaled Meshaal promising the destruction and removal of Israel. A third depicts weapons found inside a mosque, and so on.
The American mind is the target. What must be done is not attacking Israeli sites or hacking into them, but instead we must fight using their same weapons. Weapons that we did not have before the Internet age. Israel had unique control of the American mind through Jewish domination of newspapers and media. But now there is no justification for us to remain silent as individuals, groups, or governmental bodies.
In addition to the work of governments and movement-based organizations, I think that it is necessary that every person fluent in English who enjoys a measure of culture, particularly political science students and graduates of the American University, go to these famous websites like YouTube and Yahoo Answers, which allow those who enter to leave a comment or provide another side to discussions, which are often heated, and to express their views.
The internet also provides factual support for those Americans who understand that all Muslims are terrorists, that Israel is defending itself and its land, which it has owned for thousands of years, that even after giving land to the Palestinians, they continue to commit acts of terrorism, that Israel won the October War of 1973 and so on. These ideas are plopped into their minds until they are taken for granted. I am exhausted from debating with them on these sites.
Finally, I would like to recommend a site dedicated to assisting in this task. This site must be delivered to every American: www.ifamericaknew.org. It explains to Americans with statistics, graphs, and references all the facts that do not reach them about Israel and Palestine. Also the Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International sites provide reports that include unbiased documentation of the human rights and international law violations of Israel.
Each of us has the right and the ability to access American citizens--the American citizen is the real ruler of his country, which has ruled the world and supported Israel--and to talk and respond to facts. After many long years of Israel monopolizing the only sources of information on the Arab-Israeli conflict, the time has come to use this right and this ability as individuals. Before we blame crippled governments, remember that they do not prevent us from performing this work.
Writing from America:
I have two comments. One: I think you VASTLY overestimate the influence of the Israeli lobby in the U.S. They have influence, certainly, But they are one group of many that exert influence. The US media and/or culture is simply too large to be “controlled” by any one interest group.
That said, however, you touch upon a point that i have been making for years. The Pro-Palestinian position is almost completely absent from American politics. Excepting high level academic discussion, they just aren’t “in the game” as it were. And they should be.
What the Palestinian position needs is good American PR. Other interest groups do it; virtually all of them do it. I never understood why Pro-Palestinian adherents remained on the sidelines. If you’re thinking to yourself right now “because the Israeli lobby blocs them” I respond by saying “nonsense.” Money is money. If you’re willing to pay for PR, lobbying and media consultants – there is no shortage of access to American politics.
The American people are by and large very decent people. You can find bad people everywhere – of course – but as a whole Americas want to support a just position. If they are convinced of a clear injustice, they WILL work to rectify it. You simply have to engage in the debate.