Speaking about respecting and giving space for Palestinians to speak—and not letting yt voices dominate or recreate the same oppressive structures in activist spaces—is critical. But where do we draw the line between developing an awareness of structural power dynamics and replicating the logic of scarcity? This scarcity mindset is a fictitious function designed to foster competition, jealousy, and a zero-sum attitude: for one to win, another must lose.
This fantasy is part and parcel of the ideological machinery designed to separate us. And yes, many of us are forced into a logic where we compete for funding, attention, and validation—but for who’s benefit? And here’s the kicker, or even relief: it’s not about you. It’s not about your survival or anyone’s survival. It’s about discursive truth.1
The reason truth is flooding out of Palestine, or even Congo or Darfur, or even the surpassing of Deepseek and Qwen 2.5, isn’t because of our strategic brilliance, moral superiority, or tactical choices. It’s happening because the truth is not beholden by the efforts of repression. That’s why people like Candace Owens2 or even Tucker Carlson3 can suddenly speak to reality. It’s why they can say I was a Zionist. I was indoctrinated. And this is wrong.
When their voices are amplified, it’s petty—and futile—to react with resentment,4 as if truth operates on some limited pie model, where only certain people deserve to speak. That’s the trap of identity politics: believing the messenger matters more than the message, that truth must come wrapped in the right identity to be valid.5
I learned this from Professor Norman Finkelstein. Arguments are often more compelling when they come from those speaking against their own interests6—whether it’s Candace Owens, Tucker Carlson, or white Jewish comrades like Finkelstein7 himself, who lost tenure and decades of his career because he refused to be silent.
This isn’t to compare that with the lives of the martyred—it’s not about suffering. It’s about solidarity. It’s about recognizing the value of those who risk their positions, reputations, and even their lives to speak the truth. They aren’t doing it because it benefits them—they’re doing it despite the cost.
We must not lose ourselves in the logic of the competition—a game designed to keep us narcissistically entangled in our identities as if that’s where power lies. It doesn’t. We are nothing in the tracks of this vast machinery. And that’s precisely where the power is. We don’t know the names of those who stood in front of tanks—and it doesn’t matter.
If people like Dan Bilzerian8 or Andrew Tate9 decide to speak against their own interests—so be it. Let them. Hold them accountable, yes. Critique them, absolutely. But don’t get lost in the resentment trap. Let the truth prevail.
I hope more people can listen to and follow the reality presented by people like Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah,10 Hind Khoudary,11 Yousef Al-Helou,12 Ahmed Hijazi,13 Maha Hussani,14 Issam Adwan,15 Bisan Owda,16 Samar Abu Elouf,17 Motaz Azaiza,18 Wael Al Dahdouh,19 and all the people documenting on the ground. Or the works of International diasporic voices, like Mohammed El-Kurd,20 Muna El-Kurd,21 Noura Erakat22 or Rashid Khalidi.23
But so many people, because of indoctrination, of prejudice, or simply the stress of life, are not able to see beyond the limits of their ideology; perhaps they may listen to people that they may feel an affinity with—white faces, ranging from the Australian Caitlin Johnstone,24 American Medea Benjamin,25 Irish Clare Daly,26 and Italian Francesca Albanese.27
But suppose even Israeli or white Jewish people, and those who have family who survived the holocaust, are trying to speak on the same issues, and it still lands on deaf ears? In that case, we are revealing the intensity of the prejudice defending g******.
Of course, accountability matters. We can—and must—remain critical of people’s contradictions, hypocrisies, and harmful positions, even when they speak truths in certain moments. But that requires critical thinking,28 the ability to hold multiple viewpoints simultaneously, the opposite of binary thinking, not just reactionary dismissal. We must resist the lure of identity politics in all its forms—neither philia nor phobia, neither idolization nor demonization.
It’s not about who speaks. It’s about what is being spoken.
Check out this lecture series, especially “How Islam Saved Western Civilization” by Dr. Roy Casagranda.29 Almost everything we have been taught, no, indoctrinated, is false. Don’t just take this white professor’s word for it; go look at the number of young white people waking up from their slumber on Red Note30 if you don’t believe me.
How do your obsessive dismissals serve violence?
Discursive truth means that truth isn’t just an objective fact floating above us—it’s shaped by who tells the story, how it’s told, and who has the power to make people believe it. In places like Palestine and the Congo, the dominant narratives are often controlled by governments, media, and institutions that decide what counts as “truth” to fit their interests. But discursive truth breaks through when voices from the ground—journalists, activists, survivors—challenge these narratives, exposing realities that powerful systems try to suppress. It’s not just about facts; it’s about who gets to define them and how that shapes what the world sees.
Laclau, Ernesto & Mouffe, Chantal. Hegemony and Socialist Strategy: Towards a Radical Democratic Politics, Verso, 1985.
Foucault, Michel. The Archaeology of Knowledge, Routledge, 1972.
Said, Edward W. Orientalism, Vintage Books, 1979.
Fanon, Frantz. The Wretched of the Earth, Grove Press, 1963.
Resentment operates as a defensive reaction, often rooted in feelings of injustice, perceived exclusion, or powerlessness. Philosophers like Friedrich Nietzsche described resentment (ressentiment) as a moralizing force that emerges when individuals feel unable to directly confront the source of their frustration, redirecting their anger inward or toward symbolic targets. In the context of activism and truth-telling, resentment can become a trap—focusing on who speaks rather than what is spoken. This mirrors the scarcity mindset, where recognition feels like a limited resource, and someone else's platform is seen as a personal loss. But truth isn’t transactional. Resentment only reinforces the very hierarchies it claims to resist, shifting attention from dismantling systems of power to policing identities within them.
Ahmed, Sara. The Cultural Politics of Emotion, 2004.
Think of Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens like the prodigal son in Luke 15:32: “But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” The point isn’t to idolize them or forget the harm they’ve caused, but to recognize that when someone breaks from their own script—speaking against their interests or indoctrination—it disrupts the system. Their shift isn’t valuable because of who they are, but because it exposes cracks in the dominant narrative. Resentment misses the point; the truth doesn’t care about the messenger, only that it’s been spoken.
Arguments are often more persuasive when made against one's own interests because they appear less self-serving, enhancing credibility. This concept, rooted in Aristotle’s idea of ethos in Rhetoric, suggests that audiences find such claims more authentic. Politically, figures like Norman Finkelstein, a Jewish scholar critical of Israeli policies, exemplify this dynamic, where personal background adds weight to the argument beyond ideological bias.
Aristotle. Rhetoric. Dover, 2004.
Finkelstein, Norman G. The Holocaust Industry. Verso, 2000.
Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah is a British-Palestinian plastic and reconstructive surgeon, renowned for his work in war zones, particularly in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iraq. His medical expertise focuses on treating injuries caused by military conflicts, including blast injuries and complex facial reconstructions. Beyond his surgical work, he is an outspoken advocate for Palestinian rights, highlighting the humanitarian crises caused by Israeli military actions. Dr. Abu Sittah’s firsthand accounts from Gaza offer critical insights into the intersection of medicine, war, and political violence.
Abu Sittah, Ghassan. “The Wounds of Gaza.” The Lancet, 2014.
Hind Khoudary is a Palestinian journalist and reporter based in Gaza, known for her frontline coverage of Israeli military assaults and the humanitarian crisis in the region. She has worked with various international media outlets, providing real-time reports on the ground during conflicts. Khoudary’s reporting highlights the lived experiences of Palestinians under siege, focusing on the devastating impact of military operations on civilians. Her work has drawn both attention and controversy, reflecting the dangers faced by journalists in occupied territories.
Yousef Al-Helou is a Palestinian journalist and documentary filmmaker from Gaza, known for his in-depth reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He has contributed to international media outlets such as Al Jazeera, BBC, and RT, covering the humanitarian crises, political developments, and daily struggles of Palestinians living under occupation. Al-Helou’s work focuses on giving voice to the people of Gaza, documenting the human cost of war and the resilience of Palestinian communities amidst ongoing violence and blockade.
Ahmed Hijazi is a Palestinian photojournalist based in Gaza, known for his powerful visual documentation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His photography captures the human impact of war, including the devastation caused by Israeli airstrikes, the struggles of displaced families, and the resilience of Palestinians living under siege. Hijazi’s work has been featured in various international media outlets, serving as a critical visual record of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Maha Hussaini is a Palestinian journalist, human rights activist, and political analyst based in Gaza. She has reported extensively on the humanitarian crisis, Israeli military operations, and the impact of the blockade on Palestinian civilians. Hussaini’s work focuses on exposing human rights violations and amplifying the voices of those affected by conflict. She has contributed to international media outlets and human rights organizations, providing critical insights into life under occupation. In 2020, she was awarded the Martin Adler Prize for her courageous journalism in conflict zones.
Issam Adwan is a Palestinian journalist and researcher based in Gaza, known for his reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, human rights issues, and the socio-political conditions in the Gaza Strip. He has contributed to international media outlets and organizations, providing critical analysis and firsthand accounts of life under blockade and occupation. Adwan’s work focuses on highlighting the daily struggles faced by Palestinians, as well as the broader political dynamics shaping the region.
Bisan Owda is a Palestinian journalist, filmmaker, and activist based in Gaza, known for her raw and impactful documentation of life under Israeli occupation. She gained international recognition for her real-time social media reporting during Israeli assaults on Gaza, providing firsthand accounts of the bombings, humanitarian crises, and daily resilience of Palestinians. Owda’s work blends journalism with personal narrative, using platforms like Instagram and Twitter to reach global audiences, making her a key voice in grassroots media activism.
Samar Abu Elouf is a Palestinian photojournalist based in Gaza, known for her powerful visual documentation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Her work captures the human toll of war, focusing on the lives of Palestinians affected by Israeli military assaults, displacement, and daily struggles under blockade. Abu Elouf has contributed to major international publications, including The New York Times, where her photography highlights both the devastation of conflict and the resilience of Palestinian communities.
Motaz Azaiza is a Palestinian photojournalist and humanitarian worker based in Gaza, widely recognized for his powerful, real-time documentation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Through his social media platforms, particularly Instagram, Azaiza shares graphic and emotional images of the devastation caused by Israeli airstrikes, the humanitarian crisis, and the resilience of Palestinians living under siege. His work has garnered international attention, making him one of the most influential voices from Gaza in the digital age, providing unfiltered insights into life under occupation.
Wael Al Dahdouh is a veteran Palestinian journalist and the Gaza bureau chief for Al Jazeera. Known for his fearless frontline reporting, Al Dahdouh has covered major Israeli military assaults on Gaza, documenting the human cost of war and the daily struggles faced by Palestinians under siege. His work gained global attention not only for its journalistic integrity but also for his personal resilience, as he continued reporting even after the tragic loss of his family members during Israeli airstrikes in 2023. Al Dahdouh’s reporting embodies the intersection of professional dedication and personal sacrifice in conflict journalism.
Mohammed El-Kurd is a Palestinian writer, poet, and journalist from Sheikh Jarrah in occupied East Jerusalem. He rose to international prominence for his activism and articulate advocacy against the forced displacement of Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah by Israeli settlers. El-Kurd serves as the Palestine correspondent for The Nation and is known for his sharp critiques of Israeli apartheid, colonialism, and Western complicity in Palestinian oppression. His poetry collection, Rifqa, explores themes of resistance, identity, and the Palestinian struggle for liberation.
Muna El-Kurd is a Palestinian activist, writer, and media figure from Sheikh Jarrah in occupied East Jerusalem. Alongside her twin brother, Mohammed El-Kurd, she gained international recognition for her role in highlighting the Israeli government’s attempts to forcibly evict Palestinian families from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah. Using social media as a powerful tool, Muna documents the realities of life under occupation, focusing on settler colonialism, displacement, and systemic oppression. Her activism has made her a prominent voice in the global movement for Palestinian liberation.
Noura Erakat is a Palestinian-American human rights attorney, scholar, and activist specializing in international law and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She is an associate professor at Rutgers University and the author of Justice for Some: Law and the Question of Palestine, which critically examines how international law has been selectively applied to sustain Israeli settler colonialism while undermining Palestinian rights. Erakat’s work blends legal analysis with activism, challenging mainstream narratives on Palestine and advocating for decolonization, justice, and human rights.
Erakat, Noura. Justice for Some: Law and the Question of Palestine, Stanford University Press, 2019.
Footnote:
Rashid Khalidi is a Palestinian-American historian, scholar, and author specializing in Middle Eastern history and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He holds the position of Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University and is a leading voice on Palestinian national identity, colonialism, and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Khalidi’s influential book, The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine, provides a detailed historical account of the Palestinian struggle against settler colonialism and imperialism. His work critically examines the role of Western powers in shaping the region's history and the ongoing dispossession of Palestinians.
Khalidi, Rashid. The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917–2017, Metropolitan Books, 2020.
Caitlin Johnstone is an Australian independent journalist, political commentator, and activist known for her outspoken critiques of Western imperialism, mainstream media narratives, and U.S. foreign policy. Writing primarily through her self-published blog and platforms like Medium and Substack, Johnstone challenges corporate media bias, neoliberal politics, and militarism. Her work often focuses on issues related to propaganda, information warfare, and the mechanisms of global power, emphasizing the importance of media literacy and anti-imperialist analysis.
Medea Benjamin is an American political activist, author, and co-founder of the anti-war organization CODEPINK: Women for Peace. She is known for her outspoken opposition to U.S. military interventions, drone warfare, and global imperialism. Benjamin has been a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights, critiquing U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and its support for Israeli occupation. Her books, including Kingdom of the Unjust: Behind the U.S.-Saudi Connection, analyze the intersections of war, politics, and human rights. She is also active in civil disobedience and direct action campaigns challenging militarism and state violence.
Clare Daly is an Irish politician and Member of the European Parliament (MEP) known for her outspoken criticism of Western imperialism, NATO, and U.S. foreign policy. A member of Independents 4 Change, Daly has been a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights, anti-militarism, and social justice, often challenging EU complicity in global conflicts. Her speeches in the European Parliament frequently condemn military interventions, human rights abuses, and the double standards of Western powers in international affairs.
Francesca Albanese is an Italian international human rights lawyer and academic, currently serving as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967. She specializes in international law, refugee rights, and human rights, with a focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Albanese has been an outspoken critic of Israeli occupation policies and global complicity in human rights violations against Palestinians. Her work highlights the legal frameworks surrounding occupation, apartheid, and the rights of displaced populations.
Albanese, Francesca & Lex Takkenberg. Palestinian Refugees in International Law, Oxford University Press, 2020.
Critical thinking is the disciplined process of actively analyzing, evaluating, and synthesizing information to form reasoned judgments. It involves questioning assumptions, recognizing biases (both personal and systemic), and examining arguments based on logic and evidence rather than emotion or ideology. In contrast to binary or reactionary thinking, critical thinking allows for the simultaneous holding of multiple, sometimes conflicting, perspectives. It requires intellectual humility, self-reflection, and the ability to differentiate between subjective beliefs and objective facts.
hooks, bell. Teaching Critical Thinking: Practical Wisdom, Routledge, 2010.
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