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Book report: Genocide Bad. Notes on Palestine, Jewish History, and Collective Liberation by Sim Kern
Kern's writing is frank, genuine, and often humorous but always rooted in compassion.
Kern explores their own history countering anti-Jewish hate and explains arguments against Zionism in a clear and concise way.
https://interlinkbooks.com/product/genocide-bad-deluxe-edition/
https://www.indiebookstores.ca/book/9781623716363/
@simkern
https://www.simkern.com/
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In part 1 Kern briefly explains how they became a pro-Palestine influencer.
The bulk of the book is part 2: Answering Hasbara starting with a chapter on ways to respond to the question "Who Are You to Speak on Israel?".
This chapter highlights critiques of "deference politics" by philosopher Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò in the book Elite Capture.
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Other chapters in Answering Hasbara provide context and advice on discussing topics like "But Israel Is so Diverse!", and "But Hamas!"
Every chapter is extremely well researched and rooted in Kern's own experience. There are many dives into historical context. I had no idea that the reason wizards have pointy hats has origins in anti-Jewish hate!
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Other chapters in Answering Hasbara provide context and advice on discussing topics like "But Israel Is so Diverse!", and "But Hamas!"
Every chapter is extremely well researched and rooted in Kern's own experience. There are many dives into historical context. I had no idea that the reason wizards have pointy hats has origins in anti-Jewish hate!
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The chapter on "Criticizing Israel is Antisemitic" is one of the longest and most detailed. In it Kern discusses why they, as a former anti-antisemitism educator, has stopped using the word "antisemitism". They explore the history of the term, first widely used by racists to describe their own hatred of Jewish people.
Kern also confronts the ways that Zionism is an anti-Jewish hate movement.
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Throughout the book Kern's arguments are staunchly anti-imperialist. Part 3 of the book is Towards Collective Liberation—What does "Free Palestine" Even Mean? Here Kern links Palestinian liberation with the need for all of us, everywhere, to defeat capitalist empire.
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Kern asks us to dream that "maybe—we can Free Palestine, fuck empire, topple all tyrants, and save life on earth."
Kern also lists books they recommend to help us imagine a different kind of world including my favourite book, The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin.
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In the final pages of the book Kern shares notes written Palestinians that they befriended during their efforts to raise funds for pregnant people to leave Gaza and receive the care they needed to give birth.
These notes are from the parents and families of Elena, Manal, and Heba, to whom the book was dedicated.
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I recommend Genocide Bad. to everyone. @simkern is an excellent educator and I look forward to reading their other books like The Free People's Village.
Please consider using an alternative to Amazon to purchase this or any other book. Amazon is on the BDS list.
https://interlinkbooks.com/product/genocide-bad-deluxe-edition/ 10% of the proceeds from this edition will be donated to Middle East Children's Alliance.
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