It's utterly hypocritical for Israelis to wonder aloud why Palestinians don't pursue a non-violent strategy. One obvious reason is that, whenever they have, Israel brutally represses it. Norman Finkelstein More Quotes by Norman Finkelstein More Quotes From Norman Finkelstein I don't feel particularly attached to Israel - 'nationalism,' as Noam Chomsky said, 'is not my cup of tea' - but I feel no particular need to demonize it. Norman Finkelstein israel tea needs I don't claim to know Israel. I don't speak Hebrew; my contacts are pretty limited. But I didn't know Vietnam; I didn't know Nicaragua, El Salvador or Honduras. It doesn't mean you can't reach your conclusions. Norman Finkelstein your know you speak I was bashing Israel in the past because nobody else was exposing its true record. Many people are doing it now, so I switched hats from a critic of Israel to a diplomat who wants to resolve the conflict. I have not changed, but I think the spectrum has moved. Norman Finkelstein nobody think people past No doubt one can, in light of further study and life experience, come to repudiate past convictions. Norman Finkelstein experience light life past Conversion and zealotry, just like revelation and apostasy, are flip sides of the same coin, the currency of a political culture having more in common with religion than rational discourse. Norman Finkelstein like political culture religion The whole purpose of annual reviews is to keep you abreast of whether or not you are fulfilling the requirements of tenure. Norman Finkelstein annual keep you purpose Both my father and mother were survivors of the Warsaw Ghetto and the Nazi concentration camps. Apart from my parents, every family member on both sides was exterminated by the Nazis. Norman Finkelstein parents family mother father I had been a Maoist, and then when the Gang of Four was overthrown, I was completely distraught. I was bedridden for three weeks; it was a very painful experience for me. Not only because I had been wrong, but because I felt really embarrassed that I had been lecturing and pontificating with such self-confidence. Norman Finkelstein self-confidence me gang experience I'm not a good writer, and I don't care. Unfortunately, after I left college, I didn't have time much for literature. I wish I did. Most of the time I read documents, and that's not going to help your writing. But I'm a very logical writer, and you can't get out of me. Once I've nailed you, you're finished. Norman Finkelstein good me you time I don't want to pretend to be a prophet or a saint. I'm very conscious of my limitations. I know my flaws. But I don't like lying. Norman Finkelstein pretend know flaws want Personal convictions are not politics. Personal convictions, if they become the subject of a group conviction, they become a cult. Norman Finkelstein become personal group politics
