Who ya gonna to believe, me or your own eyes?

[edited version appeared in JNS.org Full version below.]

In the classic Marx Brother’s 1933 movie “Duck Soup” the following exchange occurred between the actress Margaret Dumont playing Mrs. Gloria Teasdale and Chico Marx (dressed as Groucho). [Emphasis added.]:
 

Teasdale: Your Excellency, I thought you left.
Chico: Oh no. I no leave.
Teasdale: But I saw you with my own eyes.
Chico: Well, who ya gonna believe me or your own eyes?

It seems this pattern is repeated today and with long-lasting dangerous results.

All the noise being shouted by pro-Palestinian/anti-Israel advocates is being totally believed by you [if not you, still please read on] and their followers. You are believing it so deeply that some of you are committing crimes of violence, even murder, in support of these claims. Many, if not all, of you are also committing crimes of civil disobedience and harassment.

As many of these criminal acts are committed on Jewish owned businesses, your fellow Jewish students, and random Jews walking down the street [all who are not representatives of the Israel government], you are now bigoted anti-Semites. Yes, you are anti-Jew even though some of those often-repeated slogans are: “Israel is an Apartheid state”, “Israel is committing genocide”, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, “Death to Israel”, and even “Death to America”.

But I ask you, “who ya gonna believe, them or your own eyes.” In other words, verify it! This process of verification is important and beneficial for anyone who wants to have the facts when discussing these issues, regardless of which side you take. While stories sell, facts tell.

As a retired university instructor, a fundamental belief of mine was not to teach students what to think but to teach them how to think. To start, here are just four questions you should be asking and seeking objective, historically proven, answers. Then think, consider, analyze, and ask more questions.

·       How can Israel, a Jewish Theocratic Democracy*, be an apartheid state when many minorities (Arabs, Bedouins, Druze, Christians, etc.): vote; get an education; serve in military, police, hospitals, government; etc.; and of course, worship openly and freely? Compare and contrast with neighboring Muslim countries’ religious and societal laws. Come visit and see for yourself.

 

·       What is the origination and definition of the word ‘genocide’? What is the international acceptance ratio of civilian to combatant death ratio? Compare and contrast the October 7^th Gazan war that with other wars such as the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War, and the 2011-2024 Syrian Revolution, for example.

·       “From the river to the sea…” raises the obvious question: What is the origin of the word ‘Palestine’? Also, in recent history context, familiarize yourself with post-WWI Sykes-Picot Agreement and League of Nations Mandates, U.N. Resolution 181 (1947) and the Arab world’s genocidal reaction, as well as the charter documents of Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. Compare and contrast all that with the Jewish Zionist government response to U.N. Resolution 181 and the text of Israel’s 1948 Declaration of Independence.

·       Is free speech really free? When a speaker incites criminal activity such as violence, or encourages harassment, is this a criminal act or actually covered under “free speech”? Could the phrase “Death to America” be considered an act of war as declared on the streets of Tehran or treason if shouted on the streets of the United States?

You might remember that Journalism (not the Editorial section) was required to be objective and just answer the “5W’s+H questions”: Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How. Period. Unfortunately, many publications’ news desks (print, broadcast, online) have been editorializing their news sections. My articles and books contain links, so you know my sources because I recommend using “your own eyes” and verify everything.

One assignment I used to give to my students would be for them to attend a rally or demonstration. The cause was immaterial. Then review the news feeds the next day. Those that slanted in favor would report how well it was attended and successful in its communication. Those media outlets slanted against the cause would play down its attendance and ability to communicate its message. You, on the other hand, would know that neither was accurate and the truth was somewhere in the middle… because you were there!

In their own words. This overall current media situation, and my academic approach of “compare and contrast”, led me to write a series of two books based on “their own words”. Instead of just general research and writing, I decided to use sources from of the country, cause, religion, etc. One book is on revolutions, using their words to explain their causes and promises. The other book compares the Abrahamic religions and asks, “What Do They Pray For?” because prayer sheds light on their goals and objectives.

The “Revolutions” book presents many of the songs, poetry, and slogans that are not only more culturally reflective and relevant of their time, but easier to delve into than any historical treatise. Their own words better describe and reflect each revolution’s true cause. Unfortunately, traditional and academic history analysis often leaves out the personal and cause célèbre of the conflict.

The book covers six revolutions: American, French, Russian, Cuban, Israel, and Palestine. Each chapter presents a short history overview of each revolution being discussed, then a collection of their songs and slogans, and then some comments and analysis to allow you to study the true expressions of the cause, in their own original words, for you to be able to reach your own conclusions about each revolution. There is a deep Notes and Sources section, so you can verify the material presented, as well as appendices with additional details.

Additionally, the book’s structure provides you with the opportunity to easily “compare and contrast” the history, along with their own words in songs and slogans, between different revolutions. This can reveal a more truthful and relevant understanding of what past and current revolutions are really about and whether they deliver their promises to their people.

In the newly released “What Do They Pray For?” book, whether we are religious, agnostic, or atheistic, what we pray for tells a lot a lot who we are. By comparison, what they (Islam, Christianity, Judaism) pray for reveals who they really are, as well as what are their goals and aspirations.

To make the book manageable in content and length, it attempts to explore and present this question by only comparing three themes: 1. How a religion deals with and relates to Disbelievers; 2. What is the religion’s position on Domination, Supremacy, and Conversion; and 3. What is its vision for Peace.

The presentation of this book is different in that many relevant foundational texts and prayers are from the sources that represent the religion in question. This more accurately bases any translations and interpretations by using their words. Therefore, you can read it all in their own words for you to “compare and contrast”. There is also a deep Notes and Sources section, so you can verify the material presented, as well as appendices with additional details.

The challenge has been made: “who ya gonna believe, them or your own eyes.” Will you accept this challenge or continue to be a lemming?

 

[Author’s request: please pass this article around to those you know who might not see this article in the publications’ (print, broadcast, online) they follow. Let’s get them thinking! Thank you.]

 

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* My point of view is that Israel is a Theocratic (Jewish) Democracy, as opposed to Muslim countries that are Theocratic (Islamic) Autocracies, as opposed to America which is Non-theocratic Democracy and Russia which is an Atheistic Autocracy.

About the Author: David S. Levine, MBA, is the author of the “In Their Own Words” book series: “Revolutions” and “What Do They Pray For?” And “How to Run the Business of YOU”. David is a former New York City advertising & marketing executive, and a retired Rutgers University instructor. Visit therealdavidlevine.substack.com.