The British journalist Stephen Pollard believes that we underestimate the role of stupidity in anti-Israel activism. More of his remarks, and a devastating interview by “Lady Maga” with a “Random Anti-Israel Activist” who believes, among other things, that Israel is an “Islamic state,” and puzzlingly inquires “So the Jewish Palestinians are Islamic?” can be found here: “Don’t forget the role of stupidity in the debate about Israel,” by Stephen Pollard, The JC, June 5, 2024:
I know it’s serious. I know the spectacular hatred directed against Jews since October 7 is absolutely not something to laugh about. But we’re Jewish. Of course we are going to find humour, somehow.
Which brings me to a video doing the rounds on social media, in which someone we will call Random Anti-IsraeI Activist (RAIA) is interviewed by a gay man (a drag queen with flowing blonde locks and a huge purple cape) called Lady Maga USA. The video is at his Twitter account, @LadyMagaUSA.
To describe the interviewee as thick doesn’t come close. I’m only sorry that the transcript below doesn’t convey her full asinine grimace as she struggles to comprehend what she is being told.
Lady Maga: Would you say you’re pro-Palestine or pro-Israel?
RAIA: Pro-Palestine.
Lady Maga: As a gay man I would be punished and or put in prison or killed if I were openly gay in Palestine. How do you react to that?
RAIA: I didn’t know that. So…
Lady Maga: It is illegal to be gay in Palestine. You are punished by prison or death.
RAIA: In Israel?
Lady Maga: No, Israel has gay pride. Israel is completely open to lesbian and gay people. Palestine puts them in prison or kills them. You weren’t aware of that?
RAIA: I was not aware of that, no. So that does pose an interesting aspect.
Lady Maga: Have you seen the Queers for Palestine movement? It’s a very common movement, but I don’t see any Muslims for Queer movements.
RAIA: Yes, that’s where it gets grey, right? Like, that’s where I feel…
Lady Maga: For me it’s not grey. I am fearful of Islam, because there is no Islamic country on Earth that embraces me as a gay man.
RAIA: So OK, OK, so maybe I’m confused because Israel, which is still an Islam country, right?
Lady Maga: No, no, no, Jewish.
RAIA: (Looking puzzled) OK. OK. OK. OK.
Lady Maga: So Israel’s Jewish Palestinians are Islamic?
RAIA: (Long sigh of incomprehension)
There is, of course, an important difference between ignorance and stupidity. But while RAIA is obviously ignorant, she is no less obviously stupid. The video brings to mind a saying of that indefatigable online warrior Simon Myerson KC, who regularly points out that we should not forget that 50 per cent of the population were in the bottom half of their class at school.
I’ve long been convinced that we underplay the role of stupidity in public life. I don’t mean this as an insult – simply shouting that someone is stupid tends to rebound on the person saying it. No, I mean that recognition that some people are simply not very bright is a tool that we should employ far more in order to understand why some people say or do things.
What makes matters worse is that everyone thinks “I am entitled to my opinion” and believes that “my opinion is just as valid as yours even though I may know nothing about the subject and you may know a great deal.”
Or as a French wit once put it, “Tout allait bien jusqu’au moment quand la bêtise s’est mise à penser.” Everything was all right, said the Frenchman, until Stupidity Began to Think.
carpediadem says
Stupid is one thing but not all stupid people are rushing to support all political causes. This one attracts them.
That’s what happens when the Left is allowed to spread evil unchallenged.
somehistory says
True. There is a difference in ‘stupid’ and ignorant. And a vast difference between those and evil.
mike says
useful Idiots
Phil Copson says
“Lady Maga: So Israel’s Jewish Palestinians are Islamic?”
————————————————————————
You need to correct that – I doubt you’ll find many Jewish Palestinians – and remove the question mark.
“Lady Maga” isn’t asking a question about “Jewish Palestinians” – he is explaining: “So Israel’s Jewish – Palestinians are Islamic.”
(Of course, if he’d attempted to explain that there are 2 million Israelis who ARE muslims – but who nonetheless also don’t relish the prospect of being murdered by Hamas, Hizbollah etc – her head would probably have exploded with the effort of comprehension. (“OK – so who are the baddies here – the guys in green head-bands? But I thought it was good to be green? OK, so the green head-band guys should really be wearing black hats so I know they’re the baddies? But I thought Jewish people wear black hats? So who are the guys in white hats here? The KKK?”))
somehistory says
Thank you for the clarification.
Jeffrey Fixler says
Sure, she’s dumb, but at least she admits she didn’t know what happens to gay people in Islamic states.
somehistory says
Stupid is everywhere.
A **news** headline a couple of days ago from ***Newsweek**** (once respected) was concerning a woman who “couldn’t bare(sic)” to look at her wedding photos.
First, that isn’t “news.” And second…
If stories like that one make Newsweek headlines, it’s no wonder people are confused to the point of stupid about such serious things as Israel’s right to exist, the ongoing and increasing hatred of Jews, and anything about islam and the goals of mozlums.
Ignorance can be helped. The media isn’t living up to the hype of informing people about the important things we ‘need to know.’
The msn is too busy telling us things they get from tiktok and reporting on it as if it is what matters to most Americans.
mike says
stupid’ and ignorant. postings are ok but Idiots is over the line
Jedothek says
Yes, the role of stupidity is often underestimated. We are aware that attempts to silence unwanted (conservative ) voices on campus have been becoming more prominent. Why is this? When an intelligent person hears a view s/he disagrees with, s/he tries to formulate a counterargument. Stupid people cannot formulate a counterargument. Therefore they feel their only option is to muzzle the unwelcome speaker. (This might raise the question of why we are admitting stupid people into colleges. )
John Smith says
As the old saying goes, “a little knowledge is dangerous,” but the lady in this video is completely clueless as to what is going on, which makes it a damn site more dangerous.
Rick Olsha says
AM ISRAEL CHAI !!!!!!!!