Ira Chernus, professor of religious studies and Jewish peace activist, discusses how the Israeli/Palestinian conflict polarizes American opinion like during the Vietnam War era, the detrimental effects of occupation on the Israeli state (given that the Palestinians suffer far more), why Obama needs more political support before he can force concessions on Israel and broker a peace deal, the many Leftist activists newly-energized by Republican gains in Congress and how settlement freezes show...
06/25/09 – Ira Chernus – The Scott Horton Show
Ira Chernus, professor of religious studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder, discusses the dominant narrative of Israel: a vulnerable Western-style democracy in a sea of hostile Arab nations, the destructiveness of race and class based stereotypes, the Israeli and Palestinian peace groups ignored by the media and the lessening stigma of publicly criticizing Israel.
04/09/08 – Ira Chernus – The Scott Horton Show
Ira Chernus, professor of Religious Studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder, discusses Americans’ religious devotion to the state and its wars, the narratives of victory and defeat which supplant the facts as the terms of debate over foreign policy - including within the highest circles of power, the Democrats’ fear of being portrayed as weak and inability to control the debate, the magic word 'stability' for calling people into line, the long history of American dissent against war...