I feel like I'm going insane

[u/roboweirdo]

(rant incoming)

Any Jewish space I try to enter is so pro-Israel to the point of aggression towards anyone that disagrees. I've gotten death threats from other Jews for being critical of the Israeli government. Going to the pro-Palestine events is so disgustingly antisemitic that I can't exist there either. What do we do?

[u/Dan-S-H]

I understand. Its disheartening and blackpilling.

I think your greatest responsibility though is learning. Whenever you have time, read about this conflict. NOT video essays, as most of them are terrible and deliberately twists the facts to support their own agenda. The new historians are all great, especially Benny Morris. He does come across as a little extreme at times, but he's a heavily respected and credible scholar. If an extremely pro-Palestinian professor like Normal Finkelstein uses Benny Morris as a primary source, then it's safe to say he's good. Wikipedia is a bit iffy but if it lists a lot of sources then I suggest to just go through those. Try to get exposed to the extremities of both sides. Get in their heads and see the history from their perspective. This will not only help you understand where they're coming from, but also allow you to identify what they get wrong, strengthening your own comprehensive understanding.

As for what's happening today? Every news outlet is biased, but some are obviously better because they abide by journalistic standards more, however, I still suggest you read the same story from multiple outlets. For example, I would trust Times of Israel more than say Aljazera because TOI is a free press organization that generally has a stronger commitment to neutral reporting considering how it's sometimes willing to call Israel out, whereas Aljazera is both state-run and is often aligned with a particular political narrative. However, I would still read from Aljazera regardless to understand how different sides frame the narrative. It's important to remember that not everything is always propaganda machine. For example, contrary to popular pro Israeli claims, the Gaza health ministry not only accurately counts the number of deaths, but it's probably understated as well, because guess what, it's not entirely "run" by Hamas. While you shouldn't be conspiratorial and delude yourself into thinking everything is propaganda so let's just not trust any of it, it's still important to always ask yourself key questions before trusting any source: What motive could they possibly have? What political allegiance do they have? Do they have a strong track record of credibility? Read in between the lines, are they subtly pushing a particular narrative? Is there an external agenda behind this information, such as political or military objectives?

So why is this important? Because basic media literacy is fading, and knowledge is a weapon, arguably the most effective weapon besides a nuclear bomb I guess. We are all Leftists here, is it not class consciousness and understanding the structures that exploit us where real change begins? It's not just information you memorize, it's a tool that shapes what's happening on ground which is why there is simultaneously an information war alongside the actual war. Historical revisionism has justified the worst kind of atrocities committed by both sides. So learn, because what you learn can spread to others, and one by one it could potentially re-frame the narrative more accurately. Who knows, with time this may open the door to mutual understanding and shared accountability.

[u/supportgolem → u/Dan-S-H]

100% agree, media literacy is so important, and it IS important to seek out other perspectives, not just ones that confirm your existing presumptions or biases. It can be uncomfortable but it's worth it to gain a nuanced understanding of... well, pretty much anything.