About ten years ago Leon Seltzer a psychologist wrote "Self absorption - the root of all evil?" - any relation ? Its not the greatest expose but its good. Encapsulates for me decades of the post WW2 transition from 'enlightenment to entitlement - from who to what. Robin Williams had the lines in the movie "World's Greatest Dad 2009" "I used to think the worst thing in life is to end up all alone. It's not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people that make you feel all alone" Larry I prefer to be alone than with the self aborbed psychos of the performative pernicious perfidious pro pally mob. Stay strong Larry you have more friends out here than you may think.
You are a lonely voice for sanity. These are insane times and I pray we as a species can recover someday. We have always had human demons (I prefer not to insult animals by calling them that) but never in my memory of life or history do I recall so many people who believes themselves to be on the side spreading such evil heinous lies.
You have been a faithful and trustworthy witness. Your reporting re Israel's defensive wars is among the best on Substack. I thank you and appreciate you.
I am so, so sorry that so many people had to go through what they've been through... I'm lost for words... I have no idea of how it feels to live/having been born in a country so many people think should not exist... I have no idea what it is to live in a place where you always have to watch your back and always be prepared to fight or flee.... I have no idea how it feels to listen to so many slanders and lies and most of the time not being able to do anything... I'm so, so very sorry my friends, for all of you who have been through all of this or who were witness of it... I can only send you all my love and hope for a better future... ❤️
I did my PhD ( Personal High - level Development) between 1968 and 1974 living in Israel - a kibuttz- Africa ( Nigeria during the Biafran war) South America ( Brasil Rio de Janeiro and the Favelas) and Europe. The images of Biafra by the great Don Mccullin are good starting point for those interested. I follow events in Nigeria quite closely. No-one I know does. I've seen things I can't unsee Andrew but way back when - this gave me 2Gs. A lifelong absence of greed and a presence of gratitude. I joined my Jewish family at age 19. I've also forced myself to see some of the October 7 footage. But now -at this end of my life - the irreparable impact is despair. The Carlin quote " if you think there's a solution you're part of the problem - democracy is circling the drain" haunts me. Mostly in Australia - with a few notable exceptions - I'm surrounded by psycho self absorbed swill who have seen to it that we have transitioned from enlightenment to entitlement. The key to the social capital catastrophe is that cognitive cowardice has replaced existential cognitive courage. Lobotomised lemmings masquerading as humans are all about.
You're not wrong. In fact spot on. Festinger back in 1957 theorised about "cognitive dissonance" and "social comparison theory" then of course came "confirmation bias" Dealing with all this trauma produces in me a constant state of cognitive dissonance that no amount of self seving confirmation bias which I don't have - will provide equilibrium. I see the so called educated elite behave like brain dead boofheads and think there is no coming back from here. People like Andrew Fox - articulate and deeply experienced as he is - give me a slender sliver of hope but my whisky consumption is becoming legendary.
But in his interview with Batya, he made a great point. It's difficult to get people out of the cult when the fear of losing friends is higher. Make no mistake...it's a cult and friends and peer groups are the gate keepers.
Democracies and Death Cults Douglas Murray......I've seen Batya and Andrew now but also consider Triggernometry KK and FF April 8th with Batya. I literally grew up with De Bono and lateral thinking. I don't know why but I could do a 9 dot puzzle by the age of ten. Do not believe everything you're told. Carol Dweck Mindset 2014 fixed and growth mindset. Fixed a failure of (cognitive) COURAGE. It is this damn simple sorry yet again Aristotle was correct. It is the single greatest virtue because all others flow from it. Yep Churchill gave it a whirl too.
Andrew, I applaud your ongoing determination and decency, your willingness to put forward unpopular information even when the world turns its back. Thank you for continuing to bear witness in behalf of all of us Jews and decent peoole worldwide. You are a hero in my book. Stay strong!
Thank you, this was a terrific piece. I have watched some of the footage from 10/7. It was disturbing and that is the video that is accessible. I’m not sure that I could stomach as you have.
What is remarkable is that Hamas and all of the “Pro-Palestinian” crowd accuses Israel of all of these atrocities and the whole “No to Genocide” which was shouted during Noam Betton’s performance at Eurovision last night. Other than “gaslighting”, what is it called when your enemy accuses you of their criminal acts?
Thank you for bearing witness. For more than two years we've been thanking everyone who has done so on all our behalf. For a long time I've suspected that nothing short of complete public release of all 10/7 footage would eventually be called for. After what we've seen the last couple of days and with this new 10/7 report, I am now sure of it. Published a piece on this today, and I hope everyone who has had the same thoughts will read.
I won’t be able to bear that level of witness, as what I have seen and heard of October 7 has already scarred me for life. But thank you for being the voice of the victims and defending their memories and honor. 🙏
The world won't care about this. It will simultaneously deny what happened while complaining that Israel did far worse (and wishing that Hamas had done even more).
See Brandolini’s Law which essentially observes it takes a mountain of effort/evidence to counteract misinformation that can be put out without effort and ahead of the truth.
As always, I feel the need to tell you that you are a Mensch. Very glad to have you documenting and witnessing the truth in these days.
A slight aside about General Gallant. I agree with his sentiment (and of course in the heated passion of Oct 7 I am surprised he didn’t say far worse) but I always disliked the quote because I felt animals would never do what Hamas did. Not a dig at Gallant at all, if anything I thought the comparison wasn’t fair to animals…
Thank you. I've felt lonely and threatened ever since October 8 and it helps that there are people like you out there.
I second Larry’s comment.
About ten years ago Leon Seltzer a psychologist wrote "Self absorption - the root of all evil?" - any relation ? Its not the greatest expose but its good. Encapsulates for me decades of the post WW2 transition from 'enlightenment to entitlement - from who to what. Robin Williams had the lines in the movie "World's Greatest Dad 2009" "I used to think the worst thing in life is to end up all alone. It's not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people that make you feel all alone" Larry I prefer to be alone than with the self aborbed psychos of the performative pernicious perfidious pro pally mob. Stay strong Larry you have more friends out here than you may think.
I will heed your urging and bear witness. But sadly the ones who really need to face the truth and read the report will not.
You are a lonely voice for sanity. These are insane times and I pray we as a species can recover someday. We have always had human demons (I prefer not to insult animals by calling them that) but never in my memory of life or history do I recall so many people who believes themselves to be on the side spreading such evil heinous lies.
You have been a faithful and trustworthy witness. Your reporting re Israel's defensive wars is among the best on Substack. I thank you and appreciate you.
I am so, so sorry that so many people had to go through what they've been through... I'm lost for words... I have no idea of how it feels to live/having been born in a country so many people think should not exist... I have no idea what it is to live in a place where you always have to watch your back and always be prepared to fight or flee.... I have no idea how it feels to listen to so many slanders and lies and most of the time not being able to do anything... I'm so, so very sorry my friends, for all of you who have been through all of this or who were witness of it... I can only send you all my love and hope for a better future... ❤️
I did my PhD ( Personal High - level Development) between 1968 and 1974 living in Israel - a kibuttz- Africa ( Nigeria during the Biafran war) South America ( Brasil Rio de Janeiro and the Favelas) and Europe. The images of Biafra by the great Don Mccullin are good starting point for those interested. I follow events in Nigeria quite closely. No-one I know does. I've seen things I can't unsee Andrew but way back when - this gave me 2Gs. A lifelong absence of greed and a presence of gratitude. I joined my Jewish family at age 19. I've also forced myself to see some of the October 7 footage. But now -at this end of my life - the irreparable impact is despair. The Carlin quote " if you think there's a solution you're part of the problem - democracy is circling the drain" haunts me. Mostly in Australia - with a few notable exceptions - I'm surrounded by psycho self absorbed swill who have seen to it that we have transitioned from enlightenment to entitlement. The key to the social capital catastrophe is that cognitive cowardice has replaced existential cognitive courage. Lobotomised lemmings masquerading as humans are all about.
Thank you for bearing witness and for having to share the loneliness of bearing witness in the age of lies.
It's hard to deal with the trauma of all this.
You're not wrong. In fact spot on. Festinger back in 1957 theorised about "cognitive dissonance" and "social comparison theory" then of course came "confirmation bias" Dealing with all this trauma produces in me a constant state of cognitive dissonance that no amount of self seving confirmation bias which I don't have - will provide equilibrium. I see the so called educated elite behave like brain dead boofheads and think there is no coming back from here. People like Andrew Fox - articulate and deeply experienced as he is - give me a slender sliver of hope but my whisky consumption is becoming legendary.
Comfort food for me! (No booze)
But in his interview with Batya, he made a great point. It's difficult to get people out of the cult when the fear of losing friends is higher. Make no mistake...it's a cult and friends and peer groups are the gate keepers.
Democracies and Death Cults Douglas Murray......I've seen Batya and Andrew now but also consider Triggernometry KK and FF April 8th with Batya. I literally grew up with De Bono and lateral thinking. I don't know why but I could do a 9 dot puzzle by the age of ten. Do not believe everything you're told. Carol Dweck Mindset 2014 fixed and growth mindset. Fixed a failure of (cognitive) COURAGE. It is this damn simple sorry yet again Aristotle was correct. It is the single greatest virtue because all others flow from it. Yep Churchill gave it a whirl too.
Andrew, I applaud your ongoing determination and decency, your willingness to put forward unpopular information even when the world turns its back. Thank you for continuing to bear witness in behalf of all of us Jews and decent peoole worldwide. You are a hero in my book. Stay strong!
Thank you, this was a terrific piece. I have watched some of the footage from 10/7. It was disturbing and that is the video that is accessible. I’m not sure that I could stomach as you have.
What is remarkable is that Hamas and all of the “Pro-Palestinian” crowd accuses Israel of all of these atrocities and the whole “No to Genocide” which was shouted during Noam Betton’s performance at Eurovision last night. Other than “gaslighting”, what is it called when your enemy accuses you of their criminal acts?
Hey, project this: FUCK OFF
Projection
You need help
Thank you for bearing witness. For more than two years we've been thanking everyone who has done so on all our behalf. For a long time I've suspected that nothing short of complete public release of all 10/7 footage would eventually be called for. After what we've seen the last couple of days and with this new 10/7 report, I am now sure of it. Published a piece on this today, and I hope everyone who has had the same thoughts will read.
https://thegoldenpill.substack.com/p/is-it-time-for-israel-to-publicly?r=31tulb&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=post%20viewer
I wonder what further lies, accusations and denials will follow this report.
I won’t be able to bear that level of witness, as what I have seen and heard of October 7 has already scarred me for life. But thank you for being the voice of the victims and defending their memories and honor. 🙏
I so appreciate your continuing advocacy.
The world won't care about this. It will simultaneously deny what happened while complaining that Israel did far worse (and wishing that Hamas had done even more).
See Brandolini’s Law which essentially observes it takes a mountain of effort/evidence to counteract misinformation that can be put out without effort and ahead of the truth.
As always, I feel the need to tell you that you are a Mensch. Very glad to have you documenting and witnessing the truth in these days.
A slight aside about General Gallant. I agree with his sentiment (and of course in the heated passion of Oct 7 I am surprised he didn’t say far worse) but I always disliked the quote because I felt animals would never do what Hamas did. Not a dig at Gallant at all, if anything I thought the comparison wasn’t fair to animals…
Yes. There was nothing human about what they did. Nothing.
Thank you.