I'm toying with the idea of writing about representations of Palestinian resistance in western literature for my senior thesis (I'm an English major obviously, with a minor in politics/international studies, inb4 "hurr durr learn something useful"). Has anyone read this reactionary piece of trash? I ask, because it's one of the books which one of my polisci profs recommended to me when I told her what I plan on doing. Part of me is reluctant to go through it because reading Zionist bullshit always makes my blood boil. So, could anyone give me a Sparknotes-esque summary of this novel? Also, are there any other American novels which portray Palestinians in a highly racist/orientalist manner? Thanks.
I'm toying with the idea of writing about representations of Palestinian resistance in western literature for my senior...
Justin Rivera
Asher Brown
Check Goodreads. We aren't doing your homework for you.
Owen Anderson
Zig Forums gives legendary homework advice tho
Daniel Lopez
I did check GRs, and none of the reviews on there touched on what I'm trying to write about. Basically, I want to know how the Palestinian "villains" are portrayed, what are their character traits, etc., and how does this fit into the American/western perception of the Palestinian struggle as a whole. Granted, the novel was written in the mid-1970s so there's that aspect (a novel written today would have a completely different outlook). The primary Palestinian character (Dalia) is obviously based on Leila Khaled so there's that.
Dominic Perry
Okay this is literally epic.
Jacob Torres
This very sentence assumes Zig Forums can read.
Dylan Torres
Did he like go to Afghanistan or something?
also
>Don't use FinBol as a source, use his sources
Colton Roberts
I read this novel 10 years ago before I became leftist, when I was a teenager.
What I remember is, Dahlia (the "Leila" character) is sexualized as she sleeps with the main character (a Vietnam vet with extreme PTSD). Not sure how that fits into your project. I don't remember too many negative stereotypes about Palestinians actually, since this book is more of a psychological thriller, as in the focus is on the overall suspense and not character details.
Ayden Torres
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Gavin Nelson
user…
I don't think Palestinians are that often even represented as Palestinians, they are just lumped together with Islamist terrorists from anywhere in the world. I believe John Ringo has some very rightwing over-the-top Islamig terrrists getting owned by stronk Murican hero fun stuff. Tom Clancy probably has some stuff, but I'd rather read a phone book for entertainment.
Hunter Flores
That was a joke, anons.
She was a northern Ireland student expelled because of Finnbol (yeah sure) and went to Syria to enlist to the Army (lol), being rejected (I wonder why) she killed herself in an hotel in Damascus.
Ethan Jones
Does it matter though? Obviously, it's not Sudanese or Indonesians who are portrayed as "bloodthirsty terrorists."
Cooper Thompson
Your average burger can't tell the difference between Palestians, Syrians, Iraqis, Libyans, Yemenis, Moroccans…
They don't care which set of Sykes-Picot sand lines you were born in, all they see is a generic "Arab."
I understand you're trying to expose this novel and others like it as part of a "Zionist propaganda campaign" well guess what? That's fucking stupid as Americans (especially white guys in the 70s) mostly couldn't give a fuck. In fact claiming every shitty representation of Arabs is "hasbara" sounds conspiratorial and immature on your end.
Jacob Turner
But don't you think it's something for Palestinians to be *specifically* demonized in western media? When was the last time Yemenis or Moroccans were portrayed as evil terrorists? Saudi Arabia is the biggest financer of terrorism in the world yet how many Saudis get portrayed poorly?
Oliver Smith
What mate? in most lefty western media saudi is a tyrant terror state and the palastinians are innocents being genocided with there backs against the wall..
Dominic Cook
I'm talking mainstream western media: books, films, music, etc. not fringe leftist media.
Asher Parker
That's what Indian/Chinese tutors-for-hire are for.
Brandon Nelson
Dude, check out the Guardian… Hardly fringe. Arn't both of what i said basically understood to be true within the Labour membership and party? You're crazy if you think these views are fringe.
Chase Smith
Except my major isn't journalism. What I'm specifically looking at is literature, not news coverage.
Jackson Bell
Israel is nothing more than a western imperialist outlet in the Middle East. All "hasbara" is simply bourgeois propaganda trying to legitimize imperialism. No one gives a shit about the Palestinians themselves any more than they care about Uyghurs or whatever indigenous peoples are being killed in Central America. Stop assuming there's a conspiracy against Palestinians for being Palestinian.
Levi Sanders
The Israel Lobby is very real and it does have serious influence in pop culture. That's what I'm trying to get at in my thesis.
Aiden Cook
Ethnic lobbies have little influence outside of their role in imperialism. That's why the Indian lobby and Turkish lobby are more powerful than, say, the Armenian lobby. Also, a handful of openly anti-Zionist politicians were just elected to the Anerican Congress. How the fuck does that fit your "muh AIPAC colonizes the American mind" narrative?
Your thesis will be dismissed, not because da jooooz control your university but because your entire argument is empty speculation.
Zachary Flores
I hate it when people say western but actually just mean american.
Jason Perez
France and Canada have Israel lobbies too. There is also outright apartheid against Muslims in France as well.
Noah Perry
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Josiah Morris
BASED.
Kevin Kelly
It's almost as if all of those countries were at war with Israel at one point.
Really makes you think.
Colton Garcia
OP, instead of trying to expose everything as Zionist propaganda, maybe you should also take a look at how the left contributes to negative stereotypes about Arabs and Muslims too. The Leila image isn't exactly something most Arab Aneeicans relate to, plus association of us with "terrorists" even if our cause is righteous has very negative effects.
Josiah Hill
If you're going to debate the evils of Zionism, do so in a different thread. I'm asking about a very specific piece of reactionary literature which no one has yet spoken about.
Holy shit this board is dumb.
Dominic James
James Jackson
That's…. fucking gross.
John Hall
FREE PALESTINE
GAS THE KIK3S
Thomas Howard
What the fuck is this?
Luis Hughes
First chapter of the novel OP asked about.
Adrian Bell
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Joseph Adams
To be fair half the time it literally is Hasbara
Ethan Diaz
Don't forget the part about the IRA and the police chasing her, and her going between different military groups in different towns trying to find one that recruits women.
Tyler Lopez
Concrete example?
Sebastian Bell
Everyone dies at the end.
You're welcome.
Brandon Anderson
Gotta love liberals.
Kayden Evans
You should read Eat My Ass Bagel by Moishe Goldberg. Also not your personal homework army.
Christian Rogers
Anything Zionist is trash.
Jacob Ross
Watch the movie instead.
Jeremiah Stewart
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