Tolerance Is a Wasteland: Palestine and the Culture of Denial

Name: Tolerance Is a Wasteland: Palestine and the Culture of Denial
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Book Synopsis: How denial sustains the liberal imagination of a progressive and democratic Israel. The question that this book aims to answer might seem simple: how can a violent project of dispossession and discrimination be imagined, felt, and profoundly believed in as though it were the exact opposite––an embodiment of sustainability, multicultural tolerance, and democratic idealism? Despite well-documented evidence of racism and human rights abuse, Israel has long been embraced by the most liberal sectors of European and American society as a manifestation of the progressive values of tolerance, plurality, inclusivity, and democracy, and hence a project that can be passionately defended for its lofty ideals. Tolerance Is a Wasteland argues that the key to this miraculous act of political alchemy is a very specific form of denial. Here the Palestinian presence in, and claim to, Palestine is not simply refused or covered up, but negated in such a way that the act of denial is itself denied. The effects of destruction and repression are reframed, inverted into affirmations of liberal virtues that can be passionately championed. In Tolerance Is a Wasteland, Saree Makdisi explores many such acts of affirmation and denial in a range of venues: from the haunted landscape of thickly planted forests covering the ruins of Palestinian villages forcibly depopulated in 1948; to the theater of “pinkwashing“ as Israel presents itself to the world as a gay-friendly haven of cultural inclusion; to the so-called Museum of Tolerance being built on top of the ruins of a Muslim cemetery in Jerusalem, which was methodically desecrated in order to clear the space for this monument to “human dignity.” Tolerance Is a Wasteland reveals the system of emotional investments and curated perceptions that makes this massive project of cognitive dissonance possible.

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Tolerance Is a Wasteland: Palestine and the Culture of Denial delves into the astounding phenomenon of how a violent project of dispossession and discrimination can be romanticized as a symbol of sustainability, multicultural tolerance, and democratic idealism. This thought-provoking book unveils the intricate web of denial that sustains the liberal imagination of a progressive and democratic Israel.

Despite overwhelming evidence of racism and human rights abuses, Israel has found staunch support from the most liberal sectors of European and American society. It has been hailed as a shining embodiment of tolerance, inclusivity, and democracy, giving rise to passionate defense from people who champion its lofty ideals. Tolerance Is a Wasteland exposes the unique form of denial that lies at the heart of this political alchemy.

Saree Makdisi masterfully navigates through a series of thought-provoking examples to shed light on the psychological underpinnings of this denial. From the haunting landscapes of Palestinian villages erased from existence and replaced with lush forests, to the deceptive theatrics of "pinkwashing" where Israel presents itself as a gay-friendly haven to divert attention from its oppressive policies, to the shocking desecration of a Muslim cemetery to make way for the Museum of Tolerance—Makdisi delves into the emotional investments and distorted perceptions that enable this massive cognitive dissonance.

Prepare to be captivated by Tolerance Is a Wasteland as it unravels the intricate mechanisms that transform destruction and repression into affirmations of liberal virtues. This groundbreaking book provides a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics at play, challenging our preconceived notions and inviting us to critically examine the narratives we have blindly accepted.

Are you ready to confront the undeniable truths that lie beneath the surface of the Israel-Palestine conflict? Dive into Tolerance Is a Wasteland and discover the hidden realities that challenge the prevailing narratives. Take the first step towards uncovering the truth by grabbing your copy today!

Click here to order your copy of Tolerance Is a Wasteland and embark on a journey of enlightenment.

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