When I was growing up there was one truism about Israel that could not be avoided: Israel stunk when it came to PR. While the Arab message was always clear, simple and financed by billions of OPEC petro-dollars, the Israeli counter-message was nuanced, balanced and complicated. For example:
Arabs: Israel is occupying Lebanon and massacring its people.
Israel: Well we are in Lebanon but that's only because...
Arabs: You admit it! You occupy Lebanon and massacre its people.
Israel: But you have to admit that because of the recent situation in the north...
Arab: Murderer! Occupier!
Israel was always at a disadvantage because of its refusal to simplify complicated issues into single line slogans or call a spade a spade, or in this case a compulsive liar. In addition, there was the financial disadvantage. Saudi Arabia and friends were and are willing to spend as much as it takes to smear Israel and turn world opinion against it. Israel simply doesn't have those kinds of resources.
But as the Western world devolves into a society of sical misfits more interested in interacting through Facebook and instant messaging, Israel has found the playing field more level. After all, it is the number 2 computer technology in the world. Youtube and other social forums have made it cheap and easy to spread messages in ways that would have been prohibitively expensive before and the Israelis have taken full advantage of that.
As an example, one of the responses to the Flotilla Fiasco is now circulating through the world courtesy of the viral concept of videos. It is with great pleasure that I present this link which will lead you to that video. For those of you who are old enough to remember the original song this parody is based on, the experience will be that much sweeter:
We Con The World
2 comments:
I hate this video. It's racist and I knew that it would only rile up those that despise Israel, rather than change anyone's mind.
It's not about changing anyone's mind. What, some Arab is going to see the video, say "Oh is that what we look like to them, that's terrible!"?
Taking the high ground, turning the other cheek, keeping a stiff upper lip, all that is very nice but it rarely wins a fight. Israel needs to win and you don't win a war by downplaying the evil your enemies represent. You rally the troops and surge forward instead and this video is part of that.
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