In February 1930, Freud was asked, as a distinguished Jew, to contribute to a petition condemning Arab riots of 1929, in which over a hundred Jewish settlers were killed. This was his reply to the Keren Hajessod: Thoughts?
The statement "your obedient servant" may be an indication that Freud needed pyschological counseling.
That probably was sarcastic, judging by the content of the letter. But I commend you for not commenting on a spelling mistake. Have you anything to add relating to his views on Zionism?
This topic relates to Zionism more than it relates to Freud. But the fact he wrote that he is "unable to overcome [his] aversion to burdening the public with [his] name" should tell you that he was well aware of the sort of reactions to be expected from us.
Okay. Since we can't ignore, even with the best of zeal, all the weight carried by the name of Freud, let's try to briefly situate him in relation to Zionism. Apparently he and Theodor Herzl were pratically neighbours: they lived across the same street; but they never corresponded with each other. Now, perhaps we can try to take his words on Zionism as if they were only those of the guy next door, and ponder mostly their message:
Well, there could be some unconscious negative reference to Jewish settlements by Freud ,as Paris cites here, but who really knows.
He was writing during a time prior to WWII and prior to the extermination of the Jews by Hitler. Had he been writing in 1945, perhaps his viewpoint would have been different.
It seems to me that his negative reference to Jewish settlements in Jerusalem is rather obvious and very conscious, don't you agree?
Perhaps. But he was known for his consistency in such matters, for instance regarding his atheism. And he was also well aware of growing anti-semitic feelings in 1930
Who gives a (*)(*)(*)(*) what that incest-obsessed, perverted, cocaine addict had to say about anything?
Certainly not Nietzsche who died a CRAZY MAN after he fell in love with a horse ! "Tolerance is a proof of distrust in one's own ideals." -- so long, cowboy
Like many Jewish professionals of his era, he did not support Zionism.. knowing it simply wouldn't work in Palestine. The first group to immigrate from the Ghettos of Europe were Bolshevics.. socialists.... Only later during the rise of Hitler did ordinary Jewish people seeking sanctuary in Palestine because they have no other options.
Yes, poor people, deluded with false hopes of more fertile lands and benevolent skies...the down-trodden, escaping the fate of their friends and families, all victims of the wealthy-made crisis when all they hear is sorry, no other options. But how does it translate today? Is it working in Palestine, or should we such as those professionals remain very skeptical?
Fell in love with a horse??? Trying to protect a horse that was being whipped means he fell in love with it? Ok, so he did go a little nuts at the end, but a lot of people do. Most people aren't incest-obsessed cocaine addicts like Freud was though.
Okay. It seems I shouldn't have mentioned Freud in the title. I'll ask a mod if we can change it to "A letter on Zionism" (as it reflect the views of many of his contemporaries) Meanwhile, please accept my apologies for putting his dirty name up there
Morticia Addams: You know, darling, I've been thinking... maybe you HAVE failed. Gomez Addams: Querida... Stop trying to cheer me up! Morticia Addams: No, dear. Think about it, didn't you fail at failing? Gomez Addams: Yes, but that's not... Eureka! You're right, Tish! I've failed at FAILING! Yes! [runs around the house in euphoria] Gomez Addams: Fester, do you realize what that makes me? Uncle Fester: [who was trying to chop a rodent] Ah, a gardener? Gomez Addams: No, brother! A bona fide, dyed-inthe-wool Addams failure!
Interesting. I didn't know The Addams Family was crafted in the 30's. Gotta love gallows humor PS: Since that heavy name still hangs up there we might as well remember Freud's words on it: "The ego refuses to be distressed by the provocations of reality, to let itself be compelled to suffer. It insists that it cannot be affected by the traumas of the external world; it shows, in fact, that such traumas are no more than occasions for it to gain pleasure" Way to please everybody, rich and poor alike! Cheers
Title changed: Thank you very much! (For the record, it previously was awkwardly titled "Freud and Zionism" - which could imply it was some sort of essay on Zionism, by Freud, and wrongly make the author of this short letter the tread's focus.) Many thanks to Dogus Slopius too for keeping a light-hearted spirit despite the obvious heaviness. As a redeeming act and a bit off-topic, let me share this joke with you: Did you know that dolphins are so smart that within a few weeks of captivity, they can train people to stand on the very edge of the pool and throw them fish? Cheers!
