Cuba and Israel: a space between extremes

[Tooting Carmen]

At least in the UK, the degree to which one likes or dislikes these two countries depends on where on the political spectrum they lay.

In Cuba's case, many left-wingers like it because they see it as a bastion of humanitarianism, egalitarianism and socialism, pointing to its achievements in terms of education, health and science; the fact that Cuban teachers and doctors go all over the world to help out and that even the poor in Cuba are still fed, housed, educated and cared for in a way that is not true for the poor in many other countries in the Americas - all this, moreover, even while the US has tried to kill Castro hundreds of times and has imposed a harsh economic blockade of the country. Meanwhile, many right-wingers see it as a totalitarian tyranny that routinely jails and exiles opponents, has disastrous economic policies that prevent wealth creation and has kept itself poor and backward while other countries have moved on. The truth: both have a point. It IS possible to laud Cuba's strengths and achievements, while disliking the totalitarian elements of its political system and how much suffering it has caused for some people.

In Israel's case, many right-wingers like it because they see it as a bastion of the Western world surrounded by Arab/Muslim enemies, pointing to its (relatively) liberal and democratic nature, where they have regular free and fair elections, women in the army and in senior political roles and even had a female leader before any Western country did, and all this even while neighbouring countries have been trying to attack and destroy it since its inception. Meanwhile, many left-wingers see Israel as a racist tyranny that treats Palestinians like shit, is militaristic, expansionist and totally disregards international law. The truth: both have a point. It IS possible to laud Israel's strengths and achievements, while disliking its behaviour in the Palestinian territories and how many deaths and exiles this has caused.

In other words, there is a space between polarised extremes, where people are expected to either love or loathe particular countries and regimes. The reason I mention those two ones is they seem to be more totemic and controversial than most.

[Tooting Carmen]

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