Decades ago, one of my paternal uncles, who is a US citizen, told me that whenever news of Israeli attacks against Palestinians begins to dominate the general discourse, American television networks unleash a series of big-budgeted soap operas.

He said this in 1982, when I was just 15. But I remember it was shortly after a massacre of Palestinians had taken place at the Sabra neighbourhood and Shatila refugee camp in Beirut, Lebanon. At the time, Lebanon was in the grip of a civil war. The attackers were armed men belonging to a right-wing pro-Israel militia. They were facilitated by Israeli soldiers and tanks. 

In the 1993 spring issue of the journal Antioch Review, the American sociologist Thomas J. Cottle wrote that the entertainment industry offers distractions and diversions, which in turn leads one to “look away from the truths.” But today we are living in the so-called ‘Information Age.’ With so many online news outlets, using entertainment programming to redirect the people’s attention away from a problematic issue is almost next to impossible. 

Indeed, disinformation, fake news and outright propaganda are all part of the new package. But the forces countering these have become equally prominent too. However, in societies that, for decades, have been brought up on certain narratives and beliefs, any information that negates these does not necessarily bring clarity but an awkward confusion instead. 

When the 16th century European astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus proved that it was the Earth that revolved around the sun, his discovery caused great confusion, denial and even anxiety. He did this in a society that had been brought up on the dogma that the Earth was at the centre of the solar system and all heavenly bodies rotated around it. 

Although many Americans are still hesitant to openly discuss their doubts about the Palestine-Israel conflict, many of them are becoming increasingly sceptical of the pro-Israel narrative their country has championed for decades

Copernicus shattered a dogma created by Europe’s Christian establishment. The Church refused to recognise his claim and tried to suppress it, fearing that it might create confusion and make people doubt Christian beliefs. Fortunately, the confusion led to the asking of certain important questions, whose answers did bring clarity, ushering in a scientific revolution in the West. 

This is the kind of confusion that I found in many Americans during my recent visit to the US. The confusion seemed to be rooted in the question: how is one to react to what the Israeli state has been doing to the Palestinians in Gaza? Often, during my trips to the US, it is I who seeks an audience with the country’s academics and members of the intelligentsia — but this time, I was approached by them first. 

Most of the encounters were rather random. And not all of the folks who approached me were ‘intellectuals’. For example, at a jazz concert in New York City, where I was watching a band play, I was particularly impressed by the drummer. After the concert, when I strolled out for a smoke, I heard someone say, “Hey, do you mind if I share a smoke with you?” I looked up and, lo and behold, it was the drummer.

So off I went, praising his performance, which I said reminded me of the late legendary drummer Ginger Baker. He appreciated the comparison and asked where I was from. After I told him, he didn’t waste any time in asking me what my views were on what was happening in Gaza. 

I’m convinced he saw a brown guy who he thought was an Arab. But when I said I was from Pakistan, and a writer, that was good enough for him to say, “Man, I’m Jewish, but secular…” I quickly interrupted him by saying, “I’m Muslim, but secular.” He smiled, but then a look of anguish cut across his face. He began to lament, “I’m sure you know more than I do, man, but I’ll be really honest with you, all this [the Hamas-Israel war] has really, really confused me…” 

I quietly appreciated his honesty and let him continue: “A hospital was bombed in Gaza, man… but I don’t know who to believe. I mean, yeah, Hamas people are terrorists, but I see all these dead bodies of children in Gaza… and I think, are we Jews being given a bad name by Netanyahu? I’m telling you, man, I’m really confused.” 

I tried my best to give him the most ‘neutral’ opinion, but I kept thinking: how does one discuss complex historical contexts of a long-drawn political issue with a jazz drummer? The Israeli bombing of Gaza was truly bothering him. But it seemed he was weary of talking about it with his fellow Americans. I say this because when the other members of the band joined us, he told them that we were talking about Ginger Baker. He did not mention Gaza at all. 

Two days later, at a bar, while ordering a drink, I felt I was being sized up by a brown guy who was with a lady. A ‘fashionista’ sort, he asked, “Hey, where are you from?” I didn’t quite like his tone. So I replied, “Where are you from?” 

Tipsy, he smirked, “I’m from Indiaaaa …” So, I smirked back, “Well, I’m noooot …” The lady he was trying to impress put a hand over her mouth, as if to stop herself from laughing. He could’ve been from anywhere, really, I just didn’t appreciate his tone. When I returned to my table, a middle-aged man approached me and, in a polite voice asked: “May I sit here for a bit, till I get a place at the bar?” 

“Sure,” I replied. He thanked me and said he was quite amused by the exchange between the Indian and me. “Are you by any chance from Pakistan?” He asked. “Yes,” I laughed. 

The gentleman smiled and nodded his head. His eyes lit up when I told him I was an author and columnist. Mine lit up when he told me he was an assistant professor at a prestigious university in Boston.

“So then…” he said, “how do you see what’s happening in Gaza?” We had a pretty meaningful discussion on the subject but, in this case as well, I noticed he was only willing to talk about his doubts (regarding Israeli policies) with a non-American, rather than with his colleagues who soon arrived. They were all academics. 

I couldn’t help but ask, though, “Are you guys allowed to share your doubts about Israeli policies in your class?” I could actually visualise a bolt of discomfort gripping them. The gentleman, however, broke the brief silence by raising his glass and saying, “Let’s drink to silence!” We all ended up laughing, but that was the end of any more discussion on Gaza. I felt like Copernicus. 

What I found in most folks who approached me in the US (to talk about Israel and Gaza) was an honesty about feeling hapless and confused and not very convinced anymore by what they, for decades, have been fed by Hollywood and their media. They were not yet ready, however, to discuss their thoughts and feelings among themselves. But I am now convinced that they eventually will.

And since most of them identified themselves as liberals, I think this should worry Joe Biden.

Published in Dawn, EOS, November 5th, 2023