'Why are my feelings so controversial?' | James O'Brien - The Whole Show

[@bretdabulldogdragon1446]

This is not a difficult concept! We don’t assume everyone in Afghanistan is a terrorist, so why would we not treat Gaza the same?

[@eddiecalderone]

Do Afghans except the right of Israel to exist? Do Palestinians from Gaza except the right of Israel to exist?

[@lutherblissett9070]

@@eddiecalderone we should have established israel in your land instead, after all, you are so "except"ing

[@michaelc821]

Terrorist are everywhere, no?

[@FourLightsOfficial]

​@@eddiecalderonewhat did your census tell you?

[@5ynext515]

​@lutherblissett9070 😂😂 that was except'ingly a great response.

[@aequanimitas]

Because international leaders and the media have decided that we should "stand with Israel" and anyone talking about the suffering of Palestinians are seen as being in opposition to that.

[@roshp3577]

Standing with Israel is entirely the incorrect approach. I wish a politician would stand up and say this is wrong. We are not going to stand with Israel because history has shown that it does not work and we need to treat both sides the same.

[@pmarsh3700]

So long as you remember that the suffering of Palestinian people is due to Hamas who control and rule by fear.

[@Anemoia100]

@@pmarsh3700Typical. Blame the oppressed for fighting their oppression. You people never want to deal with the root of the problem…zero accountability, hypocrisy and moralising is the western way.

[@douglasmacari8707]

⁠​⁠@@pmarsh3700No, "the suffering of Palestinian people" is due entirely to the ongoing daily brutality and barbaric occupation of the apartheid state of Israel's illegal occupation of Palestinian land.

[@pmarsh3700]

@@douglasmacari8707 Hamas also placing pressure on the Palestinian people ruling through force and fear, after all, Hamas is a terrorist organisation!

[@RelvazPvP]

A balanced opinion is a dangerous and difficulty thing to have these days. When you don't fall into either camp , you become the enemy of both.

[@theotheoth]

James, I have to tell you that the censorship you describe has been very much present -- at least to my ears -- right here on LBC the last few days, particularly on Shelagh and Nick's shows, where anyone trying to voice any concern for innocent Palestinians have been talked over and pretty much hounded off the phone line. I listen to LBC a lot and feel very let down. I do hope LBC forwards this and you respond. I think I would've phoned in today to (try to) tell you this, but I was off looking for a less partial source of information.

[@angelahayes24]

The Richie Allen show last night's was excellent.

[@theotheoth]

@@angelahayes24 thanks, looking for it....

[@angelahayes24]

@@theotheoth you won't be sorry,pod bean but live in the week on his own website.

[@leonbell5141]

Same LBC calling for vaccine mandates and demonising Anti Vaxers….LBC is a woke establishment channel…with very little credibility 👎🏾

[@leonbell5141]

Lbc sensor callers all the time if you go against the messaging you don’t get on…or won’t be aloud back on the station….not really a free speech channel just part of the MSM propaganda 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@chrishowells4474]

Gaza is a Concentration Camp. Every discussion should have this fact as its basis.

[@Bosie24]

The innocents who had no part to play are dying indiscriminately 😱😰💔

[@karinaz8756]

Israel has killed more children in the last 11 days than Russia has killed in Ukraine all year. Notice the difference in the messaging.

[@richardbradbury3658]

Finally the penny drops. Two day ago, you hounded those making exactly this point and somehow tried to insist that these tragedies could be taken out of context. You consistently insulted, overtalked and shut down every voice who tried to point out that this was the inevitable next step which was being stirred up by this representation. Nice one pandering to the hawks there. I would suggest your awkwardness expressing equal sympathy comes from trying to square that circle internally. I would also suggest this is a time to reassess your views on Corbyn since the majority of claims regarded so-called antisemiticism stem from his long term efforts to negotiate peace in this area led to an expulsion of all those concerned that something like this was building from the Labour Party. How exactly do people expect to avert conflict if you do not enter into direct debate with both sides of the issue? The anti-Corbyn campaign has damaged this necessary diplomatic position significantly and led to the expulsion on the Left simply for showing concern about the lives of Palestinians, and dramatically imbalance the political; debate in this country. How to be Right about everything takes on a whole new emphasis when your views are regarded this way.

[@orangutanfan3179]

I remember him making a show recently lamenting his own bloodthirsty reaction to 9/11, seemed like he didn't really learn anything.

[@kyojaysin1470]

Now this is such a poignant well written post

[@richardbradbury3658]

@@kyojaysin1470 Thankyou.

[@pimpzmobi]

Well said!

[@Anemoia100]

💯

[@anthonythompson1680]

We all know that the value of a child's life is based on the shade of the child's skin .It shouldn't be so and people will deny it even to themselves, yet we all know that's the truth.

[@nutcracker2916]

And/ or what religious cult the poor child is born into.

[@ShropshireFox]

Projection more like.

[@Anemoia100]

We in global south have always known this. Our lives are worth less to the the pampered princes & princesses of the west…

[@rory644]

@@Anemoia100we in global?? I don’t understand your comment

[@anthonythompson1680]

@@ShropshireFoxThere’s evidence all over the world. Honest people wouldn’t deny that obvious fact. Maybe you are hiding from yourself. Look at the UK’s response to the Ukrainians compared to all other refugees.

[@paulbird3235]

This is NOT just about punishing hamas, this is about punishing the citizens of Gaza.

[@alansmith4655]

War crimes. Siege and collective punishment are war crimes.

[@jamespaul6315]

Hamas is the government there though

[@DoubleMartiniTv]

@@jamespaul6315I suppose you’re a die hard conservative supporter?

[@jamespaul6315]

@@DoubleMartiniTv and im pretty sure they said aid would be allowed once hostages were freed, which is fair

[@tomtheeagle1]

If they were "citizens" they would have rights that are currently denied them en masse.

[@tawAAkul]

Whats frustrating is that everyone is talking about what Israel are NOW doing in retaliation rather than what they have been doing for 50 years

[@alansmith4655]

Israels response is disgusting.

[@KingofEverything1]

And yet people like James Obrien and our entire media still support Zionism. That's the real disgusting thing here

[@Anemoia100]

⁠@@MrD-yb7pyNo no it IS Apartheid Israel’s response. Do you think they haven’t been killing Palestinians indiscriminately since it’s conception? Wake up!!

[@chatham43]

....don't be simplistic...you're better than that...!

[@KingofEverything1]

@@chatham43 Its not simplistic it is the truth. Stop trying to pretend there is nuance here because there isn't. Zionism and its control over our societies is something that needs to be challenged

[@JimChap]

What reaction should Israel have had in your opinion?

[@SamSam-yb3ls]

It's been a hard old week forJames - had to turn him off at the beginning as he was so incredibly emotional and beyond impatient with anyone who tried to explain this decades old (maybe even centuries old) conflict didn't just start with Oct 6/7 2023. He's compassionate and human, moved by all the deaths, but didn't understand what israel had done, are doing and will do to millions of Palestinians under the pretext of trying to wipe out Hamas - happens almost yearly and the end result is that Israeli innocents perish also. It's also maddening and saddening that the Western media has reacted in the same way they did after 9/11 and are paving the way for the same kind of propaganda that led to the Iraq war. I would urge caution and wariness with the language used - particularly as Palestinian civilians aren't terrorists, they're prisoners with no way out.

[@mogznwaz]

They have a way out - stop supporting Hamas and the bombing of Israel

[@ryaneylee]

it's also worth noting a lot of the Palestinian civilians (and sympathizers overseas who are now in the news for anti-Semitic attacks in western countries) celebrated, and some still celebrating, the initial success of the Hamas terrorists at murdering civilians (including children) in Israel during their invasion. In face of such celebrations, it's not hard to imagine political leaders in Israel see them as complicit in the terrorism and deserving of the siege. Israel's disproportionate response (which i have got a conspiracy theory that perhaps certain far-right elements allowed the Hamas attacks to initially succeed with the degree they did, in order to push and unite Israel towards the far-right given the recent few years of political turmoil), and Palestinian and pro-Palestinian sympathizers' almost gleeful celebrations of the Hamas killings, and now fanatical anti-semitic attacks throughout the West, are both reprehensible.

[@GrantLeeEdwards]

Wish I’d seen your comment before winding myself up in a similar direction. 🙂 Well said.

[@GrantLeeEdwards]

@@ryaneyleeIt’s actually not worth pointing out. Oppressed people generally hate their oppressors. What’s reprehensible is to muse out loud about how this fact lends even the slightest shred of legitimacy to the war crimes being carried out at this very moment.

[@ryaneylee]

@@GrantLeeEdwards i just find it disingenuous by many to solely focus on the excesses of Israeli response without keeping in mind that the Hamas attacks that triggered it did not have legitimate military objectives whether tactically or strategically. No one is thinking there's any legitimacy to the excesses of Israeli response here.

[@jpjordan90]

If children dying in Gaza are 'collateral damage' of Hamas actions, are children dying in Israel also collateral damage of Israel's occupation and continuous actions over decades? We can't take this event in isolation.

[@belindamay8063]

@jpjordan. In regular war, the sufferings of children are, in a sense, unavoidable. Not the best word, perhaps - but their pain is not a “war aim”. Terrorism is different. It knows no law and it has no rules. No limits. No treaties. No mercy. Suffering (in the Other) is an occasion for joy. That is why they target children - it doubles the pain because it breaks the parents as well.

[@diptidinesh1886]

Children as collateral damage ....that is a barbaric statement

[@thevillagebrand1893]

Thanks 👍 agreed

[@adamlasry5225]

End the occupation

[@yellow1one]

Your feeling are not controversial. They are humane. Your Irish blood understands the struggle against an overwhelming colonial power that can decree you are a terrorist simply because you object to their occupation of you land. No we do not condone terrorism. We do not condone the attacks by Hamas. We utterly condemn attacks upon civilians wherever they be. We just simply understand what an injustice is despite the overwhelming propaganda machine that will tell us it is just about anything but what it is.

[@gerryh8367]

I'm horrified with the slaughter on both sides....... this needs to stop

[@gigiinspired780]

🙏🏽

[@Paul_C]

Well, follow the money!

[@mh8826]

I respect that he started out this whole mess disappointingly but has gotten better the past few days

[@amcc5887]

Agree 💯% was initially disappointed with j o b , however Ido think he's had a rethink

[@Forksake82]

​@@amcc5887a much needed rethink

[@idrinkcoffeeandknowthings]

​@@amcc5887🎉🎉🎉 i can listen to him

[@rayg4360]

gotten = has improved

[@jamespaul6315]

How so was he disappointing?

[@julielevinge266]

Many Israelis don’t agree with the occupation. Saw a film made at turn of century 1900 all were living peacefully side by side! I think the interference of politicians has created this humanitarian crisis! So very,very tragic! Civilians on both sides just want peace ☮️♥️

[@user-em6ie2be7x]

James you always keep things 💯 & a majority of people would rather be lied to than be told the harsh real truths. Honestly The UK is lucky to have you.

[@gigiinspired780]

Facts

[@joshevans4663]

No. No it's not, people like him are why we're sleepwalking into Lebanon 2.0

[@leonbell5141]

Yeah same James who loves Khan…gave him a platform for ulez…says it all really got no time for either after that 👎🏾

[@Mary-lx3zs]

Are you having a laugh

[@AZBCDE]

Why does James think the Daily Mail is a reliable source of information? It’s as reliable as The Sun

[@PaulK-ve1pu]

It's reliable alright. If you like your news hate filled and without a shred of humanity.

[@chatham43]

...or the guardian...totally agree...!

[@matthewevans107]

Without context the statement is 100% correct and shouldn’t be controversial. With context why it may be “controversial” is that over the past 15 years the death rate of the conflict is 24:1. If a Palestinian child death was the same as that of an Israeli child we’d have had this debate almost twice a year for the past fifteen years but we don’t. We are having this conversation after an atrocity committed against Israel, we don’t have this media coverage when it goes the other way.

[@mattwhite4971]

Wait… didn’t this all start because of British colonialism.

[@martincook1412]

Thank you for showing your humanity. I think this is something that has been severely lacking in the media, and the dialogue in general. Especially among the politicians. I've just seen them grandstanding and coming out with platitudes. Its been awful

[@lonetobefree5722]

I've had the same thing James. People telling me I'm a coward for not "choosing" a side. My heart goes out to the families and children who've been devastated by these heinous crimes. I stand in solidarity with the children of Israel & Palestine Russia and Ukraine and the world over who suffer at the hands of war and terrorism & crimes alike.

[@ibrahim-sj2cr]

its only cowardly if youre a knowledgeable person

[@stevepipenger4651]

I keep asking myself if there will come a time when everyone will just get tired of seeing so much death and hatred.

[@Anemoia100]

The choice is easy actually…you chose the side of the oppressed and not the oppressors… when the brutal apartheid occupation ends this will stop and not a second before.

[@s.choudhury616]

Mr O’Brien, You are the only human in LBC who is not afraid to speak up, all others are cowards, sad but true. 🙏🏻

[@eds-egg]

O' Brien was a coward during Covid, the only presenter brave enough to question the official narrative was Maajid Nawaz, and he got the sack for his efforts.

[@chatham43]

....and you're not a coward thank goodness....

[@Ztandard32]

Well done James, you are one of the few presenters at LBC who isn't afraid to care for both sides.

[@RelvazPvP]

Israel literally said "mowing the grass' when questioned about air strikes, if that's not a total disregard for life and their view of palenstinians being less then human, then im not sure what to say.

[@mickreaddin4979]

It shouldn't be controversial to be concerned with the death of men, woman and children... BUT!? Political leaders are finding it very easy to critise Hammas, but very very difficult to critise the stance taken by the Israeli government. Laying a siege is against international law, this is an indisputable fact. Yet I have witnessed multiple politicians of all stripes fail to recognise this fact.

[@malcolmclarke3033]

This kind of war is one that no one wins

[@__-bk6mm]

The Welsh gentleman caller talking about seagulls was a much-needed bit of light and levity, I'm glad he called in.

[@martinscase3904]

My respect for James has risen massively through all this. Treading the razor narrow path with great bravery and honesty. Bless him.

[@A2Z1Two3]

It’s ok to be equally regretful of INNOCENT lives being lost on either side . The terrorist lives lost are not to be in any way regretted .

[@D4nnyC4tz]

You don't think it's equally tragic that any one person can end up being a terrorist? That there are so many ways that people can become radicalised to the point where they would commit these atrocities? I dont side with murderers but writing them off instead of considering the set of circumstances that led to them becoming that way is as short sighted as taking a side when considering these mass deaths.

[@Yahoo273]

But Israel is free to go about as usual terrorising Palestinian people in their own lands but you don’t call them terrorists?

[@nigelbenn4642]

And those lives lost that were IDF? Same? I think so there's no difference between Hamas and IDF, both terrorists.

[@FourLightsOfficial]

No love for Nelson Mandela then!

[@nigelbenn4642]

@@FourLightsOfficial Hey quiet sensible logic boy there's no room for your thinking here.

[@cameronpearce5943]

After the showings of your colleagues you're the only reason I stay subscribed to this channel

[@raminheydari1994]

Free Palestine

[@jeffsimon9594]

🥱

[@commonsense9176]

My father had a saying People don't start wars only governments

[@mohamudnur8615]

MI6 Interpol Mossad Cia didn't knew anything all of a sudden hmmmm

[@epiphanyx3705]

yeah 9/11 all over again.

[@lovesees4320]

F it! Im gonna try again to meditate ... I'm being shredded by the State, cos I got kids, They've been failing for 8 years. Every time I get up they send me back into fight or flight...I've yet to hold me self in calm...I just go into warrior mode..makes for polar opposite of gentle patient nurturing Mum😔 They keep poking, I keep jumping. They wont stop, somehow I must! Self mastery is my only way out...the Universe is saying Learn this & it wont end until I do. But blessed still to not be in Gazza tonight🕊

[@peppertennis]

Notice that Mr O’Brien has changed his tune since Monday He needed to Was going to lose a lot of listeners with his closed view on the whole dreadful situation

[@livingnaturally6761]

It was fantastic to be awarded the Ray Liota earlier this month, thanks James!

[@modestproposal9114]

Earlier in the week JOB was dismissive and dripping with distain for anyone who showed any empathy with Palestinians.

[@valeriemahabir7997]

Meeting violence with violence will not work. Surely the history of the region since 1948 illustrates that?

[@denisesf5]

As always, looking forward to JOB's intelligent and thoughtful musings. Love from Canada 🇨🇦

[@Dynasty1818]

I think you mean cynical, whining, negative.

[@hellious7670]

@@Dynasty1818Yeah, why isn't he upbeat about war! Oh wait.

[@kvkv7423]

Also a bit sensitive for Britain, given its involvement in the creation of this mess historically

[@McDUBBOY]

it is a war crime ,,but nothing will be done ,,

[@brianc4594]

O'Brien, you spoke well here

[@nimoy212]

I've never seen someone self- edit, hesitate and quiver over saying the most basic truths. What's happend to you James? Producer's standing by wagging their fingers. You feel its controversial to say that Palestinians do not deserve to die en mass because EVERY and ANY opinion is classed as anti semitic. Simple

[@jacsavickas9822]

The Brits weren't bombing Ireland? Well why did no one tell the UVF/LVF?

[@TheJackb45]

But still knowledgeable enough to come on the radio with opinion's on a conflict half a world away....

[@linkuptvr7240]

I think what is happening is, people are realising the context of the issue rather than an isolated incident and making a more informed assessment of the issue. I came into this issue with a completely unbiased perspective.I have come to the conclusion that I stand with the people of Palestine. I also don’t agree with the actions of Hamas .

[@normanclark933]

I remember Munich, Achille Lauro, PLO etc., etc. This goes back a long, long way. The problem has and has always been a question of religion. I spent three years working around the ME and the hate of Israel was visceral and ONLY because they had a different religious view. People forget that were Palestinian members in the Israeli Government. This is really not political but religious bigotry - and yes the Orthodox and Ultra Orthodox Jews are just as bad.

[@linkuptvr7240]

@@normanclark933 I understand and sympathise however it is simply inconceivable to me that a people who were hated and discriminated against actively choose to oppress others. I just don’t understand how I have researched and found that 70% of the West Bank has been occupied by illegal Israeli settlers who kick out and dislocate Palestinians who have lived there for generations. Religion is one thing however humanity is another. As a human you should look and feel empathy for someone not because they’re the same ethically or religiously but as a living breathing person who is exactly like you. I wish the Israeli people and government stood against this apartheid long ago as people who were oppressed. History is repeating itself unfortunately. This time it is the Israelis who are the nazis and the Palestinians are the Jews. It is a complete waste

[@markrhoden68]

I find myself thinking "OMgosh what did Hamas think the Israelis would do" Then I think "what is the end game for the Israeli" I wonder is this the end of Palestine as a country and by default the expansion of Israel as we've seen over a number of decades, will Israel forces just stop when they think "ok that's enough" I really wonder where this ends

[@SoulBrotherB]

They want Al-aqsa and to gain that they probably thought nothing of letting a few of them die.

[@shinjy07]

Thank you James for standing in this space. It felt lonely for while.

[@PaulOfScotland]

You are absolutely right…

[@Martinbeef]

I blame Israel for this. I think they have oppressed the Palestinians for so long that something like this was bound to happen. I feel so sorry for the people of Gaza, not Hamas. I think they are the innocent party.

[@MrXyzzy99]

Takes huge gymnastics to support the invader in Israel and the invaded in Ukraine.

[@alanbeaumont4848]

Not really. Israel continually steals land from the Palestinians.

[@paynelesor3940]

3 days, all it took was 3 days for a full 180 turn about in opinions. I understand that it’s hard to form cogent opinions in the moment, but I fear that like everybody else, James made the slip up of immediately jumping to conclusions. Journalistic professionalism is a fine line to tread, but it’s disappointing to see who could be considered “a reasonable voice” take an immediate side. I acknowledge the “I don’t like the term sides” argument, but that’s what James did. Let’s not far and feather those who make mistakes, as has been the motto “compassion for the conned, contempt for the conman”. Let’s just hope he rectified it and learns from it.

[@michaelk.jensen1611]

There will always be more confusion and failure to communicate, in such in event where we are stretched to the limit of our human capabilities emotionally. To me this is a natural occurrence in the immediate time frame, and i try and withhold judgement, which is extra hard in such circumstances. So if you say something that sounds horrific i dont judge you immediately in these days. I might say something i didnt think through, because we dont have time to walk through all context and information, because Israels response is happening right now!

[@paynelesor3940]

@@michaelk.jensen1611 the only issue I have, is that he fell for the trick that he warned everyone else about. I understand it’s hard to grasp facts in the moment. Just disappointed that the clarity he so often speaks with was lapsed for even a moment. It just goes to show how hard it is to make proper informed decisions on the fly.

[@leonbell5141]

He won’t learn from it James is led by the wokesters and will make the same mistakes 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@trisF1981]

Thanks for speaking up ❤️

[@adliberate]

There is a lack of perspective in the whole of humanity. 25000 people die through starvation and dehydration every day.

[@breakingbadheisenberg9703]

We all know who actually pays the price! Hamas leaders & planners are long gone from Gaza .

[@JackHGUK]

Why do so many people call up without any idea of the history.

[@pcat1378]

If you are supporting either side, I believe you would be one of those easily led people that could be easily persuaded to commit war crimes. Just like across all wars normal people were found to be able to commit and justify some of the worst war crimes ever. Its simple... BOTH SIDES ARE WRONG AND EVIL.

[@kjpcrow]

😊

[@bsahmed1]

It is not what you know, it is what you could have known if you wanted to know. Please search for the truth. It is very easy to find it and once you do, you will be liberated from all biases and prejudice. There was peace and security in Palestine until the Zionist European invaders stole the land from the natives. Advice them to go back to their countries and leave the poor people alone. The last paradox is that the tale of Palestine from the beginning until today is a simple story of colonialism and dispossession, yet the world treats it as a multifaceted and complex story hard to understand and even harder to solve.

[@zerothehero2579]

You think through more than most people! You mean you realised that not everybody was following the media and government’s stance. And probably losing subscribers by the bucket load.

[@normanclark933]

Yet you are still here having a smug moment?

[@rustynail1194]

Does this mean I can start listening to JOB again?

[@idrinkcoffeeandknowthings]

Hahaha omg same here i evem had tickets to his show lol im just reading the comment section but i havent listened to this clip please i would appreciate it so much if you give me a summary of whats been said..

[@belindamay8063]

@@idrinkcoffeeandknowthings What a cheek ! Do your own home-work, or you’ll find yourself in detention.

[@mobsiesixsixsix9785]

Now this is more like it.

[@idrinkcoffeeandknowthings]

Can start listening to james again

[@Mary-lx3zs]

Does O'Brien just talk to himself

[@rayg4360]

Teeth survive when the skeleton does not ! Sugar is the problem today

[@cgdimension]

its alarming how supportive the UK and US are for the Israeli government militarily, no hesitation in their response despite what unfolds as over a million civilians are under threat. The Israelis call it their 9/11, but the casualties on that day paled to that of the following military reactions, and we are still investigating the war crimes from those reactions by the US and UK

[@mickmen8630]

It’s their 9/11 as they organised / manipulated it as well.

[@cgdimension]

@@mickmen8630 not sure I'd go that far, maybe just didn't act to prevent with advanced knowledge, like leaving the castle doors open knowing a seige is coming

[@flatdweller]

Loved the BAGELS joke 😂🤣😂

[@Hacxz]

You sense where Allison is going and cut her off by telling her what she should focus on. Yet, just moments ago you affirm "I don't mind, as long as you're honest". Clearly you're not very honest yourself, Mr O'Brien, it's super clear you favor one side - best to just come out and say it rather than virtue signalling mate.

[@belindamay8063]

@Hacxz. On the contrary, I think O’Brien is blazingly honest in a debate that is characterised by self-deception and hysteria.

[@dillz3153]

All our lives we are taught "cause & effect" Newtons third law "for evry action (force) in nature there is an equal and opposite reaction" something as small as your car engine light comes on - reaction - your car doesn't drive as smoothly as it once did. From every movie we watch, to every scientific experiment cause and effect takes centre stage. However the Palestine vs Isreal conflict seems to be the only subject that I can think of where the cause is whitewashed and the main focus of every media outlet seems to be focused on the effect. The pain and suffering of the Palestinian people for the past 50+ years, the fact that 2 million plus people are living in an open cage prison for the past 15 years with everything from water, food, electricity and medical supplies being controlled by 1 state, and them alone choosing when they want to give access to any of the above just mentioned. Palestinian land taken by force without any justification or reason on a daily basis. Hundreds of Palestinian people killed or taken to prison each year by the occupiers. Western ideology dictates the occupied should be greatful to the occupiers if they are Arab, Muslim or non white. In one hand we see millions gifted from aid & weapons to Ukraine in their ongoing battle with Russia. The world is outraged by Russias audacity and sheer brazenness to do such a thing in civilised times. yet the same people willingly, not wanting to go against the status quo turn a blind eye to the Palestinian plight. The blatant hypocrisy that only a few can see apprantly. Back to my original point. Anything I said above doesn't matter. According to the world what happened on the 7th October 2023 was only due to a barbaric few that just wanted to cause pain and hardship to their wealthy neighbours. Absolutely nothing to do with anything I mentioned above. Absolutely nothing. If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing. Malcolm X

[@theotheoth]

I'm back, James, to ask: why is the great James O'Brien being so tentative, still tiptoeing around this? 'Fess up.

[@belindamay8063]

@theotheoth. What do you want from him? And why do you want it ? Aren’t your own feelings enough for you ? He is being honest and realistic. While people in general are demanding the impossible - and seeking relief in action.

[@theotheoth]

@@belindamay8063 Thanks for your questions. What I wanted from James is what he again began to deliver the following day (and I put another comment up here to acknowledge that). I think the internet and such (LBC radio, the occasional film or novel, etc) are here precisely because we need corroboration that we are not alone in our own thoughts and feelings, that we are not heading straight to the nuthouse, no? James is one of those people I usually feel I can rely on for that. Perhaps I just needed to be more patient, but I've been watching far too many dead babies being pulled out of the rubble over the last week. (By the way, Sangita Myska has been great the last couple of days too.)

[@maqangazamanyezile218]

Thank you James O'Brien for your healthy mental state. The thought of what Israel is doing is devastating 💔to the normal brain😭😭😭😭. The world that we live in is crumbling.

[@idrinkcoffeeandknowthings]

Me too 😢 i feel so so heartbroken :(

[@redordead4491]

Keep talking truths 🔊🔊🔊

[@anfrankogezamartincic1161]

Horrible stuff, i feel for all sides, the collateral especially.

[@redordead4491]

I condemned Hamas and always will but i also condemned IDF!!

[@thevillagebrand1893]

Thanks Alice

[@gigiinspired780]

Everything has to be one side of the other nowadays I mean everything 🙄 no middle ground, no empathy .

[@jamesscurr571]

It's Extremism on both sides so all you can do is to put them on the naughty step

[@Yahoo273]

Palestinian people do not equal Hamas. Stop scqpegoating occupied Palestinians by using extremism. They are occupied and have a right to be free.

[@JohnnyMaverik]

Define the naughty step.

[@daveatkin7557]

Not a biased view for once I actually agreed with him.

[@catherinemurphy1264]

Except on Tuesday you were claiming Israel had its right to revenge. James you led the conversations to ignore the Palestinians. You didn't care which side a child was on.

[@raidermaxx2324]

progressive leftie from across the pond, and im with you 100%

[@CrappyProducts]

Thank you James. Similar to Owen, I'm glad there's voices of reason other than mainstream media

[@idrinkcoffeeandknowthings]

And novara media too

[@BetjeWolff-v2s]

Here in the Netherlands cockels and shells are sold in the supermarket under the name zeevruchten = seafruit. Simple mix up with seafood ?

[@rhall579]

The FA should have projected images of both Palestinian and Israeli children. That would be the most appropriate support, wouldn't you agree?

[@rollovaughan]

So far, five minutes in, having been someone who really has disagreed with James on everything I am with him on his journey navigating these times.

[@gertstronkhorst2343]

While you're engaged in your more or less abstract thoughts, what do you think Israel should do to get the hostages back?

[@belindamay8063]

@gertsstronkhorst. In other words - cut the debate, get to the action.

[@gertstronkhorst2343]

@@belindamay8063 What action? Killing all Palestinians? They're not human beings?

[@sebraven]

The russia ukraine war has claimed far more than that

[@jakirhossain8409]

Honest, accurate , fair and balanced

[@user-oh7iv3ij5x]

Every country has the right to defend itself it does not have the right to attack or invade another country, Hamas and Israel have committed war crimes by invading attacking each other.the Uk should call for a ceasefire.

[@johndewhurst6609]

In old times a copper was someone who "copped" people arrested as we now say.

[@TromaDogg]

Part of the problem is that as soon as Hamas murdered innocent civilians, a large portion of the 'pro-Palestine movement immediately took to social media and even the streets to actually celebrate it. You can't pretend that was just people exercising 'free speech', it was people who were literally gleeful that innocents had been slaughtered and wanting to 'rub it in the face' of other Jewish people living around the world (who have no part in this), the vast majority of the victims as James says here will have never held a weapon in anger in their lives. Anybody who was taking any kind of delight in the deaths, rapes and murders of innocent men, women and children last week and refusing to acknowledge that what Hamas comitted was an unjustifiable atrocity or an act of terrorism (and their are numerous social media posts and videos that prove exactly that) is massively hypocritical if they suddenly start wringing their hands now just because it's innocents on 'their' side suffering from a similar, unjustifiable atrocity being levelled upon them. By cheering on horrendous acts of violence when it's against people you may not like and refusing to condemn them for what they are, you unfortunately legitimise and give agency to those same kinds of horrific actions to be used by those people in retaliation against even more innocents. Unfortunately, after what I've seen both online and in the streets outside all week I feel there needs to be a shift in the fundamental cultures of both sides involved for this to end, and that's not going to happen for at least a very long time yet.

[@michaelparkinson3439]

Is James on a road trip to Damascus? he has not quite got there but he appears to be on his way!

[@aaronfox6907]

Duude…stay strong!!!

[@eds-egg]

O Brien once balked at the description of illegal asylum seekers coming across the channel in huge numbers as "fighting age men" calling them instead "working age men". I suspect that in the coming weeks and months he will soon realise why the former description was entirely apt.

[@eds-egg]

O Brien frequently says that he shouldn't have to air both sides of an issue and frequently levels criticism at the BBC for the injunction that they must appear "balanced"; in fact he's often proudly told us the reason he was sacked from his short stint on BBC Newsnight was precisely because he found it hard to adhere to the requirement to be balanced. His clamour for BBCesque impartiality now is out of character.

[@variansv]

I think he means/meant when one side is so in the wrong (when its agreed on that its wrong) that the person in the wrong shouldnt have a platform. As it stood after the hamas attack and the initial israeli response, both sides are equally wrong. As this goes on and the isrlaeli response becomes more visicous the ability for one side to defend what they are doing will become less and less.

[@michaelk.jensen1611]

He was talking about a fake balancing act, where you put someone with a controversial opinion or at least to say something controversial up against people with knowledge and considerated difference in opinion, not a knowledgeable person and then the village idiot to argue the other side.

[@nigelknight6688]

Its always the innocent people on both sides who suffer just why carn't they just live next to each other in peace 🙏🙏

[@Barralet58]

Hamas was recently fighting alongside the US against the Syrian Government. Very confusing.

[@mickmen8630]

Follow the money.

[@Barralet58]

@@mickmen8630 👍

[@CharlieWho-q8l]

shame on you james ,for interrogating those who are anti occupation and anti apartheid, you have lost all crediabiliy join all the other right wingers shame on you

[@brizzNcheese]

240 injuries from the concert? Lies!!!!!! Lies! No video of people dead at the concert, just running in the desert. The fighters went into a completely different town.

[@ikke12345]

You are of that kind, are you. You did not personally see a video of it, so it did not happen?

[@brizzNcheese]

@@ikke12345 my reply got deleted. KZbin doing its thing. Those claims were actually walked back by the POS apartheid state. They couldn’t confirm neither could the reporter. The soldier who said it is a documented extremist, which is why he enjoys his time in the IDF.

[@bobbyg309]

Didn't have James down as an 'all lives matter' kinda guy 🤣

[@linkuptvr7240]

The Palestinians are the black people right?

[@Dynasty1818]

He's not. As usual he's faking his so-called empathy.

[@SorbusAucubaria]

@@Dynasty1818 what? How do you know he is faking his empathy?

[@alanbeaumont4848]

You don't listen very hard then.

[@DennisMoore664]

Pardon me showing my age; I am reminded of the classic by Martin Gore and performed by Depeche Mode-- "People are people, so why should it be? You and I should get along so awfully So, we're different colors and we're different creeds And different people have different needs It's obvious you hate me, though, I've done nothing wrong I've never even met you, so, what could I have done? I can't understand What makes a man Hate another man Help me understand"

[@jeffsimon9594]

Ah yes that overrated band that just will not go away