I have reviewed and praised Viet Thanh Nguyen's novel "The
Sympathizer."
http://artsfuse.org/131825/fuse-book-review-the-sympathizer-the-vietnam-war-split-in-two/
It seems the author now supports the BDS approach to the
issue of Israel and Palestinians.
Let me suggest, though it might take some thought to make
the distinction, that there is a real distinction to be made between supporting
Palestinian rights and supporting BDS.
The latter is full of misconceptions and, alas, some ugly Jew-hatred,
disguised or revived by opposition to Israeli policy.
At its core, as expressed by its chief spokesman, Omar
Barghouti, the goal is not to get back the West Bank in the formation of a
Palestinian State. The goal to treat Israel itself as nothing but an occupying
power of every acre upon which it exists.
This is an unobtainable and self-defeating goal for all
concerned, including, if not mostly, Palestinians.
As for Viet Thanh Nguyen, his novel was distinguished by his
painfully divided sympathies for both sides in the Vietnam War. He despises the
Americans, without quite endorsing their opponents. He is as critical of Ho Chi
Minh Thought as he is of American militarism.
He seems to have dropped that sympathizer status with regard
to Israel and the Palestinians.
Too bad.
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