The Majority Report with Sam Seder

2516 - How Gaza Exposed The West’s Moral Rot; NYC’s Left-Wing Uprising w/ Omar El Akkad, Chi Ossé

Jun 11, 2025
Omar El Akkad, an award-winning journalist and novelist, discusses his recent book on the moral failures of Western liberalism regarding the Gaza crisis. He questions the West's inaction amidst ongoing genocide and reflects on personal narratives of identity and conflict. Chi Ossé, a dynamic NYC council member, highlights the left's rising political momentum in the city and shares insights into the innovative campaign strategies of younger politicians. The episode emphasizes social media's role in driving housing activism and community engagement.
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INSIGHT

West as a Harbor from Oppression

  • Omar El Akkad describes his move from Egypt to Qatar and then Canada as a search for freedom from censorship and oppression.
  • His initial view of the West was a negation of repression, but over time, he could no longer ignore its moral failures.
INSIGHT

Moral Break from Compartmentalization

  • Omar El Akkad's ability to compartmentalize atrocities collapsed after October 7th because of intimacy, immediacy, and complicity.
  • Seeing suffering firsthand and acknowledging his tax dollars' role made it impossible to ignore the genocide in Gaza.
INSIGHT

Social Punishment Enables Silence

  • Many in the West pretend Palestinian suffering doesn't happen due to lack of consequences.
  • People face social and professional punishment if they speak openly about the genocide, leading to silence.
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