Omar El Akkad : One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This
Feb 21, 2025
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Omar El Akkad, an award-winning novelist and journalist known for "American War," dives deep into his provocative nonfiction debut, which critiques Western complicity in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He discusses his impactful transition from journalism to fiction, revealing how contemporary crises shaped his writing. The conversation addresses the moral responsibilities of writers and the complexities of language in discussing violence, exploring how liberalism often sanitizes injustice. El Akkad also critiques the narratives of the American dream, highlighting the need for authentic storytelling amidst oppression.
Omar El Akkad's recent experiences have led him to critique the West's notions of humanism and liberalism through his nonfiction work.
The podcast emphasizes how historical narratives of collective action illustrate the power of community in resisting oppression and violence.
Engaging with literature enables deeper understanding of historical injustices, linking personal narratives to broader socio-political contexts for contemporary audiences.
Language is examined as both a tool of concealment and revelation, where responsible use can articulate the harsh realities of oppression.
Deep dives
The Concept of Eternal Recurrence
The idea introduced is that life may be lived repeatedly, raising existential questions about how individuals perceive their experiences. The challenge posed is profound, asking whether one would embrace their life positively or view it as a curse if forced to relive it endlessly. This philosophical inquiry connects to Nietzsche's thoughts on eternity and personal fulfillment. Engaging with this idea can compel listeners to appreciate the present and rethink their life choices.
Coping Through Narrative and Solidarity
In difficult times, connecting with narratives of mutual aid and solidarity can be a source of comfort and strength. Examples shared include historical instances where collective action has made a difference, such as the French sheep farmers resisting colonization. Personal stories, like that of an ANC supporter who helped create safe spaces during apartheid, underscore the impact of grassroots efforts. These anecdotes illustrate the power of community and collective resilience in the face of challenges.
The Burden of History and Literature
Engaging with literature that reflects on shared struggles can foster a deeper understanding of historical injustices. Conversations with authors and their works illuminate issues like colonialism and the socio-political impact of personal narratives. This exploration serves to connect contemporary experiences with historical contexts, making past struggles relevant to today’s audience. Such dialogues enrich literary discussions, providing insights into how literature can advocate for change.
Omar El-Aqad's Literary Journey
Omar El-Aqad is noted for his transition from journalism to fiction, capturing significant historical moments through his writing. His debut novel, 'American War,' is recognized as prescient, linking current political challenges to potential future consequences. This trajectory continues with his second novel, 'What Strange Paradise,' which addresses the refugee crisis through the lens of a young boy's survival. His works reflect a deep engagement with pressing societal issues, demonstrating the importance of storytelling in understanding human experiences.
Navigating the Narrative of Violence
The narrative surrounding violence and oppression is examined to reveal its profound complexities, particularly within the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. El-Aqad emphasizes the distinction between moral arguments against violence and the pragmatic realities of power dynamics involved. The discourse addresses how acts of resistance are often criminalized while the suffering they emerge from remains obscured. This perspective encourages critical reflections on narratives and their role in shaping public consciousness.
Language as a Tool for Truth and Silence
Language is critiqued as a powerful mechanism that can both conceal horrors and expose truths. The conversation highlights how sanitizing language can distort perceptions of violence and suffering. By confronting this 'linguistic malpractice', writers can reclaim their agency to articulate the reality of oppression without the filter of polite discourse. This insistence on honest representation drives home the importance of using language responsibly in the pursuit of justice.
Exploring the Concept of Love Amidst Conflict
The role of love is explored against the backdrop of systemic violence and oppression, illustrating its powerful influence on human resilience. El-Aqad reflects on how love can manifest even in the most dire circumstances, fostering community and solidarity. This emotional landscape challenges individuals to consider how love can serve as a counterforce to brutality. Ultimately, the narrative emphasizes that love is a transformative force in both personal and collective struggles.
In late October 2023, weeks into Israel’s bombing of northern Gaza, the novelist Omar El Akkad retweeted a video taken by a Gazan man. This video showed a lifeless moonscape with endless empty streets of rubble, every building, one to the next, a hollow blown-out shell of itself. No people, no animals, the only sound the strained breath of this man stumbling through this indiscriminately obliterated city that was once a home. El Akkad captioned his tweet with the words: “One day, when it’s safe, when there’s no personal downside to calling a thing what it is, when it’s too late to hold anyone accountable, everyone will have always been against this” a tweet that has now been viewed over ten million times. Despite El Akkad’s past as a journalist, one who reported on some of the most notorious and fraught moments in recent U.S. history—whether embedded in Afghanistan, down at Guantanamo Bay, or reporting from Ferguson, Missouri—it was the aftermath of October 7th that was a turning point for him in relation to the West and its notions of humanism and liberalism. Together we discuss his debut work of nonfiction that resulted from this, that many characterize as his breakup letter to the West. We look at the role of language in providing cover for the middle, the centrist, the well-meaning liberal to look away and the power of language to create a climate of dehumanization, allowing the unspeakable to seem tragic but necessary.
For the bonus audio archive Omar contributes a reading of one of his favorite poems by Jorie Graham. This joins everyone from Isabella Hammad reading Walid Daqqa to Roger Reeves reading Ghassan Kanafani, to Zahid Rafiq reading Franz Kafka. If you enjoyed today’s conversation consider joining the Between the Covers community as a listener-supporter. You can find out about all the benefits and rewards of doing so, including how to subscribe to the bonus audio, at the show’s Patreon page.
Finally, here is the Bookshop for today’s episode.
