Every once in a while (all too often I’m afraid) articles come along like this one from today’s Jerusalem Post. While reading them you stare at the page in a cross between utter disbelief and hilarity that someone in a position of authority in the IDF actually believes that the idiocy they’re peddling is a good idea. In this case, Ruth Eglash, the Post’s intrepid “digital media editor” (at least that’s what her Twitter bio states), writes that the IDF is looking for a few thousand good men–and perhaps even a few women. They should be pro-Israel Walter Mitty types who may’ve dreamed of joining the Israeli army but couldn’t either because they’re long in the tooth or wide in the paunch. Now, the hasbara brigade is inviting them to do the next best thing: join the virtual army and play a game called “Israel Ranks“:
It could be the solution that millions of Jews and supporters of Israel worldwide are looking for: A chance to sign up for the Israeli army and help in the fight to defend the Jewish state – virtually.
A new initiative launched this week by the IDF Spokesman’s Office on its blog provides an online option for those cannot or do not want to physically join the army, but nevertheless want to contribute to the well-being and future of the Jewish state.
“Have you ever wanted to join the military and fight to defend Israel?” reads the introduction to “IDF Ranks,” an online game that allows participants to sign up via social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter and earn points by disseminating as much positive information about the army and its activities as possible.
As players earn points, they are rewarded and allowed to move up through the ranks of the IDF, starting with the first level of “Green Private” just for signing up, and moving through to “Skilled Private,” “Veteran Private,” “Specialist Private,” “Green Corporal” and onward, until they pass through 48 different levels and accumulate 1 million points.
Those who are really addicted to social media or are especially dedicated to spreading the views of the IDF can even reach the rank of Lieutenant-General. “All rise for the new Chief of Staff! You’re the commander of the Israel Defense Forces, sir. Salute!” states the text below the game’s final badge of honor.
Listen up there, private! Polish those shoes, clean those fingernails! The sergeant over there will look you over and if you think he’ll accept anything less than your hasbara best you’ve got another thing coming!
Eglash will have to excuse us for taking a different view of this nonsense than hers:
The game, which clearly has super hasbara (public diplomacy) potential, is a brave attempt by the army to harness the power of social media in sending messages and defending the state online.
This we’re led to believe, will make all the difference in convincing the world of the righteousness of Israel’s cause. Play a game and the world will join you in singing Israel’s praises. The cynicism and utter divorce from reality that this represents is mind-boggling. To join this IDF crusade you don’t have to know anything about Israel, you don’t have to have ever fired a shot or been fired upon. You just walk downstairs from the bedroom, fire up the PC and zap those anti-Israel maggots as if it were a Super Mario Brothers game.
I’ve always loved political satirists like Mort Sahl, Dick Gregory and Andy Berkowitz because at times like this the only reasonable response is laughter. Not a belly laugh, but the dark, knowing laugh of sarcasm and satire.
Unlike you of course who has a ton of military experience in Israel (and Mossad/Shin Bet experience) so you can mouth off daily about these subjects.
Stephen Hawking wasn’t present at the Big Bang. Does that mean he has no credibility discoursing on the origins of the universe?
Hi Richard
thank you for all the hard work you do. your decency renews my hope that not all jews are the same. god bless you. just one thing, i wish you could go to iran with me one day so i could show you iran and you could scour every corner you wish and see iran is not one millionth as bad as those warmangerers in israel lead eveyone to believe. i promise you that you will come back, loving iranians.
The only proper response is a counter-game, admittedly devoid of reality or opinion, but something like “Freedom Fight!” in which players advance through insurgent networks by undoing the right wing security state through information dissemination in cyber space. Were it not for legitimate attachment to principles, RS would already be perhaps a “Commandant.” My Commandant!
One does get the feeling that much of cyber space war is actually just so routine and devoid of belief or feeling or facts, for that matter.
This is like those 1930’s Japan-America Friendship badges the Imperial government handed out to Americans who were interested in Japan, promoted Japanese culture, etc.
I heard we would attach those badges to the bombs we dropped on Tokyo….
Hey, we could do an SS version too, right? You could earn a virtual Iron Cross … well, maybe not *you*, Richard …
No comment.
I think you should apply for the ‘virtual hasbarist’ position at the IDF, Richard 🙂
Exposing Israel’s sins and the criminal occupation will ensure that the world will help in ensuring that eventually Israel will be forced to do the right thing. This means that Israel’s long term security will be ensured. If the IDF top brass have any foresight, they’ll realise that if the current status quo continues, Israel will be history in the future.
In this respect you and your ilk would be the best ‘hasbarists’.
If you do apply, let us know what happens 😉
You would hire Richard “and his ilk” to join you? But you get pathetic pay. Consider raising the fee schedule and we will broker the agreement for Richard “and his ilk”.
Richard Silverstein…one of the distressingly few noble Jews willing to stand up to the Zionists.
Not so, there are many of us. I wouldn’t say we’re standing up to the “Zionists” so much as those who are making a mess of things for Israel including some Israelis & some Zionists. OK, many of both!