Biblical Twitter cringe? Cenk Uygur excommunicated by pundits after saying Israel/Palestine conflict is fight over best ‘Sky God’
Cenk Uygur, founder of the Young Turks news network, has been accused of airing exceptionally subpar political analysis after suggesting that the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is over fictitious deities.
Like many commentators, the popular liberal pundit took to Twitter to share his views on the ongoing unrest in the Middle East.
“Israelis & Palestinians kill each other over which Sky God they pretend to speak to and it’s politically incorrect to point out there is no Human God, let alone one that favors Jews or Muslims,” he mused on Monday night. “All this violence over the equivalent of which character they like better in the MCU,” Uygur wrote, apparently comparing believing in a higher power to obsessing over the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Israelis & Palestinians kill each other over which Sky God they pretend to speak to and it's politically incorrect to point out there is no Human God, let alone one that favors Jews or Muslims. All this violence over the equivalent of which character they like better in the MCU.
— Cenk Uygur (@cenkuygur) May 25, 2021
But the analogy didn’t sit well with many on social media. Numerous blue checkmarks expressed disbelief that Uygur thought of the conflict in such seemingly simplistic terms.
Wow. Delete, apologize, then talk to Palestinians & anti-apartheid Jewish/Israeli activists. I can also recommend some good books. For decades Palestinians have been saying this is not religious conflict yet you ignore and amplify framing of religious zealots?
— Huwaida Arraf (@huwaidaarraf) May 25, 2021
“You ever feel like you should leave a tweet in the drafts overnight, and see how you feel about it in the morning?” asked a top reply to his poorly received post.
You ever feel like you should leave a tweet in the drafts overnight, and see how you feel about it in the morning?
— Q. Anthony (FKA Andray Domise) 🇵🇸 (@andraydomise) May 25, 2021
Journalist Aaron Mate seemed similarly unimpressed by Uygur’s insight.
“My God tells me that this is the worst tweet of all time,” he joked.
My God tells me that this is the worst tweet of all time.
— Aaron Maté (@aaronjmate) May 25, 2021
Others said the tweet seemed to be inspired by Richard Dawkins-esque militant atheism.
This tweet has some serious Richard Dawkins energy to it.
— Alan MacLeod (@AlanRMacLeod) May 25, 2021
What the hell is this 2007 edge lord tweet.
— Sana Saeed (@SanaSaeed) May 25, 2021
The wave of criticism prompted the Young Turks host to issue a string of follow-up tweets.
He acknowledged that the conflict is “more about land, power & colonialism” while doubling down on his hot take on religion.
“[If] you think both sides don’t fervently believe they’re supported by the Sky God & that doesn’t also drive them, you’re kidding yourself,” he argued.
Is this more about land, power & colonalism? Of course. I already had and won that debate with Sam Harris many years ago. But if you think both sides don't fervently believe they're supported by the Sky God & that doesn't also drive them, you're kidding yourself. #FreePalestine
— Cenk Uygur (@cenkuygur) May 25, 2021
Uygur isn’t the only prominent figure to find himself in the center of controversy for sharing his views on the divisive issue. Actor Mark Ruffalo issued an apology on Twitter for making statements against Israeli policy towards the Palestinians, saying that he was wrong to suggest the Jewish State was carrying out “genocide.”
Also on rt.com TYT’s Cenk Uygur & ex-TYT Jimmy Dore clash over calls for Democrats to force Medicare for All vote by threatening PelosiThink your friends would be interested? Share this story!
