Great article Aza! Thanks for writing this.

One thing that has been very painful (yet enlightening) for me is slowly coming to the realization that far from my country (USA) being a beacon of 'hope' or democracy (like what we are taught in school), it is - in reality - the perpetrator of some of the worse violence inflicted on the world in the quest for empire, and to expand its hegemony. It has taken the baton from the British Empire and has ran with it in new horrifying extremes.

Getting people to realize the true evil at the core of US/Western empire can feel like shouting at a brick wall. US/Western propaganda is the most sophisticated ever developed and it is all-consuming. However, it's encouraging to find writing such as yours that is attempting to shed light on some of the innumerable horrors Western empire and capitalism has unleashed on humanity.

I've also experienced some of the same emotions and thoughts/feelings attending various rallies and protests. I think it's a good sentiment and probably serves some usefulness in demonstrating that there are a significant and growing number of people who oppose Western imperialism. I think it can also serve as an important means of finding and forming networks with other like-minded people.

However, as we are seeing, our respective countries (US, UK) are not really democracies. The true power is privately held, and important decisions made in private. We might have some political freedoms and political democracy in the west, but little economic democracy or say.

I think one of the most effective immediate actions that could at least lessen the ferocity of the assault on the people of Gaza, is for the US and other Western countries to halt arms shipments. Some have. I think Canada, Germany, Spain and Italy have all announced restrictions or limitations on further arms deals. However, it will take a lot more than protesting for this to happen in the US. I think what it will take is mass mobilization of unions and workers to literally stop production and shipment of the arms. The people have to take these matters into our own hands at some point if meaningful actions is to occur, because clearly our governments never will. They serve the interests of private capital and empire, which are diametrically opposed to ours as working class people - regardless of whether you are American, British, Israeli, or Palestinian.

I'm also encouraged by the bravery of many Israeli citizens and those of the Jewish faith around the world (even some former IDF soldiers and intelligence officers, who have broken ranks and become peace activists). They too are speaking out against the US/West-backed policies and wars of the state of Israel. I think its important to convey that our struggle is not with them, but against a Zionist ideology married with Western imperialism that's used to enslave us all - and with particular ferocious violence towards the Palestinians and others in the global South and nations that are exploited for imperial gain.

Ultimately, a Palestinian, an Israeli worker, and a US/UK working-class citizen have far more in common than we do with the ruling class/leadership of our respective countries. They use war to divide, conquer, enslave and kill us in the service of their system. I have more in common with a Palestinian than I do a US billionaire or Netenyahu. Our fates are more closely linked than what many realize. I hope that more people begin to realize this - to realize that unless you are a member of the billionaire ruling class - you too are Palestinian (so to speak). The same violence that's being meted out towards them will be turned on us in the blink of an eye if/when it serves their interests to do so. The weaponry and surveillance tactics being perfected to oppress the Palestinians are a mere testing ground for the same systems that can and will be employed against anyone else in the world who stands in the way of capitalistic imperial ambition.

It's great to see Caitlin Johnstone mentioned! I've been an avid reader of hers for a couple of years now, and she has an excellent way of explaining the true nature of Western/US empire. She also does not mince words.

A couple of other books I've read that helped open my eyes to the reality of the US hegemony and imperialism:

The Triumph of Evil: The Reality of the USA's Cold War Victory (Austin Murphy)

America's Deadliest Export Democracy: The Truth about US Foreign Policy and Everything Else (William Blum)

Blum has a few other titles (like "Killing Hope") which I have yet to read. His perspective is interesting. He's a former employee of the US State Department that became disillusioned with the reality and horrors of US foreign policy. He was forced to resign after becoming involved with the anti-war movement during the Vietnam War. He is a fierce critic and writes candidly about the terrible regimes and wars the US has backed throughout the decades.