ammarshk *** This review may contain spoilers ***Norman Finkelstein may indeed be a 'self-made pariah' of his time but this is not in vain and his resonance will likely have a positive enduring influence well beyond his time. Why isn't this obvious to everyone?People can't really find Finkelstein wrong, they just don't want him to speak. Norman here offers informed, truthful discussion and so many people rail against his desire for his clear, open dialogue. It's as though we're so mired in our hypocrisy just speaking the truth is banned. This is a terrible life situation made clear several times in the content of this well-made documentary. This man is tirelessly and unrelentingly committed to logical clarity and humaneness concerning the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Why is that even 'radical' and not common sense?This film about Professor Finkelstein's 'radical' activism has value. Watching and hearing people trying to bring him down It is difficult not to feel extreme disappointment in our fellow man's principles and character, yet despite this I want to dig deep and find more determination for what hope humanity may have left. So there's a notably positive net result to the Professor's cause. I felt a similar mixture of despair and defiance - even faith? - once while visiting the concentration camp memorial in Dachau, Germany. 'We're terrible at our worst, yet we're all One, and must somehow continue as one' was my galvanizing thought about humanity as I wandered, dazed in that horrifying place.Norman Finkelstein has a particular gift - he immediately inspires many people to think and speak, humanely. That's far from a futile waste of anyone's time, and well worth the trouble it gets him.

talktojonas Norman Finkelstein may indeed be a 'self-made pariah' of his time but this is not in vain and his resonance will likely have a positive enduring influence well beyond his time. Why isn't this obvious to everyone?People can't really find Finkelstein wrong, they just don't want him to speak. Norman here offers informed, truthful discussion and so many people rail against his desire for his clear, open dialogue. It's as though we're so mired in our hypocrisy just speaking the truth is banned. This is a terrible life situation made clear several times in the content of this well-made documentary. This man is tirelessly and unrelentingly committed to logical clarity and humaneness concerning the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Why is that even 'radical' and not common sense?This film about Professor Finkelstein's 'radical' activism has value. Watching and hearing people trying to bring him down It is difficult not to feel extreme disappointment in our fellow man's principles and character, yet despite this I want to dig deep and find more determination for what hope humanity may have left. So there's a notably positive net result to the Professor's cause. I felt a similar mixture of despair and defiance - even faith? - once while visiting the concentration camp memorial in Dachau, Germany. 'We're terrible at our worst, yet we're all One, and must somehow continue as one' was my galvanizing thought about humanity as I wandered, dazed in that horrifying place.Norman Finkelstein has a particular gift - he immediately inspires many people to think and speak, humanely. That's far from a futile waste of anyone's time, and well worth the trouble it gets him.

bassammaelborno What a remarkable Being.Resolve such as this unequivocally emanates from a very deep seated sense of Humanity.He unwaveringly challenges with a banner of Morality and Ethics in one hand and Factual Truths in the other.Such a Noble individual, to stand against many of those within his own religious faith, knowing them to be Wrong.This can only be true Righteousness.Whether he is of Jewish faith or not, appears to be far less relevant to him than are his guiding Moral Values and Ethical Principles.His profound sense of Humanity was undoubtedly nurtured early in life by his mother and what she came away with, from her own persecution under the Nazis.Simply put, he is a true Rebel.Much has been written about the 'Humanity of the Rebel' throughout history. Essentially, it is one who selflessly challenges Injustice, regardless.What makes him a Radical however, is not his message, but rather that he does little to self-preserve. So tenaciously committed, is he, to the message, that he has forsaken better judgment when it comes to his own personal needs.Unlike his mentor Chomsky who bucks the establishment from within, he does so from without, and hence, has found himself more ostracized, besieged, and assaulted. This has sadly brought him much personal sacrifice and pain, to say the least.Otherwise as a Rebel, he clearly has no interest in personal empowerment, as evidenced by his plight. He continually and steadfastly reiterates the Truthful Facts as they stand, allowing them to speak for themselves.He is such an extremely well-informed scholar that it has been virtually impossible for anyone to take him on based on the facts, whether in writing or in debate. He consistently attempts to remain intellectually focused and composed, not allowing anyone to derail him, nor deflect and escape his steel-trap mind.To his credit, he has been unwavering in his onslaught against Injustice, in spite of the many risks, hardships and obstacles before him.One can only hope, that in time, he will become more enlightened with regard to the need to effect change from within, however, even if so, it is likely too late, as he has found himself indeed a self-made pariah. Otherwise, he should continue in his noble pursuit of challenging Injustice, and hopefully without any additional peril to himself.Unfortunately, for this Rebel, as with others in history, their goal is never fully accomplished, for Injustice will forever be part of the Human Experience.As with all genuine rebels, he will be hailed and remembered long after he has gone.

njmollo American Radical: The Trials of Norman Finkelstein (2009) is the story of an honest man in an inherently corrupt society.Norman Finkelstein sees the solution to the Palestinian/Israel conflict as a simple one but the issue has become one of revenge. How can the Palestinian ever forget or forgive the daily atrocities committed on mostly innocent people by Israel?The term "holocaust industry" is perfectly applicable to the methods used by Israel to frame themselves as the victims in this particular conflict. Literally millions of dollars every year is paid to firms and media outlets to shape the message, create propaganda and stifle criticism of their unmitigated barbarism on the Palestinian people.What is surprising is that the Jews having suffered so greatly under Naziism would allow themselves to be hijacked into emulating their oppressors rather than becoming an enlightened power for world peace. American Radical: The Trials of Norman Finkelstein (2009) shows clearly the irrational and dishonest behaviour of many spokespeople in support Israel. These talking heads, that included the crudely dishonest Alan Dershowitz, ignore utterly Israel's relentless crimes against humanity and paint a picture of Israel based more on a hyper-reality propagated by the corporate media rather than empirical evidence.Alan Dershowitz's blatant dishonesty and surprising ignorance does not bode well for the future of American academia. His bitterness at being so thoroughly bested and exposed as a fraud by Norman Finkelstein on the program "Democracy Now" resulted in a vile yet successful campaign to ostracise Finkelstein from the American educational system.Norman Finkelstein does only one thing, he tells the truth. The trouble with Finkelstein, is he is able to express his message eloquently and succinctly. In times where Truth is rapidly becoming unknowable due to disinformation, lies and insidious forms of corporate propaganda, Finkelstein and his message is, as he himself states, "a painful pill."