Joe Rogan Experience #2497 - Gad Saad
In a Nutshell
Gad Saad promotes his book *Suicidal Empathy*, arguing it hijacks emotions like parasitic ideas in *The Parasitic Mind*, leading to irrational victim sympathy for criminals, rapists, and terrorists (e.g., excusing repeat offenders or "Queers for Palestine" despite death threats). He critiques unchecked Islamic immigration's expansionist ideology, demographic destiny (e.g., no-go zones at 6-10% Muslim populations), and endemic antisemitism in Muslim societies, drawing from Lebanese Jewish escape and family kidnappings. Israel defends existentially against Hamas barbarism (1:1 civilian-fighter ratio in Gaza per West Point analysis), while US interventions get oversimplified blame; protect Western liberties by rejecting all-religions-equal relativism.
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
Joe Rogan welcomes Gad Saad. Saad announces his new book Suicidal Empathy, referencing the quote "Dying to be kind." The cover features a lamb carrying a sign "Free the wolves." Recent examples of suicidal empathy include the judge sympathizing with the man who attempted to assassinate President Trump, complaining about his windowless room. Rogan sees this as signaling support for the assassin. Another example: a felon of color, recently released, pushed someone in front of a train; the previous victim declined to press charges to avoid putting another black man in prison.
Saad was a visiting scholar at University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) this past year on a two-year leave from his Montreal school. Starting summer, his family is moving permanently to Oxford, Mississippi. He applied for an EB1A visa (extraordinary ability green card) which was approved. He jokes his inner spirit is American and hopes to become a citizen.
Parasitic Mind addressed hijacking the cognitive system with parasitic ideas that impair rational thinking. Suicidal Empathy hijacks the affective (emotional) system. Together, they fully zombify a person, like the wood cricket parasitized by the brain hairworm (neuroparasite). The cricket abhors water but jumps in to drown, allowing the worm to reproduce by exiting its body. This is a neuroparasitology example; Saad extends it to ideas and empathy.
Empathy is vital (e.g., cognitive empathy, theory of mind, absent in autistic children). Problem is excess: too little = psychopathy; too much = suicidal empathy. Aristotle's golden mean applies—sweet spot between extremes.
Blank slate felons: Social constructivism/tabula rasa denies innate differences; all behavior from socialization. Hopeful but inaccurate—ignores genetic proclivities (e.g., NBA players, Einstein, criminals). Leads to endless "second chances" (186th chance) for repeat offenders, excusing them as victims of white supremacist society.
Rogan notes violent criminals (e.g., pushing man in front of train, old man down subway stairs) had horrific childhoods but as adults victimize others. No evidence of successful rehabilitation programs.
Rape Victim Examples
- Norwegian man sodomized by Somali migrant (short sentence, ~3-4 years). Upon rapist's release/deportation to Mogadishu, victim felt guilt that rapist couldn't flourish.
- German woman raped by Arabic/Farsi speakers lied to police, claiming German speakers to avoid marginalizing communities.
Cultural relativism (parasitic idea): Don't judge other cultures (honor killings, child brides, FGM). Leads to impotent immigration policies, assuming all immigrants assimilate equally. No assimilation pressure; e.g., Somali communities in Minnesota where no English spoken, advocating antithetical beliefs (often religion-based, e.g., Islam, Sharia).
Right open to discussing religion/Islam; left terrified of "racist/Islamophobic" labels. Left quickest/viciousest to accuse others while fearing labels themselves—form of fascism (adherence to narrative).
Queers for Palestine Example
Street interview at Free Palestine rally: Queer woman supports Palestine/Hamas despite knowing they'd kill her for being queer. "The fact that they would kill me doesn't mean they don't deserve my support." Pure wood cricket/suicidal empathy, transcending survival instincts.
Rogan notes driven by Gaza destruction visuals, leading to supporting authoritarian ideology over logic. Leftist goalposts keep moving (e.g., supporting drag queens twerking for kids without parents). Behaves like religion—protest is heresy.
Cultural theory of mind: Assuming other cultures process Western values (magnanimity, generosity, kindness, empathy) identically. Western empathy seen as weakness elsewhere. Arabic saying: West is "a woman to be mounted." Saad heard this often in Montreal 25 years ago.
Born 1964 in Lebanon, last remaining minuscule Jewish community. Most Jews left before 1975 civil war. Family well-entrenched with business. Older siblings (14, 12, 10 years older) left early; one Olympian Judoka in 1976 Montreal Olympics. Saad (11) caught in war's first year, escaped to Montreal. Parents returned 1975-1980 for business; kidnapped by Abu Nidal's group Fatah. Experienced horrors like October 7th events but freed via connections (mother's best friend: Syrian Muslim woman).
Gad Saad's mother's best friend was a Syrian Muslim woman named Hassan, the personal dresser of Hafez al-Assad, father of Bashar al-Assad. Through her, Saad's siblings contacted Hafez, who reached out to Yasser Arafat, head of the PLO. Arafat made calls but noted a battle with Abu Nidal; if it was Abu Nidal's group holding them, good luck. It was Abu Nidal's group, but money was exchanged, and Saad's parents were freed. Upon return, Saad's father had temporary facial paralysis like Bell's palsy from severe stress, lasting a month or two, with his face completely asymmetric; it resolved.
The militia tried to force Saad's parents to sign a confession as Israeli spies, which would legally allow execution. The instigator was the building owner where Saad's dad had a store, motivated by greed to take the store, not religion. They separated the parents, pressuring each. To Saad's mother, they said admit you're an Israeli agent; she refused, saying ask her husband. They mockingly claimed he joined his god, implying they killed him. In her cell, amid abuse, she heard her husband's distinctive whooping cough late at night—deep and loud like Saad's asthmatic cough—but wondered if hallucinating. They hadn't killed him; it was psychological pressure.
This background tunes Saad to what could go wrong.
All religions are not indistinguishable; they share transferable features but have specific elements. An extremist Jain sweeps the path to avoid killing ants, exemplifying pacifism. Abrahamic faiths like Judaism, Christianity, or Islam differ. Claiming all religions preach the same thing feels good and empathetic, leading to avoiding politics and religion in mixed company, making criticism feel icky.
Americans are more open about Islam now, but Democrats are terrified, Republicans suicidally empathetic, using terms like Islamism, radical Islam for coverage. Saad rejects this: political Islam and Islamism are inherent features of Islam, much of it is Islamism. Content analysis of canonical texts—Quran, Hadith (sayings/deeds of Muhammad), Sira (biography)—shows frequent concern for infidels over brotherly love. Islam is political and fully proselytizing: incumbent to convert the world to the one true faith. Peaceful if meaning the globe united under Allah's flag.
Judaism is anti-proselytizing: not allowed, must dissuade converts as a costly signal of commitment— a grind, as Joe Rogan's uncle experienced. Islam: say the Shahada (one sentence) and you're in; apostasy laws prevent leaving. Islam's circuitry is expansionist, reaching 2 billion Muslims (1 in 4 humans) in 1400 years. From consumer behavior view, brilliant marketing; Judaism sucks at it, keeping numbers low (~15 million Jews, same as pre-Holocaust).
The expansionist religion poses greater problems.
In the US, Judaism concern is support for Israeli military, influence on US government/military/politicians via AIPAC funding. Fear of inordinate Israeli sway over foreign policy, e.g., Iran war.
Saad: Remove Israel—do Brits, Romanians, French, Gulf countries want nuclear-armed Iran with eschatology demanding death before final imam returns? US not puppeteered by Israel lobby without agency; shared interests with allies against nuclear Iran. Israel/US have testicular fortitude unlike NATO. Trump not weak to Zionist lobby.
Joe: Financial support to politicians beholdens them; most Americans oppose the war.
Saad against war lacking clear resolution. Netanyahu repeatedly claims Iran 1-2 years from nukes (UN cartoon bomb). Possibly prolonging war to avoid corruption trials.
Saad analogy: Doctor diagnosing diabetes warns of trajectory—amputation, blindness, ED, cardiovascular issues—not immediate. Netanyahu's warnings follow trajectory; US intelligence likely shows Iran close now. Not Israelis fooling gullible Americans into unnecessary war.
Joe: Iran lied about missile range (Diego Garcia); enriched uranium beyond power needs, near nuclear weapon—but maybe for deterrence.
Many US politicians opposed attacking Iran.
Saad: Deontological (absolute: never lie) vs. consequentialist (lie to spare feelings, e.g., wife asking if fat). Most live consequentially.
Deontological isolationism (never interfere) suboptimal. Deontological pacifism leads to eradication.
Anti-war Americans often libertarian/deontological isolationists—agree often, but contrast WWII Chamberlain appeasing Hitler despite lies.
Appeasement works only with trustworthy foes. Iran undoubtable threat to all, including Gulf states. Nations pursue self-interest; US not lacking agency/gullible to Zionist puppeteering. Disaster might have come in 3-10 years.
Universalist view: Free 90 million Iranians (rich heritage, modern/secular people choked 47 years by nasty regime). Celebrate without mentioning Israel.
Joe: US/BP caused it—nationalizing oil led to overthrow, installing Islamic regime. 1950s/60s Tehran looked Western; now fundamentalist, murders protesters (e.g., Olympic wrestler UFC tried to save).
US interventions like Libya (Gaddafi provided free overseas education/houses, aimed for United States of Africa; became failed state).
Saad: Allocate 100 points for Islamic regime cause: 10 to US power, 90 to regime's 47-year implementation.
Joe: US major factor.
Saad: Yes/no—butterfly effect in causal networks lets facile links (US/oxygen/Zionists/military-industrial). Occam's razor: regime bears responsibility.
ISIS: Blame US de-Baathification vacuum or ISIS agency?
'For the man with a hammer, everything is a nail.' Overattributing to one cause.
Example: Dictator's parents amorous night before conception due to Barry White (baby-making music); blame him for 3M deaths? Facilitating mechanism true but silly—dictator wouldn't exist without that sex.
Joe: Stretch; people have sex anyway, not just Barry White.
Saad: Some mechanism; still causal but minimal blame. Actively overthrowing government bigger factor—but Libya not democratically elected (like Putin not really).
Putin's not really a democratically elected president of Russia. The US 100% funded the rebels to kill Gaddafi, making it our responsibility why Libya fell. Gaddafi was a pretty nasty guy, no egalitarian beautiful leader has ever existed. Running enormous groups of people in conflict requires cracking eggs and doing terrible things, especially in regions where without an incredibly strong armed guy, religion becomes the strong guy. Examples: Egypt, Saddam Hussein, Assad and his son.
If you're a universalist wishing for individual liberties and freedoms everywhere, you wouldn't support these guys. Saddam Hussein example: US invasion led to complete disaster, death of at least a million innocent people, no positive outcome in creating Western-style democracy. Americans lack cultural theory of mind, presuming everyone wants democracy, culturally blind to differences. Also culturally ignorant to Sunni-Shia conflicts where they fight each other.
US created bad ecosystems allowing ISIS to flourish. Question: At what point shift causal link from US catalyst to targeting ISIS? ISIS flourished because of Saddam Hussein's removal. If no overthrow, what would Iran and Iraq look like now?
Think of people suffering under ISIS brutality. Statistical inferencing: Guy about to be punished under Sharia law (e.g., cut off penis and arms for touching a girl, or hand for stealing bread) – would victims blame US intervention instead of ISIS? Hyperbolic example: 12-year-old kid steals loaf of bread from souk, ISIS cuts off hand. Parents wouldn't say they can't be upset at ISIS because of US geopolitics.
Whole idea of totalitarianism sucks. Question funding and rise to power due to US meddling. Suppose no meddling: Saddam Hussein horrifying, maybe pure evil biggest thug, sons even worse serial killers. Typical Iraqi doesn't want to live under Saddam or ISIS, prefers dignity and liberty. US miscalculated naively thinking they'd create democracy.
Root cause of daily evil not on Americans' shoulders – removes personal agency of local actors. Reflex: suicidally empathetic, progressively sophisticated to blame own society for world's ills.
US didn't go to Iraq to help people, fake weapons of mass destruction narrative to control oil. Iraq not involved in 9/11. Evidence shows no WMDs as described, willfully cooked up.
Every unit (individual, group, country) pursues self-interest. Trump 'America first' appeals to that. US does less than savory things for selfish interests, like humans do. No utopian societies.
US most restrained society ever despite power asymmetry. If US wanted Caribbean beaches as 51st state, no one could stop them, yet they don't. America wields power gently compared to what it could or others would.
China doesn't meddle like US, similar military might, threatens Taiwan (views as part of China, calls Chinese Taipei). Chinese duplicitous: caress while taking. Infiltrate universities, tech, sell cell phone towers around US military bases (Huawei spying risk, kicked out), buy farmland near bases. US needs better laws; capitalist society allows it. Can't own business in China – they take over IP.
China history: Mao Zedong killed millions, one-child policy. No perfect regimes.
Biggest US defenders often immigrants sampling global societies, recognizing US anomaly. Native Americans take liberties as default.
Defends Israel (80/20): Foundational values like US (liberty, freedom), not just Jewish identity/family. In Middle East, prefer Tel Aviv/Haifa university for daughter over others. Israel not perfect: corrupt politicians, pedophiles flee there via aliyah, but same happens elsewhere without extradition.
No place in Israel's neighborhood better for personal liberties. Can debate specific policies.
If daughter wants to study one year in Middle East (e.g., Saudi Arabia, UAE), pretty safe. Loving openness in Gulf countries.
Personal story: Approached by Al Arabiya (Saudi, based in Dubai). Anchor RZ Khan (ex-BBC/CNN Global) interviewed in Montreal, aired 2-hour talk including Islam criticisms. Later offers for shows. Saudi offering Lebanese Jew critical of Islam – optimistic.
Gulf revival of modernity: If Iraq, Iran run like Saudi/UAE, much more peaceful.
Middle East cultural richness: generosity, loyalty, hospitality (Mississippians like honorary Lebanese).
Quell tribalism/religions for fertile region. Islam privately practiced like cafeteria Judaism (picks/chooses, ignores pork/shrimp, Shabbat timing). Many Muslims do cafeteria Islam; hundreds of millions cause zero harm to Jews.
Problem radical Islamism – just Islam, no 'radical Islam' book. Erdogan: no moderate Islam, just Islam.
Islam tenets include kill/kill; some ignore as good people. Maintain heritage (architecture, poetry, philosophy, safeguarded Greek texts) while forgetting violent parts for flourishing, evolution.
Argument: ISIS/radicals from decades US meddling (Glenn Greenwald on Bill Maher, balanced, pushed back). Greenwald well-read on region history, but has self-flagellation reflex blaming US/Israel.
ISIS features independent of US actions. Without intervention, could Middle East evolve like UAE/Saudi? No.
Islam 1400 years old; UAE/Saudi more open due to pragmatic rulers maintaining identity while open to West, not viewing others as kufar (dirty non-Muslims). Takes courageous leaders.
US 250 years; go back 250 years pre-US, issues persist. Pre-1948 pre-Israel, same. Thomas Jefferson: US attacked by Muslim piracy, claimed right as infidels. Winston Churchill quotes on Islam (British, pre-Zionist). Part of playbook to blame others instead of own cannons.
This conversation lays out both sides of the issue. Encourage cracking a book to examine military conquests where Islam was the offensive party. Crusades were retaliation to hundreds of years of Islamic aggression, not out of nowhere—amnesia of causality forgets the original starting point under Islam.
Primary canonical requirement of Islam is to render the entire world Islamic—not every Muslim or leader believes this, but it's in the religion's cannons. Islam is a violently expansionist ideology with dual logic: Dar al-Islam (house of Islam) and Dar al-Harb (house of war). Any country not under Islamic dominion is house of war. Once under Islamic dominion, it must revert back even if lost—e.g., Al-Andalus (current Spain) controlled by Moors, so Islamic extremists say "Inshallah, we will get back Al-Andalus."
Same for Israel: despite thousands of years of Jewish lineage as indigenous owners, once Islam took over, it belongs to Muslims canonically—no Jewish state allowed, though Jews may be tolerated.
57 countries (56 or 57 including Palestinian territories) in Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)—each started at 0% Islam: Indonesia, Libya, Egypt (Coptic Christian), Syria (many Christians), Lebanon (Christian majority in speaker's lifetime, now Muslim majority). Wherever Islam goes, it flips demographics—sometimes in 5 years, sometimes 500; Taliban: "American soldiers have the watches, we have all the time."
In US, not Sharia tomorrow, but extrapolate 200-300 years: repeat Dearborn, Paterson NJ, Minneapolis in 20, 50, 100 more cities—would it be the same US? Is that good or bad?
Fear in New York City with Mamdani (Trojan horse under progressivism/democratic socialism leading to call to prayer in Times Square). Speaker wears Star of David but hides it from street vendors in NY for safety (reflex not present 15 years ago due to demographic changes)—demography is destiny.
Most Muslims lovely (speaker from that culture, no Muslim harmed him), but heard extreme Jew hatred from Muslims pre-fame that would shock Hitler/Himmler.
Jew as ultimate shaitan (devil), demonic. Example: 2010 Sharm El-Sheikh shark attacks—Egyptian authorities concluded sharks were Zionist-trained to harm tourism economy.
Jamie fact-check: Israeli conspiracy theory; Egyptian TV claimed Israeli divers (Mossad) planted GPS on shark; Prof. Muhammad Hanafi (Suez Canal University) called it sad—GPS tracks, doesn't control. Likely cause: dumping sheep carcasses during Eid al-Adha (Nov 16).
Capacity for parasitized beliefs universal, but unique Muslim tendency to blame Jews for all maladies.
Self-serving bias: attribute successes internally (smart, studied), failures externally (bad prof). Evolved ego defense.
Universal culprit for failures: the Jew—why specifically? Market-dominant minorities (term from Amy Chua, Yale law prof, JD Vance mentor, Tiger Mom author): small group boxing above weight class (e.g., Lebanese non-Jews in West Africa owning businesses).
Jews (outside Israel) always minuscule but hyper-successful due to punishing culture of excellence.
Speaker: undergrad math/computer science, MBA (top universities), PhD acceptances (UC Irvine, chose Cornell). Brother wanted him to work post-MBA; mother: "Do you want people to know you as somebody who dropped out of school?"—MBA + PhD break = shame.
Cultural values matter: Jewish excellence vs. "acting white" for good grades.
Failures blamed on Jews controlling Hollywood/banks.
Thomas Sowell (95, deserves Presidential Freedom Medal): asked what stops Jew hatred? One-word answer: "Fail." If Jews stopped anomalous per capita success, less hate.
Asians box above weight in US (discipline, family push), less hate than Jews. Response: in Far East ecosystems (e.g., Malays), similar animus; Sowell analyzed. Universal for market-dominant minorities (Armenians, Lebanese, Indians in some places)—Jews unique in consistency across societies.
Jews also excel at policy influence (lobby, donations)—speaker agrees, but notes high Jewish philanthropy (art, hospitals, literature).
Moved to Montreal from Lebanon: French language match (Lebanon ex-French protectorate), easier refugee policy, aunt's husband director-general of Jewish General Hospital (Montreal's biggest).
Jewish lobby effective, but contributes positively—doesn't negate policy influence.
Mamdani won partly because only candidate not pledging immediate Israel trip post-election—others seemed influenced by Jewish lobby funders. NYC mess, needs focus; voters: "Thank God someone said that."
Not saying trips to England/France—persecuted history understandable, but prioritize country of residence over Israel.
Post-Oct 7: initial Israel support, but Gaza response bred anti-Israel sentiment; linked to US Iraq invasion, Israel funding, Gaza bombing.
Do other feverish lobbies (self-interest) get same animus? Pro-Israel tied to specific country.
Counter: Qataris/China/Russia fund US campuses heavily (Near East studies/government/political science depts produce anti-Israel keffiyeh-wearing protesters at UCLA, Wellesley, Concordia post-Oct 7)—yet less concern than Israel lobby.
No candidates pledge Beijing trips. Double standard.
Tobacco/pharma lobbies push interests hard (e.g., OxyContin).
Funding tilts: $30M donation discourages anti-Islamic rhetoric.
Example: Recruited to University of Austin (no tenure, constitution)—concerned donor like Mohammed bin something could demand firing speaker for Joe Rogan Islam criticism. Interlocutor: "We're on same team"—but money changes (e.g., $100-200M). Just given founders...
Discussion on University of Austin's stance against anti-Israel positions and tenure's role in intellectual freedom. Gad Saad notes his position at University of Mississippi lacks tenure but includes a contract clause protecting his rights to speak, write, and say whatever he wants with the same staunchness as the First Amendment or tenure.
Saad argues universities like Harvard government department and Columbia University under Edward Said (pro-Palestinian political science figure) buckle to funding pressures. Said's anti-Israel teaching produced students wearing kefias. Challenges whether anti-Israel sentiment stems from funding or Gaza horrors, noting non-university people react to Gaza images.
Saad counters that issues like those he faced at Concordia University (inability to walk freely on campus) predated October 7th, eliminating retaliation as the cause. Compares to blaming ISIS for US actions but pointing to 1776 pre-US existence. Argues lobby groups (pro-Israel, Qataris, Romanians, Haitians) pursue self-interest; Israel's influence due to power, not demonic nature.
Saad agrees anti-Israel sentiment ramped up post-October 7th response but asserts most is rooted in Jew hatred, predating it based on his experiences (called parasite, pedophile, child killer, rat, vermin despite no Israeli ties). Rogan notes general US sentiment shift due to Gaza and southern Lebanon imagery (Christian villages bombed).
Saad questions if people outraged by Gaza were equally mad about 600,000 Syrians killed in Syrian Civil War (started 2011, Islamists vs. Assad). Rogan calls it whataboutism but acknowledges need for more publicity. Saad rejects whataboutism label using analogy: outrage only at MMA fighter crimes but not others lacks cognitive consistency.
Civil war in Syria (2011) saw government vs. militias, ravaging 600,000 Muslims. Saad argues consistent moral outrage should apply to October 7th victims, Gazans, Syrians, Ukrainians butchered by Putin, Yemenis (drone bombings and conflicts killing thousands of children, more than Gaza), Sudan-South Sudan fights (hundreds of thousands dead).
Rogan notes initial outrage at October 7th (horrific videos, street cheering for Israeli captives) shifted due to Gaza vs. Israel power disparity: US-funded Israeli military destroying city (apartment buildings, hospitals). Contrasts with civil wars like Syria (similarly armed). Saad acknowledges destruction images but questions if October 7th hadn't happened, how many Gazans would have died (Rogan: probably none, no bombing).
Rogan mentions theories of stand-down orders allowing October 7th for Gaza excuse. Saad cites Yosi Cohen (former Mossad director) explaining it as catastrophic failure (people "asleep"). Rejects conspiracies; notes Netanyahu funded Hamas to prevent democratic Palestinian state. Israel left Gaza in 2005; no regional problems until later catalyst.
Rogan describes Gaza as obliterated (drone videos show nuclear bomb-like devastation, constant bombing over years; talk of resorts, Trump suggesting Monte Carlo/Monaco-style). Saad: Israel could eradicate Palestinians in seconds if desired but doesn't; fair to debate proportionality.
Every millimeter of Earth owned by someone else historically; conflicts have winners/losers, people move on. Saad's family fled Lebanon under execution threat (home stolen by Palestinians), yet no animus; built new life. Holocaust didn't spawn endless Jewish terrorists. Texas, Canada on stolen land—history. Hamas charter: kill every Jew anywhere. Better to train kids as neuroscientists, podcasters vs. eradication.
Jews never say "kill all Muslims"; opposite heard (Jews existential affront to Islam; Muhammad on deathbed: rid Arabia of Christians/Jews). Saad: Israel did best possible given goals (not eliminate city). 70,000 dead in Gaza (numbers from Hamas, uncertain). Compares to Hiroshima/Nagasaki (cities razed; debates necessity vs. US demonstration).
John Spencer (West Point urban warfare professor): 1:1 civilian-to-fighter ratio in Gaza (better than most urban wars; implies 35,000 Hamas militants if 70,000 total). All buildings destroyed because 1-in-1 ratio.
168 hostages returned alive (8 IDF-rescued); 85 bodies repatriated (killed in captivity). US-brokered ceasefire swapped for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. If Hamas returned all and disarmed post-October 7th, no destruction (Rogan agrees probably not).
Yahya Sinwar (October 7th architect): lifelong Jew-eradicater (cites Islamic hadith: trees reveal hiding Jews for killing). Imprisoned, diagnosed with terminal brain tumor; Israeli neurosurgeon saved his life (Hippocratic oath over enmity). Released in earlier swap, yet orchestrated October 7th. Contrast: Brigitte Gabriel (Lebanese Christian, grew up in civil war) taught Israelis evil but shifted view.
A Lebanese Christian woman was taught that Israelis are terrible and evil, the problem for the whole region. She escaped to Israel, was welcomed, and flipped her view because they treated her well, removing her brainwashing. Gad Saad questions if removing a brain tumor wouldn't instill existential empathy for Jews, but it didn't. Joe Rogan suggests she was deeply radicalized, and saving her wasn't enough—it was Allah giving her another opportunity to kill more Jews. Saad agrees, noting it's one person, but doesn't change Israel-Palestine relations since Palestine was denied statehood and can't act like other countries.
Bill Clinton, not a Republican, said he bent over backwards during the Oslo Accords to give Palestinians almost everything they wanted, but Yasser Arafat rejected a two-state solution.
If Gad Saad were head of Israel, his utopia would catch brainwashing from the womb, where animus toward Jews is so outlandish it would make Hitler and Himmler squirm. Removing that would allow seeing others as equal human beings. Rogan interjects: does bombing Gaza and visible destruction stop that, or radicalize more people to attack Israel? Saad agrees 100% it creates a new generation of terrorists, but Gaza existed peacefully for 20+ years without deaths until Hamas acted, prompting retaliation (debate if good, enough, or too much).
Israel is an open society allowing all religions. Saad, two months ago in Israel, gave talks in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, spoke more Arabic than English or Hebrew there.
Israel is 73% Jewish (Israel Bureau of Statistics: total population 10,148,000; Jews and others 7,758,000; 503,000 in West Bank beyond borders). Many valedictorians in universities and medical schools are Muslim women in hijab. Israel's parliament has tons of Muslim members. In Jerusalem, Saad interacted with fully Israeli Muslims in Arabic, no animus—they've internalized equal rights in a Jewish-majority country. Muslims serve in highest judiciary. No Islamic country allows the opposite for Jews.
Polling shows more Israelis support war with Iran than Americans. Israelis live surrounded by people who hate and want to blow them up, yet score highest on happiness scales. Explanation: constant existential threat creates laser focus on what's important—no luxury to debate male/female. Saad's kickboxing coach Shuki (Israeli) explained at dinner: everybody happy because you could die any day, so party. Rogan never forgot that mentality.
Saad recommends Rogan visit Israel despite danger—it's gay-tolerant (Tel Aviv rivals San Francisco, New York, Montreal), bohemian, reggae music, good livers (French: bonvivants). Israeli society doesn't universally support war, reflecting multiplicity of realities and openness. Muslim guys protest Knesset saying things intolerable elsewhere. Not perfect, but not the demon caricature.
Governments in Israel span political orientations; animus exists regardless. Concordia University (Saad's, leaving soon) called 'Gaza University' for 25+ years. In 2002, protesters shut down Benjamin Netanyahu as private citizen, calling Israel 'Zionist entity.' Same talking points persist—now blame Gaza images, then other stories.
Sources of animus: brainwashing on American campuses (e.g., Jethro wearing keffiyeh); demographic shifts letting in more from hostile societies.
Pew (nonpartisan, progressive-leaning) 2010 global survey on animus toward Jews (not Israel): in Middle Eastern countries like Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, averages 95-98% unfavorable/dislike (not 'hate,' but disdain). Even 10% would be arresting; importing hundreds of thousands/millions raises Jew-hatred.
Quebec example: open to francophone Islamic immigrants post-1997 Algerian civil war (extremists fled government). Hundreds of thousands arrived: more hijabs, campus danger, prayer demands. Saad got death threats from 2017 (semester with security escort, locked doors); 2022 in-person threat while walking with 9-10-year-old son—man said, "I'm not going to do anything to you out of respect for your son today." Police footage obtained, but no lineup (viewed as racist since suspect black/Somali-looking). Took two-year leave, now leaving as high-profile Jewish professor supporting Israel's right to exist.
Montreal/Concordia faces slow death via demographic drip. Until recently, Quebec tolerated public Islamic prayers; now banned. Saad warned early, ignored. Politicians avoid due to electoral danger, but that's suicidal empathy and personal interests.
Saad appreciates Trump for bold actions politicians lack testicular fortitude for—three assassination attempts prove he's a danger to status quo, unlike parasites accomplishing nothing.
Playbook: Muslim population percentage predicts conflict (holds even if most Muslims lovely).
- 0-2%: quiet exotic minority.
- 3-5%: politically engaged.
- 6-10%: Sharia no-go zones (no dogs, etc.—see Britain, France).
Like diabetes trajectory analogy: not all Muslims cause issues, but pattern exists. To protect U.S. liberties, recognize not all religions equally congruent with American experience. Do so to survive; else descendants rue it.
Promotion: Suicide Empathy available now; Saad read audiobook, joked Rogan would beat him if not. Rogan: happy he did, always good to see.
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