Henderson Formulation

[DISCLAIMER]

Photo credit, fair use

When recently listening to an episode of the DarkHorse Podcast, featuring biologist Bret Weinstein and author Michael Malice, Malice referenced writer Rob K. Henderson’s axiomatic post on X (formerly Twitter) that I’m henceforth referring to as the Henderson formation:

Step 1: It’s not really happening

Step 2: Yeah, it’s happening, but it’s not a big deal

Step 3: It’s a good thing, actually

Step 4: People freaking out about it are the real problem

As a matter of honest disclosure, Henderson has nothing more to do with the content of this post than his contribution to the world regarding the formulation for which I credit him. The formulation relates to something I said in a blogpost entitled Celebration Parallax, as I stated:

Per one source, this is the “phenomenon whereby the exact same set of facts is either celebrated or deplored depending solely on the political bias of the observer.”

If one supports Israel from a sociopolitical perspective, then potential crimes against humanity regarding the Gazan people are excusable. However, the same supporter would likely lament similar actions which were historically taken against Jewish people. This is gaslighting.

There’s no need to generate abstract examples which relate to the Henderson formulation. Instead, one may simply turn to the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and its position on genocide and ethnic cleansing in regard to Gazans or the Palestinian people.

According to the AJC website:

AJC vehemently rejects the biased report by Amnesty International accusing Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinians […] Of course, the implied hypocrisy that the survivors of genocide are now committing one of their own makes for a powerful talking point in the war of words surrounding the conflict between Israel and Gaza. But it’s simply not true.

Likewise, per the AJC website:

The goal for Israel is to end the terror threat posed by Hamas after it carried out the world’s deadliest terrorist attack in the country’s history on October 7. Israel, which pulled its citizens out of the Gaza Strip in 2005, has no long-term plan to control the territory, nor does it have any plans to remove the Palestinian population there. It is simply trying to defend itself from Hamas terrorism.

In keeping with the AJC position, in view of the Henderson formation, genocide and/or ethnic cleaning aren’t really happening (step one). However, according to the Human Rights Watch website on May 15, 2025:

The Israeli government’s plan to demolish what remains of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure and concentrate the Palestinian population into a tiny area would amount to an abhorrent escalation of its ongoing crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, and acts of genocide, Human Rights Watch said today.

One imagines that the AJC’s next position will be something along the lines of yeah, it’s happening, but it’s not a big deal (step two). Perhaps even an accelerated illogical and unreasonable case is forthcoming of claiming that it’s a good thing, actually (step three).

Then, once the decay of rotting flesh fills the air after United States funding eventually dries up, when bombardment of little more than rubble remains on the Gaza Strip, what will the AJC’s position be? People freaking out about it are the real problem (step four)? Time will tell.

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References:

AJC. (2024, December 5). 5 reasons why the events in Gaza are not “genocide”. American Jewish Committee. Retrieved from https://www.ajc.org/news/5-reasons-why-the-events-in-gaza-are-not-genocide

AJC. (n.d.). Resource tracker for tough questions and topics about the Israel-Hamas War. American Jewish Committee. Retrieved from https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWarResourceTracker#toc-9

Amnesty International. (2024, December 5). Amnesty International investigation concludes Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Retrieved from https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/12/amnesty-international-concludes-israel-is-committing-genocide-against-palestinians-in-gaza/

Henderson, R. (@robkhenderson). Step 1: It’s not really happening[.] Step 2: Yeah, it’s happening, but it’s not a big deal[.] Step 3: It’s a good thing, actually[.] Step 4: People freaking out about it are the real problem [Post; image]. X. Retrieved from https://x.com/robkhenderson/status/1404374397868199938?lang=en

Hollings, D. (2025, April 28). Celebration parallax. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/celebration-parallax

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Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer

Hollings, D. (2025, February 11). Ethnic cleansing. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/ethnic-cleansing

Hollings, D. (2025, March 9). Factual and counterfactual beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/factual-and-counterfactual-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Fair use. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fair-use

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Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better

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Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/

Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching

Hollings, D. (2023, January 8). Logic and reason. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/logic-and-reason

Hollings, D. (2023, April 24). On truth. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-truth

Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist

Hollings, D. (2025, February 28). To try is my goal. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/to-try-is-my-goal

Human Rights Watch. (2025, May 15). Gaza: Latest Israeli plan inches closer to extermination. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/05/15/gaza-latest-israeli-plan-inches-closer-extermination

Sensei10. (2023, February 01). Celebration parallax. Urban Dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Celebration%20Parallax

Weinstein, B. (2025, May 20). Anarchism cataclysm: Michael Malice on DarkHorse [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/OCc4dZkYEQk?si=UJdkniBNF69RvZKk

Weinstein, B. (n.d.). Bret Weinstein [Official website]. Retrieved from https://www.bretweinstein.net/

Weinstein, B. [@DarkHorsePod]. (n.d.). DarkHorse Podcast. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/@DarkHorsePod

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Michael Malice. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Malice

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Rob K. Henderson. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_K._Henderson