Many times, international events are (closely) connected to our lives,
and the terror on September 11 was one such. What happened in mainly Middle Eastern and Arabian countries in which crowds of people seemed to celebrate and rejoice over the WTC bombings sent shock, anger and amazement through many in America, and the Western hemisphere. Who were these foolish people to show joy at America's tragedy?
Certainly the first thing that comes to our minds about the Palestinians are
suicide-bombers or crowds of foolish,maddened trouble-makers always rioting and throwing stones. (Then Yassir Arafat, PLO, Hamas etc.) The fact is, with all these news of violence and turbulence in Israel and Palestine, many have come to equate Palestinians as terrorists and fundamentalists and Israelis as normal, innocent God-fearing people who're always the victims of Palestinian terrorist attacks.
The truth could not be more distorted and obscured. Modern circumstances show otherwise. History shows otherwise. How many of us know about Sabra and Shantila (1982 Lebanon -see Ariel Sharon's role in this) and Jenin (2002 the West Bank)-refugee camps where the Israeli military or Israeli-supported militia killed/ or masacred over a thousand Palestinians including women, children and old people (surely most of them were terrorists right and deserved their deaths, right?) ,or about the thousands of Palestinians forced out of their homes and towns to make way for the creation of the Israeli state?
And what about current circumstances, with the Palestinians living under a form of police-state with jobs, security, water and land, all controlled by Israel and its potent American-supplied military. And then, even in their own territory, they are not safe as they never know when Israeli tanks and bulldozers will come crashing through their schools, offices and homes, destroying their infrastructure and their possessions or when Israeli planes and helicopter gunships will rain some rockets onto their heads. These have occurred many times and each time, these inhumane attacks are passed off by the Israelis as standard raids to apprehend Palestinian suspects or militants.
September 11 was devastating, it was horrendous. And months later, the mighty US went on a 'crusade against evil', invading Afghanistan and toppling the ruling Taliban government, then more than a year later, went on the offensive again in Iraq, rolling into the capital Baghdad, toppling Saddam and his Baathist regime from power, and in the meantime, killing and wounding thousands of innocent civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq. In the ensuing occupation of Iraq, thousands more civilians have been killed and wounded too.
The Palestinians having been subjugated and oppressed for decades are only guilty of doing what the US (or any other nation would do) did after suffering a large-scale attack. While the US have their cruise missiles, aircraft carriers and combat fleets, F/A-18 and F-15 attack fighters, special forces, heavy tanks and infantry divisions (and the world's largest military budget), the Palestinians only have their small and hand-held arms, their improvisational
bombs, stones and their own bodies (suicide bombers) plus their desperation and anger to strike back at their oppressors.
Of course, Palestinians were celebrating the WTC destruction and families of suicide-bombers were supported financially by Saddam Hussein himself. But then, their Israeli 'masters' are supported by the US financially and technologically, with most of their military equipment, technology and planes provided from the US.
This doesn't excuse the tactics of the suicide-bombers and those who dress their babies up as soldiers with guns and explosives but next time you hear of a Palestinian attack in Israel or see Palestinians using hit and run tactics against Israeli soldiers, remember the immense amount of oppression and terror these same Israelis have inflicted upon Palestinians. Think of entire generations of
Palestinians these past 3 decades who have grown up knowing only pain, frustration, bitterness and hopelesssness. Then think about if you were in their shoes and lived their life. What terrible feelings would run through your head? Then understand why these people did not display any sympathy for the 911 WTC attacks.
and the terror on September 11 was one such. What happened in mainly Middle Eastern and Arabian countries in which crowds of people seemed to celebrate and rejoice over the WTC bombings sent shock, anger and amazement through many in America, and the Western hemisphere. Who were these foolish people to show joy at America's tragedy?
Certainly the first thing that comes to our minds about the Palestinians are
suicide-bombers or crowds of foolish,maddened trouble-makers always rioting and throwing stones. (Then Yassir Arafat, PLO, Hamas etc.) The fact is, with all these news of violence and turbulence in Israel and Palestine, many have come to equate Palestinians as terrorists and fundamentalists and Israelis as normal, innocent God-fearing people who're always the victims of Palestinian terrorist attacks.
The truth could not be more distorted and obscured. Modern circumstances show otherwise. History shows otherwise. How many of us know about Sabra and Shantila (1982 Lebanon -see Ariel Sharon's role in this) and Jenin (2002 the West Bank)-refugee camps where the Israeli military or Israeli-supported militia killed/ or masacred over a thousand Palestinians including women, children and old people (surely most of them were terrorists right and deserved their deaths, right?) ,or about the thousands of Palestinians forced out of their homes and towns to make way for the creation of the Israeli state?
And what about current circumstances, with the Palestinians living under a form of police-state with jobs, security, water and land, all controlled by Israel and its potent American-supplied military. And then, even in their own territory, they are not safe as they never know when Israeli tanks and bulldozers will come crashing through their schools, offices and homes, destroying their infrastructure and their possessions or when Israeli planes and helicopter gunships will rain some rockets onto their heads. These have occurred many times and each time, these inhumane attacks are passed off by the Israelis as standard raids to apprehend Palestinian suspects or militants.
September 11 was devastating, it was horrendous. And months later, the mighty US went on a 'crusade against evil', invading Afghanistan and toppling the ruling Taliban government, then more than a year later, went on the offensive again in Iraq, rolling into the capital Baghdad, toppling Saddam and his Baathist regime from power, and in the meantime, killing and wounding thousands of innocent civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq. In the ensuing occupation of Iraq, thousands more civilians have been killed and wounded too.
The Palestinians having been subjugated and oppressed for decades are only guilty of doing what the US (or any other nation would do) did after suffering a large-scale attack. While the US have their cruise missiles, aircraft carriers and combat fleets, F/A-18 and F-15 attack fighters, special forces, heavy tanks and infantry divisions (and the world's largest military budget), the Palestinians only have their small and hand-held arms, their improvisational
bombs, stones and their own bodies (suicide bombers) plus their desperation and anger to strike back at their oppressors.
Of course, Palestinians were celebrating the WTC destruction and families of suicide-bombers were supported financially by Saddam Hussein himself. But then, their Israeli 'masters' are supported by the US financially and technologically, with most of their military equipment, technology and planes provided from the US.
This doesn't excuse the tactics of the suicide-bombers and those who dress their babies up as soldiers with guns and explosives but next time you hear of a Palestinian attack in Israel or see Palestinians using hit and run tactics against Israeli soldiers, remember the immense amount of oppression and terror these same Israelis have inflicted upon Palestinians. Think of entire generations of
Palestinians these past 3 decades who have grown up knowing only pain, frustration, bitterness and hopelesssness. Then think about if you were in their shoes and lived their life. What terrible feelings would run through your head? Then understand why these people did not display any sympathy for the 911 WTC attacks.
This glaring example of double-standards and hypocrisy provides a reason why hatred of America runs deep through many countries and people in the world ( and not just the middle east- check the huge anti-American protests in South Korea against the presence of american troops and against Korean troop involvement in Iraq eg.).
The sad thing is that regular american civilians- businessmen, teachers, students, scientist, officeworkers, housewives, factory workers, don't have an idea (or not a clear one) of their government's (not just current but previous ones) manipulative and divisive foreign policies, activites and roles and its consequent ill-effects- war, dictatorships, poverty, inequality, even religious fundamentalism (like the mujahadeen muslim fighters including OB-L, in Afghanistan fighting the Soviets) . So many buy into GWB's assertion that terrorists struck at us (America) because 'they' hate 'our freedoms' and democracy.
The sad thing is that regular american civilians- businessmen, teachers, students, scientist, officeworkers, housewives, factory workers, don't have an idea (or not a clear one) of their government's (not just current but previous ones) manipulative and divisive foreign policies, activites and roles and its consequent ill-effects- war, dictatorships, poverty, inequality, even religious fundamentalism (like the mujahadeen muslim fighters including OB-L, in Afghanistan fighting the Soviets) . So many buy into GWB's assertion that terrorists struck at us (America) because 'they' hate 'our freedoms' and democracy.
Can this be the freedom to exploit other nation's resources and support corrupt and brutal dictators (Saddam in the 80s, Pinochet in the 70s) and regimes when circumstances are profitable or suitable?? And freedom to interfere/intervene in countries by (or trying to) instigating revolt (Venezuela 2001, Chile 1970s) when their current leaders don't want to roll over ?
Can this be the same freedom that developed nations deny or control over weaker 3rd world nations during colonialisation, slavery, the policies of the IMF, WorldBank and WTO?? The freedom to invade weaker nations (whether rightfully or not) with full military might but do half-hearted job of rebuilding them?
Can this be the same freedom that developed nations deny or control over weaker 3rd world nations during colonialisation, slavery, the policies of the IMF, WorldBank and WTO?? The freedom to invade weaker nations (whether rightfully or not) with full military might but do half-hearted job of rebuilding them?
Please.
