It really has been way too long since I have written. I got another job teaching at another university.... teaching what else but......Cultural Diversity. I love teaching....adults. I can't handle children but I can deal well with adults.
I have been thinking long and hard about writing about what is happening in Gaza. I really didn't want to touch the subject because I know just how passionate this discussion is going to get. Yet, I think we have a moral and a political obligation to discuss the injustice imposed by Israel on the Palestinians.
To start with, I would like to clarify that I do not, under any circumstances support or even slightly condone what Hamas has done or stands for. I think Hamas is a disease hiding behind religion. I also think Fateh and our Palestinian government is full of criminals, thieves, manipulators, and bastards. That said, I do not believe that what Israel is doing is justified. Let us simplify the problem if you will:
If I was to throw a pencil at you, would that justify you shooting me with a bullet? Hellllooooo......the war is not a proportionate war. The bombs being thrown at Israel had not killed anyone until Israels offensive. I am so tired of hearing that this mess is the fault of Palestinians. For those of you who do not know the situation in Gaza, let me start by saying that over 50% (now 100% after the start of the attack)of the people do not have electricity, running water, food, medication. Why, might you ask? Gaza has a blockade that surrounds it. Nothing is allowed in and nothing is allowed out. What the hell are people supposed to do when the world sits around and watches what president Jimmy Carter himself has called apartheid. The Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are suffering. Several months ago they literally broke through the blockade just to go out and get food and basic needs. Is this not sad?
We have a moral obligation to address this injustice. I am not even going to discuss the whole occupation. I am only discussing the current issue.
Politically, we, as Americans, owe the Palestinian people the basic right of sitting down as a neutral party to get this issue resolved. I know, I am not in denial. This is never going to happen but......do you remember a time when blacks were considered second class citizens? Do you remember when being gay was a crime? Do you remember when women didn't have equal rights? I know that there must be hope that someday change will come and that the Palestinians may one day have the freedom from occupation that they deserve.
I am open for discussion if anyone is interested.
BTW, I wanted to post a picture of what was happening in Gaza and then I decided to post an empowering picture. The one good thing that came out of all this is that our children have finally began to learn what it means to be a Palestinian.
1 comments:
Very well said!
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