The courage of her convictions

[akicif]

Earlier today an American college student died for what she believed in. Rachel Corrie was crushed to death by an Israeli bulldozer as she tried to protect a doctor's home in a Palestinian refugee camp.

[The link provided is to Google's reports on the coverage rather than to any particular newspaper]

Comments

[rathgild.livejournal.com]

Call me cynical, call me biased. But...

This situation could have been avoided. How? Well let's see! The Babylonians could have not invaded and taken half the Jewish population into slavery way back in... No! Okay then, how about, under the Netenyahu govt. when the Israeli army was demolishing Jewish settlements in the areas that were being handed over to autonomous Palestinian rule, and Govt money was being spent on rebuilding Palestinian communities, it might have helped if various (Islamic) groups hadn't been spouting that the peace process was invalid, that there could be no peace whilst there was a single jew alive, that it was every (palestinian) man's duty to murder as many jews as he could, and rape they women (and children if they felt so inclined) before murdering them. That the stuggle for Palestinian liberation wouldn't be over until the jews had been wiped off the face of the earth. Some people took this literally and so there was a renewed and even bloodier wave of suicide bombings on pizza palours full of teens, supermarkets on the main shopping day, attacks on school buses, etc. (remember the suicide bombers are guaranteed a place in heaven as well as the hefty payouts for their families from rich donor countries - like Saudi Arabia). Was it any wonder that the people then voted in Sharon? Remember also that the majority of Palestinians are Christian, have Israeli citizenship and cast there votes in the Sharon landslide. Lets just say that as tragic and wasteful of human life this situation is, no bodies hands are clean.

[akicif.livejournal.com]

I understand. And I agree with you that no-one's hands are clean. I'm reminded of the arguments that used to rage back in Northern Ireland between those who thought that "sending the tanks in" was the way to go, and those who thought that would be "descending to the terrorists' level".

The first lot came that close to controlling policy in Northern Ireland for years - and the situation got worse, year in, year out.

During this period, Britain got the same kind of opprobrium in the World's press that Israel's getting now, complete with terrorist murderers being held up as martyrs and freedom fighters (I sometimes wonder if part of the reason Israel gets flak for this sort of behaviour today is that many people in the West have a perception of Israel as a Western Democracy, and hence hold it to a higher level than assorted dictatorships and one party states it's surrounded by. This isn't fair, and is certainly racist, but it would explain some attitudes).

Eventually some very courageous people on all sides got together (probably more in spite of, than because of, the hardliners in their parties) and we've been teetering on the brink of a reasonable peace for almost five years now.

I don't believe that suicide bombers kill because they've been bribed, or because they hate. Possibly it's the religious brainwashing aspect of it, but to me it seems like a whole people at the end of their tether, fighting back in the only way they can. Yes, it's horrifying, and yes, they're killing innocent people, but both sides need to come to their senses and stop the insane escalation of murder for murder.

[rathgild.livejournal.com]

I couldn't have put it better myself. The whole bias of the press seems to be evil Israel, just as in Northern Ireland it was always the evil British Govt to other countries. Something needs to be done, but it seems that there is so much ingrained hated that has built up over hundred of generaltions that there is no easy solution. Sharon is a murderer and my heart sank when he was elected, however, I can fully understand why he was. But just as Shabra and Shetilla is always cited as being a massacre by the Israeli army, (it wasn't - it was actually the Christian Phalagist Militia), they had actually been ordered to stay in their barracks. Nothing is ever mentioned of the Jewish soldiers who disobeyed these order to round up fleeing women and children into a sports stadium and then stood guard to protect lives, or the group of soldiers who threatened to shoot militia if they didn't release
the Palestinians who were being lined up for execution. There is good and bad going on in all sides. The media seem only content to give us one side so that we have a blinkered view. Sadly, there are many people who seem to forget that , and think that the news we are being fed is balanced.

It makes me want to weep.