I don't know why I do this. A friend of mine wrote a song called "Futility Attacks," with the line
"And the sound of the washing machine
in the basement
reminds us
we could have saved some money..."
I always feel a futility attack when I write about Palestine.
Here's someone who's more eloquent than I, even though some of the writing makes my gorge rise. In this column, Nicholas Kristof discussses solutions to the Israel/Palestine problem by addressing arguments of those who see Israel's draconian policies as right"
Tough Love for Israel?
On his visit to the Middle East, Barack Obama gave ritual affirmations of his support for Israeli policy, but what Israel needs from America isn’t more love, but tougher love.
Particularly at a time when Israel seems to be contemplating military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, the United States would be a better friend if it said: “That’s crazy” — while also insisting on a 100 percent freeze on settlements in the West Bank and greater Jerusalem.
It's a good column, bceause he listens to Israel supporters acguments and discusses them. He's more open than I would be, but he does set some records straight.
While I do condemn this type of violence, it pales in contrast to Palestinian suicide bombers, rockets and other acts of terror against Jews. (Jay)
B’Tselem, the Israeli human rights organization, reports that a total of 123 Israeli minors have been killed by Palestinians since the second intifada began in 2000, compared with 951 Palestinian minors killed by Israeli security forces.
And no, these are not all demon children throwing rocks at soldiers armed only with rifles.
One side is a beautiful, literate, medically and scientifically and artistically an advanced society. The other side wants to throw bombs. Why shouldn’t there be a fence? (Mileway)
So, build a fence. But construct it on the 1967 borders, not Palestinian land — and especially not where it divides Palestinian farmers from their land.
That particular exchange sickened me.
I'll never forget my mother-in-law being so impressed by the verdant fields of the Israelis, while right across the border the Palestinian fields were dry and scraggly. She saw this as evidence of Jewish agricultural superiority, not as an indicator water access.
"One side is beautiful, literate, medically and scientifically advanced"--it's so bigoted it's hardly worth answering. One side is living in dire poverty, with no economy to speak of because they have no fuel and their borders can by shut at any minute if they raise their fist to Daddy.
One side is beautiful...
Millions of people are living in giant concentration camps with their access to needed services like hospitals and their jobs given and taken away depending on what tens of them are doing on any given day. Access to water and fuel is curtailed. For some reason, many Americans feel it's okay to punish the millions for the actions of a relative few.
Alice Miller wrote about the repetition compulsion, in which individuals do what was done to them as a means of telling their story, until they can process it. Thus many (but not all) of those who were abused as children, if they had no sympathetic help as kids or don't process it as adults, abuse children when they become adults. The way Israel controls Palestine and is walling it up, and the insane level of Israeli violence (1,000 dead in Lebanon over two kidnapped soldiers) and the acceptance of punishing the collective for the actions of the few (destruction of neighborhoods with steam rollers--Kritalnacht anyone?), remind me of this.
It's just so insane.
I wish I were more eloquent. That I had more time to write. Go read Kristof. If you're a rabid partisan of either side you may be outraged. But at least he's speaking some truth in a reasonably reasonable manner.
I'm sure I'll anger many. But I don't mean to. I just wish this Israel myopia would shift. Kristof makes a good point on his blog about how the Brits dealtth with IRA bombinsgs, etc, and how their relative restraint (Irish might not agree) made future peace possible. Don't agree with my views, ok, but leave open the possibibility that the current favored narrative may not be doing anyone any favors.