Israel Uprising

I was just watching 'Uprising' the tv movie starring Hank Azaria about the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, one of the few instances of armed resistance to the Nazis by the disempowered victims, by the Jews. These heroic people drove back the Nazi military with little more than Molotov cocktails and pistols. They held out longer than the Polish army did, and some even escaped. Quite impressive actions-done with strategy and bravery; and the movie itself was worth watching.

What was made reference to a few times in the movie by the main characters was escaping from the Warsaw and going to Palestine, to farm, to make the desert grow. It seems like for the victims of the Holocaust, or at least the Jews in the ghettos, Palestine represented the promised land. But promised to whom?

Well, we know that Palestine already had people in it before the victims of the Holocaust went there (ilegally). Some might say they deserved to go there, they survived horrendous ordeals. But that they went through hell doesn't mean they have the right to dispossess someone of land they had first.

Now when I talk to ardent Zionists, even people whom I consider rational on all other topics, they become irrational in their defense of Israel. It seems they stick to prescribed talking points no matter what I say. For example, if they say people are being blown up by suicide bombers, I say Palestinian civilians are getting killed 8 times more than Israelis. Then they retort how Israel is a democracy, or how the Arabs are ruled by dictators. It's often a disconnect like this that makes me think the person I'm talking to is not really talking to me, and by talking I mean listening to and considering what I'm saying and responding to part of or at least acknowledging some part of my argument. Instead it's a PR campaign targeted to Americans using specific words and imagery: suicide bombers, democracy, dictators-words that play on the notions of ourselves and what we Westerners fear in the 'Other.'

Watching the movie gave me some perspective on some of the shit that the Jews had to go through just to survive as a people. And it also gave me some idea as to what Israel means to Zionists: a place where Jews won't be persecuted. I mean, if you came from a culture that had a history like that, one could see how you might want a place of your own, how you might protect it to immoral ends, i.e. the fact that other people were on this land doesn't matter too much to you, if you have the means to push them out.

I've heard Israeli officials say that Israel is a place where Jews won't be persecuted, but I guess I just don't think the Left recognize what psychological factors are involved in the maintenance of a Jewish state. At least I haven't heard anyone talking about it.

WMA

You know what would be cool? If men who are working for change-radicals, progressives, activists, especially white men could for once not say a god damn thing at a meeting. Just be there and be supportive. We (white straight males) have no idea what it's like to be silenced by the dominant culture (for we are priviledged by it and it tells us that our voices must be heard), so simply as an experience, white, straight, males in a group should decide amongst themselves which meeting this could happen in,

and then don't speak for the entire meeting. Feel the urge to add your two cents come bubbling to the surface and resist that urge. Realize that the meeting will work without your voice. Listen to other people who are now speaking that never have before, and recognize that maybe there's a reason for it.

Try it. It might be the hardest thing you've ever done.

Iraqi Courts

The US setup the courts in Iraq, the ones that executed Sadam and are continuing going after Sadam's guard.

One provision in the mandate of the courts was that it could only go after Iraqi citizens; foreigners couldn't be prosecuted for war crimes, or for any offense. US officials and corporations guilty of selling Sadam arms, gas, credits are the ones now occupying the place ready to take Iraq's oil. The last thing they want is to be held accountable for past wrongs.

This is one example of how Power escapes the judgement of history. Very silently. It has gotten really good at hiding it's mechanisms. Americans see Sadam hanging on the news, and believe justice has been served. Any bias in the court system is purely the Iraqis fault, but we can forgive them they are such new democracy.

Scientists Knowledge

A scientist friend, recently told me she didn't mind biotechnology-she knows the science, and it's not harmful.

Sort of like the nuclear scientists who say they understand the science of nukes, which are harmless....okay, i'll elaborate when I can think more clearly.

The Oppressors Language

I just heard some Israeli human rights lawyer talking about facts "on the ground." That phrase, "facts on the ground" was created by the US government to allow for illegal settlements in the West Bank. You can't very well give Palestinian land to Palestinians if it's currently settled by Israelis. Those are facts.

But then I hear this Israeli human rights lawyer using the same jargon. Are people aware of the words they chose? Why do we chose the language of the oppressor?

My students don't use the language of the oppressor, they use their own language. Ridiculed by the outside though it may be, it is theirs, and it represents strength for understanding, and a space for commonality and solidarity which has a meaning that can't be destroyed so easily by the oppressor. That's ONE of the reasons I believe the revolution will ONLY come from people of color