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Twin Town High (vol. 8) |
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RE: Strict Curfew... Pulse 8.28.02
Wednesday 11 September @ 09:44:16 |
 It is good that Kristin Razowsky is open-minded to pursue learning the Palestinian perspective vs. the perspective of “the corporate media” and that she is a person of compassion praying for ignoramuses like myself. The perspective portrayed by the media, however, is that of the United States, not of Israelis/Jews; there are more than two sides to an issue. Perhaps sometime she may be open-minded enough to explore the perspectives of her own people (she does identify herself as “an American Jew of Russian ancestry,” Pulse, 8/28).
Like “the corporate media” that she condemns, Kristin too uses Palestinian terminology referring to the “disputed” territories under Israeli control as “occupied”; Israelis call these areas by their historical names—Samaria, Judea and Gaza. Contrary to her belief, we do not control the media, although that would be nice. Locally, the Star Tribune has been openly accused by other large city newspapers for being anti-Jewish and WAMM and other progressive groups that publish newsletters will only print articles that are pro-Palestinian/anti-Israeli. Even Veterans for Peace (Chapter 27), which I co-founded and whose newsletter I began, has refused to print my commentaries calling for reconciliation—and I am a published writer; instead they have been printing anti-Jewish rhetoric, even quoting Hitler and Mussolini—whom and what are they now following?
Kristin also claims Israelis already “have taken so much of the Palestinian ancestral land.” While indeed some Palestinians do have ancestral claims, the Palestinians as a people did not exist until very recent times. Present day Israel, even including the disputed territories, is but a fraction of the area originally promised when the European and Arab nations began divvying up that part of the world following World War I. And lest one forget, during World War II, the Arab nations fought with Hitler. They expelled their Jews too. A century ago, Israel was a backwater, but as the new state prospered so did others who migrated to the area to share in the land of milk and honey.
Sure, there are problems—Israel is only 54 years old and her citizens, including Arabs, come from 140 different nations, most of which have no “democratic” tradition, yet Israel is perhaps the only country in the near east where an Arab woman can vote. The US of A is how old? And we’ve yet to get it right.
Kristin further believes suicide bombings are a result, not the cause, of Israeli military action. How far are some willing to go to hang onto their political agenda? No oppression is so great nor any cause so noble to justify teaching young people to turn themselves into human bombs to murder innocent men, women and children. Again, Palestinian suicide bombers intentionally target civilians. While the taking of any human life is abhorrent, the Israelis target known terrorists; it is beyond unfortunate that innocents have also been killed—such is the progressive debauchery of war. But contrary to Kristin’s belief that such Palestinian deaths are never discussed by Israeli defense forces, indeed, the Israeli government, like an abused spouse, is constantly issuing apologies. So tell me, why do Palestinians dance in the streets rejoicing when they kill Jews? Have Palestinians ever apologized for killing a single Jew?
Yes, the disputed territories are a problem. But tell me then, what was the problem in ’67? or ’57? or ’48? And yes, water is an issue, but Kristin forgets the Jordanians also take water from the region as part of their peace agreement with Israel. We each have different pieces of information; if only it were possible to share it with one another without condemnation and blame.
As for blaming Sharron’s “arrogance” to visit the Temple Mount for starting Intifada Dos, it’s too bad Sharron had to be protected by 2,000 soldiers to visit his own sacred site in his own land. Now whose mosque is built on top of whose temple foundation anyway? Jews also are not allowed to visit other sacred sites such as the Tomb of the Patriarchs—who by the way are not of Russian ancestry. Palestinians recently fired fifty rounds at a group of Jewish families returning from prayer at Machpelah. That too does not make U.S. news, like the unreported incidents involving Palestinian victims.
For someone open-minded enough to defend Native American sacred sites here at home during the Highway 55 reroute protest, Kristin should comprehend that her own people too have sites sacred to us—but time and again relinquish such places if only it would bring peace.
As for belittling the “mentality” of the Stanley Bergs who do not agree with her enlightened views, that we do not understand “this is real life...not a game”—Hello? As Jews we know this is “real life” too well. These are our people doing the dying ... our kids, families, friends and relations. We weep for them as we do for the loss of Palestinian life, as we still weep for those who did not survive the atrocities of the past century.
Unilateral disarmament of the Israelis as Kristin proposes guarantees the final solution, Part II. (And in the end “Russian ancestry” will matter not.)
My hope for the New Year 5763 is that the enlightened people, like Kristin, will have the wisdom, tolerance and patience to dialogue with the less educated and less worldly folks like myself.
Cher Fields
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