I feel the need to provide some context for why I keep dipping into the topic of the Middle East. In short, as a half American, half Turk, I feel uncomfortably qualified to comment on ethnic cleansing when I see it. As in the case of the US and Turkey, keeping things focussed on realities on the ground and one groups manifest destiny makes it easier to stomach whats really happening which is the taking of someone elses land by force to build a homogenous nation that excludes the local population. Native Americans were called savages for their scalping and crimes against humanity... the pioneers were just defending themselves and trying to make a life in an inhospitable land filled with uncivilized tribes. During Turkeys war for independence, ethnic cleansing against Kurds, Armenians, and all the mysteriously abandoned greek villages were seen as necessary to defend Turks right to self-determination. Nation building on other peoples land is messy business and focussing on the savagery of the other side is a tidy way to make aggressors look and feel like victims. The unfortunate lesson to learn from this is that the Palestinians are fighting a losing battle. But, history will not forget what the Israelis have done just as they havent forgotten what the US and Turkey did. The unrest will continue and peace will be talked about but never achieved. The defensive posture of the Israelis mirrors that of the Turks and Americans as well. The truth hurts... especially when you claim moral superiority with blood on your hands. Maybe thats why these countries have supported each other so vehemently... the US and Turkey were two of the first to recognize the state of Israel. Theres safety in numbers and a shared denial of historical reality eases a guilty conscience.
Posted on: Fri, 25 Jul 2014 19:51:35 +0000
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