It seems that international pressure on Israel to end the violence in Gaza is building up. More and more celebrities, human rights organizations, civil society groups, journalists and UN agency heads are starting to speak up. So you can imagine the dismay I feel when I hear people from Pakistan ridiculing social activism for Gaza, saying that we should fix our own problems first, or that we shouldnt get involved or take sides. I can understand why they feel this way. There are double standards within some segments of Pakistani society which make it okay to condemn the Gaza situation, but not feel a similar pang for the suffering of minorities in our own country. There are people who condemn the Israelis, but actively support or condone the actions of the Taliban. And there are people who view the Israel-Palestinian conflict entirely through the prism of an age-old Jewish-Muslim clash. This is deplorable. But, do not let the ignorance and hypocrisy of such bigots and their support for Gaza annoy you to such an extent that you become immune to the humanitarian crises going on over there and become COMPLICIT in the atrocities being carried out. Remember, Israel has its own right-wing zealots who attempt to paint this conflict as a purely Jewish-Muslim clash. This carefully crafted theme within Israel attempts to distract you from the main issue: the systematic oppression of a people for their land and resources. Within Pakistan, this religious narrative constructs a picture of Muslim victimhood that obstructs our intellectual evolution. Dont let such zealots, both within Pakistan, Israel and American foreign policy circles, convince you that it is mainly about religion, so much so that they make you complacent to the burning political issues in Palestine that need an urgent resolution. Also, the idea that we need to first talk about our own issues and then raise this hue and cry over international issues is wrong. As long as you are not actively supporting or condoning human rights violation at home, you are FREE to talk about whatever issue that impacts you. If the sight of a crying child stuck under rubble moves you to tears, it sure as hell doesnt matter whether hes Palestinian or Nigerian, local or international. No one should be able to dictate to you that this is our cause and that is their cause. Universalism makes us more human. Identity barriers dehumanize us. Also, lets not forget, that while you are free to choose your cause, the situation in Palestine is indeed dire. The people have been living in a suffocating chokehold for decades. The right to land, a home, clean water, the freedom to move, the right for refugees to return to their homeland, equal access to education and employment, have all been denied, so much so that many have called Gaza an open-air prison. And this recent conflict has killed more than 900 people, MOSTLY civilians. So please, lets not dehumanize and delegitimize a right and just cause just because so-and-so is an idiot and approaches the situation the wrong way. Lastly, this is a very good article for anyone who wishes to understand and deconstruct the Zionist propaganda that has been attempting to justify the recent atrocities in Gaza. m.thenation/article/180783-five-israeli-talking-points-gaza-debunked
Posted on: Sat, 26 Jul 2014 14:29:48 +0000
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