For anyone who cares about whats going on in Palestine/Israel check out my status: Weve always known that Israeli lives are worth more than Palestinians to most American media and many government officials, but apparently now we have the exact dollar amount: $5 Million. (jpost/International/Proposed-US-bill-would-offer-5-million-for-info-on-teens-killers-362299) Lawmakers in Congress introduced bills this week requiring the State Dept. to offer a reward up to $5,000,000 for information on the kidnapping and murder of one of the three Israeli teens, who was a dual Israeli-U.S. citizen. Five million dollars is how much more some U.S. officials value the life of an Israeli American over Palestinian American Tariq Abu Khdeir, a 15-year-old Tampa resident. In fact, Tariqs own member of Congress, Democrat Kathy Castor, has sided with Israeli Police over her own brutalized constituent. Meanwhile, other Florida politicians have traveled all the way to Israel to personally convey their condolences to the parents of the slain Israeli teens and support for Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza, without uttering a word on Tariq or his beating. (alternet.org/news-amp-politics/florida-congresswoman-sides-israeli-police-over-her-own-brutalized-teenage) (sunshinestatenews/story/florida-delegation-condemns-murder-israeli-teens-calls-out-hamas) Why are the White House and Congress almost unanimously backing Israel? And why is it that despite Islam being the second largest religion in 20 states, the growing number of Muslims in the U.S. has not translated to political influence? The answer is simple: the Holy Qur’an says, “God does not change the condition of a people until they change themselves.” (13:11) (thehill/policy/international/212166-white-house-defends-israeli-airstrikes-in-gaza) Tariq remains on house arrest in East Jerusalem and is still facing charges, unable to return home. And as the death toll of Palestinian civilians in Gaza rises to nearly 200, many of whom are women and children, lawmakers have been lining up to publicly assert their staunch support for Israel. Just last night at the Annual White House Iftar, Israeli Amb. Ron Dermer, who was in attendance tweeted in appreciation of President Obama’s “strong statement about Israel’s right to defend itself.” (https://twitter/AmbDermer/status/488879142897602560) Sadly, it gets worse. A proposed Senate bill to end funding to the Palestinian Authority (PA) is now gaining traction among previously progressive senators such as Democrat Tim Kaine. Sen. Rand Paul R-KY has also issued a statement supporting cutting off aid to the PA and arguing for Israel to exercise even less restraint in its collective punishment of Palestinians. (nationalreview/article/381726/tragedy-israel-rand-paul) Extreme right wing groups in the U.S. are well-organized and working hard to maintain U.S. policies--both foreign and domestic--that promote a biased, Islamophobic agenda. Between revelations of NSA spying on Muslim leaders in the U.S. and the government’s weak positions on Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Pakistan, and of course, Israel, muslims certainly have their work cut out for them. We need to get our communities organized, educated, and trained in the political process. We need more members to run for office, work on campaigns, and engage with government officials. We need to empower ourselves and be part of the solution, and not just the problem. The change will not happen overnight, but we have to start somewhere.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 17:29:39 +0000
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