Gabrielle Moseley (G.M.), Counselor for Political/Economic Affairs, U.S. Consulate General, Belfast gave a presentation today to the international summer school students about the role of USA in Northern Ireland in curbing “terrorism” and helping improve the economic affairs here to create a better tomorrow. I was really disturbed by her idea of terrorism and this is what transpired during the Q/A session- Me- “It was interesting how you talked about the situation post 9/11 and said that most Americans who were sympathetic to the cause of the Irish Republican Army (I.R.A) stopped supporting them because they realized that all forms of violence and terrorism are horrible acts against humanity. In light of that statement, what do you have to say about the terrorism and absolutely horrible crimes against humanity that the USA itself has carried out post 9/11 in Iraq and Afghanistan? G.M- “Well, it’s a matter of opinion.” Me- “A matter of opinion? Really?!” G.M- “We went to Iraq to develop the area. We were invited by the Iraqi people to free them from a dictatorship and from terrorism.” Me- “How do you define terrorism?” G.M.- “ Umm..Acts of violence done against innocent people without a consideration of any repercussions.” Me- “Isnt that exactly what the US army does in Iraq and Afghanistan?!!” At this point, I was politely told to shut up since it was not the “appropriate venue” to ask such questions. The uneasy awkward silence in the room caused by my questions was then overridden by an eruption of more appropriate questions about scholarships and internships that students are usually expected to ask people from the consulate. No matter where you go in the world, the academia largely tends to remain a shallow place where everybody likes to keep their noses clean and their toes in line. Everybody loves to write essays and think about dissent and revolution and egalitarianism and an equality for all humans but when it comes to applying all of those ideas in real life to actual horrible crimes against humanity, everybody would rather have a nice little internship or fellowship letter in their pockets instead of questioning someone from a government body that over the last century has been at the heart of some of the absolutely worst crimes against humanity that the world has seen.
Posted on: Fri, 25 Jul 2014 16:42:30 +0000
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