What country would tolerate being treated like Gaza? Im tired. Im tired of the talking points. Im tired of the assumptions and the conclusions that reserve the right to inflict harm, and the right to claim suffering, only for certain kinds of people. As Americans, we reject that kind of logic--or, at least, were *supposed* to--and this is why more and more Americans are seeing Israels war of choice for what it is. An occupier wantonly bombarding an oppressed and wronged population. Every time I hear someone say, Israel has a right to self-defense, naturally I think: And dont Palestinians, too? Indeed, every time we are told what no country would tolerate, I wonder why that doesnt same logic to Palestine and to Palestinians. So, lets talk about this--as Americans. Would we, as a country, tolerate the kind of treatment Gazans are subjected to? Lets ask ourselves how we would respond to that kind of treatment, rendered proportionally. Lets ask ourselves what life would be like if we were the Gaza Strip. What would we do, really, truly and honestly, if, we were under constant blockade, denied access to the outside world, prevented from realizing sovereignty and then, in a war not of our choice, this happened to us?: 1.1 million Americans were injured, of whom 349,000 were children. 193,000 of our fellow Americans were killed, of whom 44,000 are children. Got that? 44,000 American children, killed in indiscriminate bombardment, playing on the beach or in school, when they were struck by the very same military that was denying them the right to a full life. And millions of us made refugees, told to flee to safe havens, and then killed when we found refuge therein? It sounds like utter madness. It is utter madness. 193,000 dead Americans. Thats approximately a third the total of our countrys bloodiest conflict, a civil war that spanned four years, and left decades of trauma, some of which we still have not overcome. What country would tolerate that? And then the people responsible had the audacity to tell you, Well, other countries are killing more people, so why dont you worry about those countries? I reject Hamas indiscriminate targeting of civilians, and I reject Israels. But in this conflict, we are supporting one side, disproportionately, and indeed even to that sides long-term detriment. (We are the enablers.) I ask us to reflect, as a country, on what we are facilitating, and why we spend so much of our money, moral capital, resources and reputation on a conflict that does so much harm, when we have so many needs here at home, so many fellow Americans who go without--shouldnt they come first? I am tired. They are tired, too.
Posted on: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 01:45:20 +0000
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