It's been a few weeks since I've posted anything. I've been busy with school that I forget to post. I came across this article today on Palestinian statehood. It's from Fox News (a "news" organization that I loathe.)
I give you the following link, a transcript of an interview Sean Hannity did. I'd like to dismiss Hannity right now as another ignorant right wing conservative host. Firstly, Sean Hannity's argument is invalid. Hamas' charter, which does say that the Israeli state is illegitimate, is now considered by Hamas to be a "historical document" but is "no longer relevant." We could make this same case against Hannity's precious Bible. Even if the Palestinians did call for the destruction of Israel, the Israelis have been calling for the destruction of Palestine for centuries; isn't this thinking, then, a bit backwards? As far as the Palestinian response to the occupation goes, in a country with no army, no weapons, and no power, they are forced to take their only options to protect their land. (Do some research and read some Fanon, about the psychology of the colonized.) Israeli does the same things (and worse!) to the Palestinians, but their terrorism and war crimes are legitimized. Something is not right! I hope you all are supporting the UN bid for statehood.
http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/hannity/2011/09/20/how-does-palestines-statehood-ambitions-affect-israel-us
My heart is with the Palestinians as they make their bid for statehood!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
my 9/11 fast
In recent days, I’ve seen many statuses urging me to remember 9/11 and never forget the “heroes.” I will not be not commemorating 9/11 by remembering those in the towers, in the Pentagon, or in the airplanes. I will instead be commemorating 9/11 by remembering those who have died at the hands of American forces in imperialistic American wars. I will also be fasting today, standing in solidarity with my brothers and sisters who died in American wars. I will not be drinking water either, in solidarity with my brothers and sisters in Palestine who, because of Israel, do not have adequate access to water. HE WHO PLUNDERS OTHERS ALWAYS LIVES IN TERROR -- Palestinian proverb.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
thoughts two days before 9/11
for Rachel Corrie
I have taken some time out from researching my Bachelor's Thesis to write this blog post, which is the first of, what I hope, will be many. My Bachelor's Thesis examines representations of female sexuality in French literature from both a semiotic and psychoanalytic standpoint, but that is not why I am here.
I've been distracted since about 5 p.m. by the International Solidarity Movement website, something which I've been obsessing for many months now. The ISM is "a Palestinian-led movement committed to resisting the Israeli apartheid in Palestine by using nonviolent, direct-action methods and principles," the description from the website. I think the ISM is a great organization. I'm so impressed by them as well as horrified by the behavior of Israel in the Occupied Territories that I have decided to go to Palestine next summer, Summer 2012, after I am graduated from CofC.
This blog post is sort of my formal announcement: for 4-6 weeks in Summer 2012, I will be in Palestine. I know it will be difficult. I hope to raise money not only for the transportation but also for the costs of living over there. (ISM estimates that I would spend between $100-150 a week over there; I am going to try to plan for $200/wk, just to err on the side of caution.) This decision to protest the Israeli occupation is something that I have been struggling with. Not only am I tired of my complacent, middle-class life here in the US, but I am disgusted by Israel's actions and I am disgusted by the US' refusal to do anything, even supporting Israel blindly. I am also dealing with my own fear and trepidation over being in the Occupied Territories. It is of course a dangerous place and I am facing some serious dangers but it is nothing in comparison to the dangers the Palestinians face every day. My experience will only be one summer, this horror is their life -- and I need to change it.
This blog will thus be a record of my experiences -- until Summer 2012, I am going to write about my fund-raising things (as well as shamelessly solicit donations) as well as provide news about what's really going on in the Occupied Territories. Too many lies have been perpetuated by Israel and by the US and I am going to attempt to put a stop to it.
I have been denounced by a few people in my life, even called anti-Semitic by several people (oneFacebook friend, in particular, emailed me, telling me that I was a Jew-hating Commie.) This has nothing to do with being Jewish - and I refuse to respond to those accusations of anti-Semitism -- I don't dare give them the air of respect they crave.
You may be wondering what this has to do with 9/11. 9/11 is Sunday and it is, as you all know, the 10th anniversary of the attack on the WTC. I was eleven years old and I remember watching in horror and sadness over the tragedy unfolding. It is still a horrific day and my heart goes out to all those who died.
I will, however, not be commemorating 9/11 by remembering the victims in the towers. I will be using 9/11 to remember all those innocent people abroad who have died at the hands of imperialist American forces. Too often their story is not heard, and I will not take part in a commemoration that portrays America as innocent, guiltless, and moral. I am thus fasting all of Sunday -- I will make a video about it on Sunday morning. I am fasting in solidarity with my Palestinian brothers and sisters. Unlike other fasts, I will not be drinking water, as I stand in solidarity with the Palestinians who do not have adequate access to water, under the Israeli occupation. 9/11 will be a day of remembrance, a day of honoring not only those in Palestine, but everywhere whose stories have been forgotten or pushed aside. I stand in solidarity with all of you.
I have taken some time out from researching my Bachelor's Thesis to write this blog post, which is the first of, what I hope, will be many. My Bachelor's Thesis examines representations of female sexuality in French literature from both a semiotic and psychoanalytic standpoint, but that is not why I am here.
I've been distracted since about 5 p.m. by the International Solidarity Movement website, something which I've been obsessing for many months now. The ISM is "a Palestinian-led movement committed to resisting the Israeli apartheid in Palestine by using nonviolent, direct-action methods and principles," the description from the website. I think the ISM is a great organization. I'm so impressed by them as well as horrified by the behavior of Israel in the Occupied Territories that I have decided to go to Palestine next summer, Summer 2012, after I am graduated from CofC.
This blog post is sort of my formal announcement: for 4-6 weeks in Summer 2012, I will be in Palestine. I know it will be difficult. I hope to raise money not only for the transportation but also for the costs of living over there. (ISM estimates that I would spend between $100-150 a week over there; I am going to try to plan for $200/wk, just to err on the side of caution.) This decision to protest the Israeli occupation is something that I have been struggling with. Not only am I tired of my complacent, middle-class life here in the US, but I am disgusted by Israel's actions and I am disgusted by the US' refusal to do anything, even supporting Israel blindly. I am also dealing with my own fear and trepidation over being in the Occupied Territories. It is of course a dangerous place and I am facing some serious dangers but it is nothing in comparison to the dangers the Palestinians face every day. My experience will only be one summer, this horror is their life -- and I need to change it.
This blog will thus be a record of my experiences -- until Summer 2012, I am going to write about my fund-raising things (as well as shamelessly solicit donations) as well as provide news about what's really going on in the Occupied Territories. Too many lies have been perpetuated by Israel and by the US and I am going to attempt to put a stop to it.
I have been denounced by a few people in my life, even called anti-Semitic by several people (one
You may be wondering what this has to do with 9/11. 9/11 is Sunday and it is, as you all know, the 10th anniversary of the attack on the WTC. I was eleven years old and I remember watching in horror and sadness over the tragedy unfolding. It is still a horrific day and my heart goes out to all those who died.
I will, however, not be commemorating 9/11 by remembering the victims in the towers. I will be using 9/11 to remember all those innocent people abroad who have died at the hands of imperialist American forces. Too often their story is not heard, and I will not take part in a commemoration that portrays America as innocent, guiltless, and moral. I am thus fasting all of Sunday -- I will make a video about it on Sunday morning. I am fasting in solidarity with my Palestinian brothers and sisters. Unlike other fasts, I will not be drinking water, as I stand in solidarity with the Palestinians who do not have adequate access to water, under the Israeli occupation. 9/11 will be a day of remembrance, a day of honoring not only those in Palestine, but everywhere whose stories have been forgotten or pushed aside. I stand in solidarity with all of you.
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