If you have a minute, please send a note to the Citizen (mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]) about this biased editorial. Thanks ---------------------- http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/editorials/story.asp?id=6AEE0D56-BBEB -4CB6-8082-E1E7F8264D82
Shielded from reality? The Ottawa Citizen Thursday, January 09, 2003 Why are some western idealists rushing to Iraq to serve as "human shields" for the tyrant Saddam Hussein? Among them was Canadian George Weber, the Christian Peacemaker Team member tragically killed in a recent traffic accident on the highway between Basra and Baghdad. Another "human shield" is David Swann, who made news in Canada when he was fired as a medical officer of health in Alberta for his advocacy of the Kyoto Protocol. In other words, people from many areas of life believe in putting themselves directly in harm's way. Why? Is it because whenever force is threatened, advocates of non-violence are willing to risk their very existence? Unfortunately, not always. We detect some double standards. When western governments or their allies use or threaten to use force, well-meaning activists do place themselves in harm's way -- be it at Burnt Church in New Brunswick, in the West Bank, in Colombia or in Baghdad. But in Tibet? Too dangerous. In Afghanistan? Not during the Soviet war or the Taliban rule. They only showed up there after the attack on the World Trade Center, when an American strike was imminent. Or, take North Korea, the epitome of belligerence. It promised to scrap its nuclear-weapons program in return for aid from the democracies. It got aid but kept building weapons. Where are the well-meaning pacifists rushing to Seoul to serve as shields for 10 million South Korean civilians? We suggest many "human shields" are selective about who gets their protection. Not all, to be sure: The Christian Peacemaker Teams had people ride a #18 bus in Jerusalem for several weeks after Palestinian terrorists targeted that bus on two consecutive Sundays. Doug Pritchard, their Canadian co-ordinator, says they only go where they're invited by local people committed to non-violence. But apparently that includes The International Solidarity Movement, whose Web site says, "we recognize the Palestinian right to resist Israeli violence and occupation via legitimate armed struggle" (though they themselves choose non-violence). "Human shields" show great personal conviction. But siding with enemies of the West does not usually promote peace or justice. We hope these brave but sometimes misguided people in places like Iraq learn this, without losing their lives. A worthy project Glebe seniors' building deserves support. Please see City Editorial Page, D4. © Copyright 2003 The Ottawa Citizen ------- My response below: Dear Ottawa Citizen: I am a member, albeit out in Vancouver, of the International Solidairty Movement. Your newspaper probably better than many understands the difficulty there is in getting the true nature of the Israeli Occupation of the Palestinian people some major news coverage, and what dangers are frought with making just such a statement. The reason that the ISM supports the right of the Palestinians to armed struggle comes from two basic reasons: One, it is recognised in International Law that military measures to resist illegal occupations are legitimate and just, two that the very occupation of Palestine is the cause of military resistance from Palestinians, not the other way around. People who go are indeed going because they are well-meaning. However, after men like Vancouverites Drew Penland and Jaggi Singh go to Israel and later to Palestine, they come back more convinced than ever before of the wholly criminal nature of the Israeli forces and the Occupation of Palestine. If people want to save these valiant souls for the efforts they put in, two things need to happen: One, so that the isolated actions of good people aren't needed to focus attention on the suffereing of Palestinians, the media must give full-exposure to the on the ground daily conditions in Palestine. Also, the occupation must be ended immediately and Canadians who want to protect their citizens on these missions should pressure their government to speak out firmly against the occupation. This, and this alone, will protect the lives of the committed who struggle for Palestinian (and human) rights. sincerely, Macdonald Stainsby ISM-Vancouver ------------------------------------------- Macdonald Stainsby http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/rad-green http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/leninist-international -- In the contradiction lies the hope. --Bertholt Brecht _______________________________________________ Leninist-International mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/leninist-international
