- Commentary
-
- As the Palestinian president remains blockaded by Israeli
Defense Forces, the United States demands that Arafat reign in terror.
While death and destruction rages in Palestine, US Secretary of State Colin
Powell travels throughout the "Mid-East" stating he is trying
to galvanize Arab support for a cease fire. This is claimed on the heels
of an Arab summit, which proposed and offered a peace plan to normalize
relations with Israel and recognized its existence and "right"
to exist in peace.
-
- Further, as Israel suffers from another bombing attack,
they claim this is proof positive why they should continue to place over
1.5 million Palestinians on house arrest, destroy their homes, schools
and businesses and imprison or detain all Palestinian men between the ages
of 15 to 60. Palestinian settlements are bombed to oblivion and places
of worship have been disrespected and destroyed, both Christian and Muslim.
To add final injury medical personnel and grieving family and friends are
not permitted to recover their dead and wounded.
-
- Mainstream news stations such as CNN, NBC, FOX and newspapers
publicize the exact numbers of Israeli Defense Soldiers killed with slight
mention of the scores of Palestinians civilians or foreign citizens (including
US citizens) who have been killed or injured. Mere mention is given about
journalists who have been shot at or had stun grenades thrown in their
direction. This unfair coverage would not be an issue if alternative or
more balanced views were provided by stations or networks with as much
exposure that the media conglomerates have. However this is not the case.
-
- Such an imbalanced portrayal and disregard for life by
Israelis determined to destroy Palestine, Palestinians who bomb indiscriminately
and world leaders and other individuals who have the ability to influence
this situation is unacceptable. To believe that suicide bombings will cease
by heaping massive destruction upon other innocent populations only increases
the chance for violence and sets the stage for more destruction. Attaching
a label of "terror" on any group or organization that opposes
your view in order to ride the wave of "911" is inexcusable and
is transparent to all.
-
- The issue between Israel and Palestine will and does
affect us all. If an army with tanks, jets, helicopters, artillery and
well-equipped soldiers against groups of men with outdated machine guns,
rifles and rocks can be characterized as a war, then all countries and
groups that lack power to resist are in danger. Media using terms like
raging battle and stiff resistance when Israel took control of almost all
cities in less than 12 days is ridiculous. It is grandstanding and it does
not allow objectivity by recipients of such information.
-
- More specifically, all groups who oppose colonialism,
racism, oppression and double speak are in danger. Arab countries as well
as Muslim countries within the region are simmering at the constant disrespect
and disregard they receive from Western countries and at this time the
focal point is Israel. If atrocities continue unabated, chaos will result.
-
- Since western nations are gravely dependent upon "middle
eastern" oil and the US is doing all it can to engage in a war with
Iraq, (which is leading the call to stop all oil production and the sale
to western countries until they "reign" in Israel) the world
may soon find itself into a downward spiral of war and catastrophic ruin.
-
- However, all of this could be averted if there were more
action and not acting by the US and countries in the European Union who
exercise influence with Israel and if major power brokers in western society
who have a vice grip on what people see in their daily newspapers or TV
screens present a more balanced view.
-
- This is true because no matter how much a government
ignores the people it governs when the populace is ignorant or not paying
attention, it always pays attention when the populace is upset or demands
action and change. The world needs truth, not sanitized agenda based version
of events. The issue of Israel and Palestine is not for the world's entertainment;
it is more of a wake up call. Either we can rise up and face the day or
roll over and go back to sleep. ___
-
- Bakari Akil is an editor for Global Black News.com and
can be reached at globalblacknews@hotmail.com
|
