The Milwaukee Journals' "Travel Section" recently featured an article by Jane Woodridge on the pleasures of vacationing in Israel. The following letter to the editor was submitted to the Journal by a Palestinian-American local resident in response, though it has yet to be printed. Though I do not want to put Milwaukee down, I have to remind you that it is Golda Meir's hometown.
Apparently, the Journal Sentinel’s Travel section now features trips to the land of make-believe. Sunday, July 29th’s article, Israel in a New Light read like an Afrikaner’s guide to apartheid South Africa.[Tarboush tip: Sarah]
Astutely reinforcing the myth of an empty land needing to be tamed, Jane Wooldridge avoids the unmentionables - Palestinians. They’re reduced to mere minarets in the distance. Hello Ms. Woodridge, allow me to introduce myself. I’m a Palestinian born to olive tree farmers and I’d be happy to show you Israel in the light of day. Maybe after some goat cheese at a deluxe B&B we can mosey over to
Palestinian villages ethnically cleansed during The Catastrophe of 1948. Then I’ll show you the Palestinian towns in Israel that lack bomb shelters because the government only cares if Jews die. From there we’ll proceed to the village of Artas where a Palestinian orchard was recently bulldozed to make way for an Israeli settlement’s sewer pipe. Perhaps you’ll want to photograph the lovely pictographs spray painted on the 25ft apartheid wall.
Yes, “to life!” Ms. Wooldridge. To the life the oppressed never enjoy because privileged folks like you are too busy vacationing to notice the suffering of others.
Sadiqa Issa
Milwaukee, WI
40 comments:
When did the fiction that Palestinians only want "equal rights" with Israelis, become so popular? And why? Are there really so many ignorant people in the world who can be convinced that if only Palestinians received equal treatment, that there would be peace in the middle east? These ploys would be somewhat humorous if they didn't seem to have some sway with gullible Europeans.
I can't wait to read the new HAMAS charter, that places equal rights for Palestinians some place just below complete destruction of the state of Israel :P
Nat Turner killed a lot of innocent men, women and children during his slave revolt. When discussing the horrors of slavery and the despicable idea that blacks were not treated as equal citizens (humans), only a racist trying to divert attention from a real issue would discuss slavery in the context of Nat Turner.
When discussing the horrors of slavery and the despicable idea that blacks were not treated as equal citizens (humans), only a racist trying to divert attention from a real issue would discuss slavery in the context of Nat Turner.
And only a naive fool or a brainwashed puppet would believe for one second that the Arab/Israeli war is about equal rights.
Which are you?
There is a system in Israel, which automatically assures Jews privileges that other people, non-Jews subject to Israeli control, do not get. Those subject to Israeli control who do not get the privileges which are automatically given to Jews, demand equal rights.
Anyone who doesn't see this is either ignorant to the reality or a racist who believes its OK for an entitiy (Israel) to have in effect a system, which automatically assures Jews privileges that other people, non-Jews subject to Israeli control, do not get.
Which are you?
"Though I do not want to put Milwaukee down, I have to remind you that it is Golda Meir's hometown."
Its also someone else's hometown, you prick :)
There is a system in Israel, which automatically assures Jews privileges that other people...
Whether that's true or not, is completely irrelevant. You miss the point, that that is not the point. It is what is called an "emotional red herring".
Or, maybe you don't miss the point. Maybe you support such "smoke and mirrors" tactics.
Anyone who doesn't see this is either... or...
And that is called a "straw man".
You are using every cheap trick in the book, aren't you? :P
This crap may work on 19 year old college students, but they'll hate you even more when they eventually realize they've been duped.
"You miss the point, that that is not the point."
Programmer Crack Head, you somking too much crack? You studdering now? The statement "There is a system in Israel, which automatically assures Jews privileges that other people, non-Jews subject to Israeli control, do not get" is true and is relevant.
I smoked Programmer Crack Head like he smokes rocks!
No take your crack pipe and go to a racist blog.
You racist crack smoker.
mark buster, what priviliges are afforded to jews in Israel (a jewish state) that are that much different from those afforded to citizens of other states (say, those afforded canadian citizens of Canada but not to others)-- and in any event, I think you might want to exchange the word "Israelis" with "Jews"..
Anon 2:19 pm:
Are you smoking crack with Programmer Crack head too? I do not take issue with the privileges afforded Jews in Israel. Re-read what I said:
There is a system in Israel, which automatically assures Jews privileges that other people, non-Jews subjec to Israeli control, do not get. Those subject to Israeli control who do not get the privileges which are automatically given to Jews, demand equal rights.
The Canada example doesn't make sense. Apartheid South Africa is a better and more logical comparison.
Also, you called it a "jewish state". What does that mean? What does that mean for the 1 million non-Jews that the State of Israel has given citizenship to and what does it mean for the millions of other non-Jews subject to Israeli control who are not given citizenship?
As Nate Dogg says "Smoke....Weed [not crack], everyday."
Last time I was in Israel - a few months ago, I was driving on the road from Tiberias to Capernum and pulled over at Kibbutz Ginnosar to stop for a second.
As I was getting out of my car, a Muslim family (all the women in their hijabs) in their SUV pulled over and asked me directions to Luna Park (a waterslide partk, which is on the other side of the Lake/Sea).
Nice guy, nice family on a nice vacation day.
I had spent the previous night in Tiberias, and there were mutliple -and large - Muslim families eating at the water front cafes, by all appearances having a wonderful time.
I was thinking, in both instances, this must really piss off the haters.
Apparently so.
(And no, there were transluscent/white hijabs - they were all Muslim, not Druze).
by the way, milwaukee is home to the thirds largest jewish concentration in the USAA
that should read: there were NO transluscent/white hijabs.
Anon, what's your point? You're also a teabagger who enjoys getting tea-bagged by IDF terrorists. What does that have to do with anything?
The point is, i guess, that the comment drew out a useless moron whose twisted desires will never come to pass, further exposing the hatred that exists on your side, allowing the fake "peace" activist mask to slip, yet again.
Cheers.
I smoked Programmer Crack Head like he smokes rocks!
You must be either a 12 year old or a Palestinian militant to think that pathetic attempt at rationality qualifies for a victory lap :P
No take your crack pipe and go to a racist blog.
This is a racist blog, is it not?
You racist crack smoker.
Oooohhhh.... good one! You really burned me, dewd!
Its also someone else's hometown, you prick :)
Yass, sorry habibi, I could not resist.
Great letter
interesting post fayyad. reminded me of an article recently published by the associated press, describing ramallah as some kind of bourgeois resort by palestinian standards.
having never been there myself, i'd be curious to know what you think. seems to me the author is underestimating the brutality of occupation. any thoughts?
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/08/africa/ME-GEN-Palestinians-Sheltered-Ramallah.php?page=1
I again call for serious posters to ignore craig's infantile rants. He is a pathetic, affection-starved dweeb who comes to life only when farting out his "opinions" which he hopes will animate some interest in him on the part of his audience.
The more you address him, the quicker he jacks his useless dong. Ignore him.
Anon 6:07 pm:
You got clowned bozo...take an L and move on. I son fools like you, like I adopted you.
I'm the ODB of this joint...ain't no father to my style.
Freedom to all in the Holy Land, Jews, Christians, Muslims, etc. One citizenship for all.
I again call for serious posters to ignore craig's...
You don't apply your own advice, to yourself? :P
I'm the ODB of this joint...ain't no father to my style.
ODB = Old Dirty Bitch? Hmmm.... must be something else, because you are sound like somebody caught in the grips of puberty.
I son fools like you, like I adopted you.
So you're a retarded, pro-terrorist tool who rhymes the same word?
Hardly inspiring as a "peace" activist.
So you're a retarded, pro-terrorist tool who rhymes the same word?
Hardly inspiring as a "peace" activist.
C'mon. I don't think Craigmeister deserves that.
"I Don't Know That the Police Look at Us as Human": Apartheid Americana
[Counterpunch.org]
Two of my friends were just beaten and arrested by Brooklyn police. My friends, Michael Tarif Warren and Evelyn Warren, are African-American attorneys whose work consists, in part, of defending victims of police violence. I want to tell you about how police punched and humiliated these good people on the corner of Vanderbilt and Atlantic, in their own, predominantly Black neighborhood on June 21st; about Tarif's clothes being torn almost off--I don't want you to miss a thing.
...
"At approximately 5:45pm, petitioner and his wife were in their vehicle, stuck in traffic, when they saw members of the New York Police Department apprehend a young man, handcuff him, and physically abuse him while he was prone on the ground. Petitioner and his spouse exited their vehicle to inquire why police were engaging in that behavior, but immediately returned when ordered, without getting near the police or the young man. Sergeant Steven Talvy, however, approached the petitioner and his spouse and, after they identified themselves as attorneys, proceeded to strike petitioner numerous times in the head and face and strike petitioner's wife in the face."
"We were lined up against the wall with other prisoners. Tarif's clothes were ripped and falling off him. I will never forget, there was this blond officer in Talvy's unit--they were laughing together--and the guy said, 'What's this, a strip show?'
"You have to remember that Tarif and I were involved because the police were kicking this young man viciously. He was Black; probably around 18. His face was a bloody mess. Obviously, Talvy thought he could get away with it because he said, 'Well, it's your word against mine. Let's see what happens.'"
C'mon. I don't think Craigmeister deserves that.
And you're right. For starters, Craig hasn't made any pathetic attempts to rhyme the same word.
anon 9:22am
I wasn't trying to rhyme, dipshit.
Ok, apparently you're a very sensitive, retarded pro-terrorist tool.
Whatever works for you.
Anon 10:42,
Whatever, fat ass.
Whatever, fat ass.
Are you talking to QuiQui!?
QuiQui actually has something ion common with a lot of Arab women, with her over-sized baggage compartment, though:
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
Exhibit C
Plenty more where those came from! But really you don't need You Tube to see. Any crowd scene of Arabs burning American flags and what-not will yield plenty of examples :)
I don't really understand the way so many foreigners think Americans are overweight. Just parroting what they hear on the US news, I suppose.
Damn.... this was supposed to eb exhibit A:
Exhibit A
It's the best one, trust me
But really you don't need You Tube to see. Any crowd scene of Arabs burning American flags and what-not will yield plenty of examples :)
This is what is known as "parroting what is seen on the US news." See below.
I don't really understand the way so many foreigners think Americans are overweight. Just parroting what they hear on the US news, I suppose.
When was the last time you stepped outside, Craigster?
Do you even live in America?
Anonymous,
This is what is known as "parroting what is seen on the US news." See below.
No, that is known as believing what I see with my own eyes. What I was referring to was people who repeat the many reports we publish here in the US about American "obesity". As far as I can tell, 90% of Egyptians would be considered obese by American standards. A rate far higher than the rate of obesity in the United States. And most of those "obese" Egyptians are actually fat, too. I'm 5'11" and weigh just over 200 pounds. I'm "obese" going by the charts, but I have a 32" waist and I'm not fat. I don't even have a beer belly. *shrug*
When was the last time you stepped outside, Craigster?
Do you even live in America?
Yep. I live in Southern California. The last time I "stepped outside" was about an hour ago. I didn't see any overweight people. People are health conscious in my neighborhood. Sue me.
Can someone block Programmer Crack head from posting his hate speech?
Can somebody please close this hate speech site?
Sharing irrelevant links and gearing the conversation your own way, are we Craig?
Programmer crackhead realizes that even if he were to start his own blog, no one would read it, which is why he has to use this one as his proxy.
Ever since programmer crackhead's friends kicked him off their blog, he has been using the comments section on kabobfest to write up posts as if this were his own.
It's a call for help more than anything else.
Program Crackhead is a crackhead. Nobody should engage him or respond to his crack head racist statements.
Catholic Sunni Shia,
Programmer crackhead realizes that even if he were to start his own blog, no one would read it
Catholic Sunni Shia blogger profile:
On Blogger Since June 2005
Profile Views 3,197
Programmer Craig blogger profile:
On Blogger Since June 2005
Profile Views 7,774
Hmmm. Well. You have a blog. I don't. What's going on there, CSS?
Ever since programmer crackhead's friends kicked him off their blog
I removed myself from that blog. You are free to ask any of the other members. But you'll have to go from memory because the blog apparently got closed and deleted shortly after I took myself off of it.
Thanks for the concern, though. Very touching :)
he has been using the comments section on kabobfest to write up posts as if this were his own.
Actually I've been commenting here for well over a year. The little spat you are referring to was a couple months ago.
Maybe people would be more interested in your opinions (and your blog) if you lied a little less? Just a thought!
Hey, since you like to google people so much, check the kinds of things I used to say 2 years ago. When I still gave a fuck. Before I ran into a few too many people like you. The change that has occurred in me might be eye-opening, and a harbinger of what is to come for Arabs, as more and more Americans find out what Arabs *really* believe. You can blame the western media til the cows come home, but it wasn't the western media that changed my attitudes. I arrived on the Arab blogosphere with an open mind and a desire to learn.
"what Arabs *really* believe"
Do all "Arabs" think alike? Arab-Americans too? Are Arab-Americans real Americans?
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