Monday, May 11, 2009

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Palestine Think Tank

Saffiya Shillo - Palestine Not Remembered

Posted: 05 May 2009 08:02 AM PDT

On the anniversary of the siege of Palestine, Palestinians worldwide forget to remember what is most important when marking this and every other past and future commemoration. They forget to fight for Palestine! They forget to fight the "right" fight." They forget to raise their voices in unison advocating the noble cause for freedom through justice. They forget what it means to be One Palestinian People.

No one can undo "the Catastrophe" or "al Nakba" that befell the Palestinian people when an organized Jewish group called Zionists decided that they wanted a homeland for Jews to call their own—even if that homeland was already a vibrant and rooted homeland to a people of deep honor and respect. No amount of "spin" or denial will ever change what happened in 1948—the truth is the Palestinians were wronged.

The Palestinians of 1948 were a simple and yet principled people. They could not accept the Jewish people's unfair method of forcefully taking their homes, freedom and prosperity through arrogance, violence and murder. They refused to be erased or ignored. Their will to persevere could not and would not be shaken, but, alas, today their honor and respect, the very virtues that defined them elude them. The outcome of constant beat down—both physically and mentally—by one of the most brutal and abusive occupations in modern times.

The Israeli occupation of Palestine has seen people displaced and living in refugee status—sometimes twice over. Yet, they adapt to every obstacle placed in detriment to their survival. Forever waiting until justice prevails, they remain steadfast.

Israel's occupation has and continues to kill people and destroy families. It demolishes homes and creates destruction and despair under the guise of entitlement. It is an occupation that choked the want-for-life out of otherwise viable young men and women who opted to kill themselves and other innocents espousing the violence they grew up in and unintentionally creating harm to their cause and families. They were children that grew up wanting to live; wanting freedom; wanting justice for their people. They were children that grew up without the tools or leadership to guide them to meet those goals. They left this world and their noble struggle robbed of the opportunity to understand the true concept of "give me liberty or give me death."

The recent Israeli attack on the people of Gaza in retaliation for rockets launched by militants again saw Israelis break all international and moral codes. Israel's unscrupulous leadership closed the borders of Gaza with willing neighbors as partners in crime. The unconscionable act of keeping people from fleeing to safety and stuck like fish in a barrel as Israeli planes dropped bombs on them and ground troops shot to kill is appalling. It left an overwhelming number of innocent people deliberately dead. In addition, it maimed, widowed and orphaned Palestinians who now find themselves alone, hungry, helpless and hopeless. And yet, the people of Gaza continue to be held captive without food, water, or access to medical care as was the case for years preceding Israel's noxious operation and unilateral evacuation. The complacency of the world, void of absolute indignation and action, is inconceivable as the calendar pronounces 2009.

Occupation never ended in Gaza or anywhere else in the Palestinian territories. Palestinians have been denied fundamental necessities required to govern and live with the most basic of human rights.

It is time to remember that Palestinians are victims in this situation. Palestinians have suffered immeasurably. This is a conflict about land and can be solved. It is between the Palestinians and the Israelis. This conflict is about what the State of Israel has done to the Palestinian people for land. It is not about how Arab countries treated Jews in past, present or future. It is not about anti-Semitism. It should not negate the Zionist movement, based on the need for Jews to have a homeland of their own. A right people deserve, but not one that mandates the denial and demise of another people—the Palestinian people.

The Holocaust perpetrated on innocent Jews and often referred to in manifestation and parallel to this conflict should provide the moral compass deterring deviations from the notion of "never again" no matter who the aggrieved.

Palestinian suffering at the hands of Israel continues and, unfortunately, those hands have been aided by the hands of Palestinians themselves. This is what needs to be reflected on. The leaders and martyrs alike mean nothing when the people and land they gave their lives for cannot stand together. Their loss means nothing. Palestine will remain lost when their very own forget that they are all brothers and sisters whether Fattah or Hamas; Muslim or Christian, or any other ideology, faction or collection of groups.

The sanctity of the Holy Land should help guide the end to this conflict. It should touch the heart and soul of spiritual people everywhere. How can Israel strive to make the Holy Land a Jewish-only state, with Jewish only roads and areas? That racism will keep all of the children of Abraham forever apart. Judaism, Christianity and Islam all come together in Jerusalem—a marker to all that seek its control. Sole religious claim to Jerusalem covers-up, whether knowingly or not, the plight of the Palestinians and subsequently the ability to bring about resolution through justice due them.

The fact that Palestinians are more divided today than united on the ground in Palestine and worldwide speaks to the profound loss of virtues that once defined the most noble of noble people in the Middle East.

Sadly, on yet another commemoration of Al Nakba, the Palestinians have forgotten what it means to be Palestinian.

Saffiya Shillo is a Palestinian American peace activist based in Chicago.  She co-developed a dual narrative program with Deputy Director Aliza Becker that they have given in many Chicago-area synagogues. Saffiya is a board member of the Palestinian American Women's Society and previously served as president of the Palestinian American Congress-Chicago chapter and as president of Arab American Family Services. She presently works as a sexual assault crises counselor and bully prevention trainer. Shillo previously worked as Director of Ethnic Affairs for the State of Illinois' Office of Lieutenant Governor and Director of the Arab American Institute's Chicago office.   She is also a syndicated columnist for the Arab Writers Group http://arabwritersgroup.wordpress.com/

cartoon of the day

Posted: 05 May 2009 07:41 AM PDT

By Ben Heine

Ben Heine Interviewed by Mike Palecek

Posted: 05 May 2009 07:35 AM PDT

Our treasured friend Ben Heine gave this interesting interview for a very good site: The New American Dream
Mike Palacek: Where do you think your passion came from? What are your personal experiences of oppression, militarism, imperialism?

Ben Heine: My passion started a long time ago when I was a little boy. I didn't live in an oppressed country, I read about it in books and news articles. And I do my best to denounce all kinds of social injustices, crimes against humanity, human rights infringements, racism and oppression with my pencils and brushes.

Mike Palacek: How long have you been making a living as an artist? You don't have a day job, do you? Did you use to?

Ben Heine: Are you joking? Do you really think I make a living as a political artist? Ha ha, no, I don't. I do have a full time day job. I teach French, English and History in a Belgian high school. This is very challenging and time consuming. A few months ago, I was working in a communication agency. I didn't really like it. I think we, artists, must accept making jobs that have nothing related to our passion. That's stupid, I know, but that's what society obliges us to do. A good friend of mine and a very talented Spanish artist, Juan Kalvellido, used to work many years at Burger King and make his revolutionary political creations beside!

Mike Palecek: Would you like to choose one of these to answer, elaborate on? I don't ask this to make fun. I ask because I really seek the answers.

Are UFOs real? - Did we land on the moon in 1968? - Did Bush knock down the towers? - Was Paul Wellstone's death an accident? - The Oklahoma City bombing? Wasn't that just another U.S. government terrorist exercise? Or not. - Waco. We burned kids, right? You can see flames shooting out of the tanks. Or not. - Is Bigfoot real? - Is there a God? … What makes you think that?

Ben Heine: Ok, I go for "Is there a God?". Yes, I think so. God is to be found in as many entities as there are human beings. This is just a personal opinion. (Mike, I'm not a crazy philosopher, you are.)

Mike Palecek: Let me see, how do I want to put this… Do Europeans give a shit about America? Do we really affect your lives? How about our wars, our government? Our movies, entertainers? Or, do you have your own culture, exclusive of us. I have never been to Europe, you understand.

Ben Heine: Very good question you ask here. Yes, in my opinion, all European countries and people are very concerned about America's decisions. Many European countries are involved in the same wars (sad to say, but for instance, the Belgian government sent some troops in Afghanistan too…) Many Americans used to be Europeans in the past. American culture affects us in a strong way too. We have all your big Hollywood movies in our cinemas. I'm not sure that this is positive because this is somehow a "brain colonization". And we actually don't have much choice. And yes, we have our own culture. We have our own movies too, ha ha! Each country in Europe has rich traditions. Belgium is in the middle of Europe. From Brussels, I can travel to Amsterdam, Paris, London or Berlin in just a few hours. We all have different languages. Although we all have different customs and standards of living, we still feel Europeans.

Mike Palecek: Do you have hope in Obama? Why? Why not? Do you spend time thinking about Obama? Bush?

Ben Heine: Yes, I have many hopes. Barack Obama has won the presidential elections and I believe an important change is happening in America. There is a new positive hope for Americans and for the citizens of other foreign nations. I foresee a better future for America, hence for the world. There are a lot of expectations. And Obama might disappoint us in many ways. But he will act differently than his predecessors and if he follows only 50% of his promises this will have positive consequences. This election changed in many ways my views about America. America is able to renew itself as no other country can do.

Mike Palecek: Does your favorite coffee cup have words on it? What are they? What did you absolutely have to get done by noon today?

Ben Heine: My favourite coffee cup has a big heart on it. I'm a lover and I drink liters of coffee everyday. I must prepare the lessons I'll give to my students tomorrow and answer to a bunch of emails.

Mike Palecek: What else would you like to add? What else should I have asked?

Ben Heine: I would like to put here some questions that were recently asked to me by Joe Szabo (Joe Szabo is an American cartoonist, author, editor, public speaker and founder of WittyWorld International Cartoon Magazine). He is currently making a worldwide survey for his upcoming book on The Image of America.

Joe Szabo: If you could think of one word that could describe the United States best, what would that be?

Ben Heine: The US, as everybody knows, is a multicultural country. It is the fruit of the old European colonization. The practice of intense slavery gave the US African people. Now, people from all around the world (especially from South American coutries) are coming to live in the US, because they consider it as an "El Dorado". The US is a mix of nationalities, of origins and roots, that's, according to me, an explanation of it's cultural wealth, but also of the growing xenophobia, and the fear of the foreigner…

Joe Szabo: In its relation to other countries, do you see the U.S. as a partner, leader, or dictator?

Ben Heine: The US is definitely a worldwide leader. It is a strong democracy, thus not a dictatorship. Since the "Monroe Statement", the US has decided to lead and not to be lead. The US is a partner for some countries (mostly European) but also has many enemies (mostly in the Middle East and in South America).

Joe Szabo: Many countries took the model for their own constitution, legislative system as well as economic and cultural development from the United States. Do you see this as an equalizer, a threat to national and cultural independence or do you view this as a common sense, forward-propelling factor for the rest of the world hoping to catch up?

Ben Heine: I see this as "a common sense, forward-propelling factor for the rest of the world hoping to catch up." I am from Belgium. Belgium got its independence from the bigger nations surrounding it (Germany, France, Nederland…) in 1831. It got its own Constitution, which was inspired from the US Constitution. We can criticize the use of this Constitution by the Bush administration, but I think that the US Constitution in itself is a true and beautiful example of real democracy.

Joe Szabo: Is there still such a thing as "the American dream?" And if so what is it for you?

Ben Heine: The American dream is the search of material possessions as a way of finding happiness. The American dream is different for each American, though I think it's always related to material wealth and financial success. The famous "American dream" has evolved throughout American history. It has become a symbol and an ideal.

The American dream is different nowadays and is more related to egoism, making money and pure consumerism. I find it a bad choice. In some ways and for some people, it has become the "American nightmare".

Mike Palecek (an American writer living in Iowa for whom I made several illustrations in his recent book "Iowa Terror") has just launched a new website called "The New American Dream" where he gives a new definition of it, affirming that one of the obstacles Americans need to overcome is the lack of curiosity about the rest of the world… I can't agree more with him.

Joe Szabo: Why do people hate America?

Ben Heine: Maybe because of it's arrogance though its a young democratic State in mankindìs history, because of its violent way of solving conflicts abroad (Iraq, Afghanistan…), because many Americans just ignore what's happenning outside the borders of their country, because big US multinationals (Coca Cola, Nike, Mc Donalds…) invade and destroy the economy of several other nations.

In the Middle East, many Arab countries hate America because it backs Israel by giving money to the Israeli government and weapons to Tsahal (the Israeli army).

Europeans usually criticize specifically the Bush administration (not the US in general). They usually dislike Bush because they believe he is stupid and doesn't understand the consequences of his acts.

But the US and European countries still have a lot in common (same judeo-christian roots, similar culture, same way of living, similar political systems…)

I think the question is wrong. It shouldn't be "Why people…", but "Why some people…". Americans are sometimes "paranoiac" and believe all the world hates them, which is of course wrong. People know North America is able to change fast.

Joe Szabo: About 59 million immigrants, including 11 million illegal aliens, live in the U.S. today. Why do so many people - some even risking their lives - keep migrating to the U.S.?

Ben Heine: As I said in a previous answer, I think the main reason to that is the "El Dorado" ideal. We have roughly the same situation in Europe (many Africans try to migrate to European industrialized countries, most of them die on their way. It's a terrible situation.)

The immigrants (Mexicans…) coming in the US dream to earn more money, to have a great job, to live in a nice house, and to enjoy social/financial help. Some immigrants also seek asylum and consider the US as a better democracy, they are political refugees.

This is a totally wrong conception. What they get instead is social exclusion, ghettos… America is considered as the richest and most powerful, technologically advanced country but many Americans do not earn a lot and live as "poor people". All the world saw the growing poverty some American citizens after the Katrina disaster last summer.

Joe Szabo: Tell a story you heard about or experienced in the United States and of which you could say it can happen "only in America."

Ben Heine: Well, a few years ago I visited all the Western coast of the US (and only Washington in the East). The landscapes, towns (Canyons, Yosemite village, salt desert, amazing hotels in Las Vegas, business in Hollywood, Indians in Arizona…) hotels, food and people were great. I can't quote all the great things I saw.

But I was struck by the Indian tribes reserves in Arizona. This was quite shocking. Most of the Indians have no social help and live in total poverty. They become depressed and alcoholic and they die very young. They are treated like animals in a zoo by the "modern Americans" (because the Indians only shoud be called "Americans", as it's their land originally…). That can only happen in America. I liked a lot visiting the US, but I was deeply shocked by this.

I was also amazed by the "big dimension" of everything. Las Vegas is a particularly good example: Huge hotels with so many casinos… In one of the hotels, there is even a reconstitution of Paris! Along the streets, there are lakes with shows and spectacles to attract the tourists and visitors in the casinos… All the advertising lights, the smart limousines, the famous people. Actually Las Vegas is an artificial town in the middle of the desert! This was beautiful to see. That can only happen in North America.

Joe Szabo: Why did 9/11 (the terror attack against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon) happen?

Ben Heine: That's very complicated. The September 11 attacks were a tragic event in American history. It was also tragic for the world. The so called "War on terrorism" launched by the Bush administration generated more dramatic tensions between leading countries. Instead of appeasing the world, it increased terrorist attacks worldwide. I think it happened because Al-Qaeda wanted to show the world that American supremacist behaviour had come to an end. America was vulnerable as any other country. I believe it was also a revenge by the attackers and all their supporters against American imperialism.

Joe Szabo: How would you describe the American culture?

Ben Heine: I would say the American culture is rich and fertile. The only problem is that it's too "self-centered".

Joe Szabo: What is America's greatest shortcoming?

Ben Heine: It's too "self-centered", blind to all the disasters that are happening outside its borders…

Joe Szabo: How is America different from your country?

Ben Heine: My country is really tiny :) The USA is huge. We, as Belgians do not really consider that being Belgian is a "top quality" in itself. At least that's my belief. I consider myself more as a "citizen of the world" or a "European". I was born and lived 7 years in another country (Ivory Coast, Africa). So I might be somehow an "exception". I have the feeling that some Americans are so proud of their nationality that they don't pay attention to what's happening "outside". This is an important difference.

Joe Szabo: Would the world be a better or worse place without America? Why?

Ben Heine: I don't know. What I know is that any other huge nation could make the same mistakes.

Joe Szabo: Describe your feelings, and emotion when you see an American flag.

Ben Heine: I see a lot of colored and complex symbols…
Now the fact that it is so frequently displayed in public and private places (more I think than in other European nations) proves a certain fear of the American people to lose what they have had with great difficulty: independence, unity, freedom, democracy and power.

Although American people do certainly not interpret it this way, I think many foreign observers see this as a hostile and arrogant demonstration of authority, control, supremacy…

A flag should have a rational meaning, but the American flag brings a lot, may be too much emotion, pride and passion.

Joe Szabo: In your view what are the main goals of U.S. foreign policy?

Ben Heine: I think the main goal of the U.S. foreign policy is to preserve national interests. This is rather logical. But I'm convinced that this shouldn't be the purpose of a leading nation worldwide. A good leader normally helps as much as they can the weakest the poorest and the oppressed ones and do not fight only for their own interests. A good leader promotes Peace and defends democracy and justice in its land but also in other lands. But it's always easier to play with people's fear.

Joe Szabo: How do you see the foreseeable future of America?

Ben Heine: Barack Obama has won the presidential elections and an important change is happening in America. There is a new positive hope for Americans and for the citizens of other foreign nations. I foresee something good for America.

Joe Szabo: What are America's greatest contributions to the world? You may give more examples starting with the most important.

Ben Heine: There have been many contributions. Here are a few ones that I have in mind:

1) The progress and spreading of new technologies and applied sciences.
2) The proof that a country can have citizens of all origins, of all races, of all colours living in an apparent peaceful harmony.
3) The demonstration of the importance and effectiveness of the Constitutional democracy and the safe development of universal suffrage.
4) Freedom of the will for the individual.
5) Universal access to education and information

But all these positive contributions have been achieved with tremendous difficulties and after centuries. And I could evoke a negative aspect for each one of them. 1) weapons' business, 2) Xenophobia, racism, 3) 8 years of almost "dictatorship" under the Bush administration…

http://www.newamericandream.net/

Sarah Gillespie on the Concert for Medical Aid in Palestine 30th April 2009

Posted: 05 May 2009 06:53 AM PDT

The world famous violinist Nigel Kennedy mentioned on stage last Thursday night that jazz is a universal consciousness. Jazz is also a call for freedom and as much as we are very happy to support MAP in our most successful fundraiser so far, it was also very cheering to receive such vast support from the artistic community. An eclectic combination of artists including BBC award winning vocalist Christine Tobin, acclaimed actor David Calder, poet Caroline Bird, Nigel Kennedy, Gilad Atzmon, Chico Chagas, Adriano Adewale and myself pulled together for an evening that jumped from Bach to bebop to beatnik poetry and landed on a hair-raising improvised finale from Kennedy, Atzmon and the Orient House Ensemble.    

Predictably enough, the 606 Club and MAP had to withstand pressure from all the usual suspects. Gilad's number one stalker, Tony Greenstein, exposed his true pathological colours by lobbying MAP with a smear campaign aimed at preventing Gazans from receiving medical aid if is funded by us. Greenstein claims in a circulated email that MAP were 'symapthetic' to his demands and accusations, yet MAP catagoricaly denies any sympathetic reaction to Greenstein and has repeatedly enthused on the extent to which they appreciate our work and loved the evening.

The morning after our concert a music business guy, who had come to videotape the concert, called me on my mobile. Referring to the packed out audience he quizzically asked, 'Who on earth were all those people?' I assume the demographics of the crowd failed to comply with his trusted categorizations of CD consumers. 'They are just people who love music and who call for freedom in Palestine,' I told him.  

And what generous souls they are. With donations still trickling in, we have so far raised nearly £2,000. 

Photographs by Tali Atzmon 

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