Is this fair? Some in Congress want to hold up Gaza aid till Israeli soldier-prisoner Gilad Shalit is released. Writes a friend:
These members of Congress are openly backing collective punishment
against a devastated community living under occupation and siege. How is a three-year-old Palestinian child supposed to effect the
release of Shalit? It reminds me of the scene in Gandhi where the
British military leader who has just carried out a massacre says that
he was prepared to provide medical assistance to anyone requesting it.
One of the presiding officials asks how an injured child is to appeal
for medical assistance from those shooting him.
against a devastated community living under occupation and siege. How is a three-year-old Palestinian child supposed to effect the
release of Shalit? It reminds me of the scene in Gandhi where the
British military leader who has just carried out a massacre says that
he was prepared to provide medical assistance to anyone requesting it.
One of the presiding officials asks how an injured child is to appeal
for medical assistance from those shooting him.
I got an email today from a friend in Gaza who recounts how one of
his very small children is scared by the smallest thing and cries when
alone and how the other is doing better but says "booof" whenever
there's a loud noise. My guess is that they're doing far better than a
lot of other kids in Gaza. But I know these kids and their parents and
have the sense that these members of Congress can scarcely imagine a
Palestinian family in Gaza and what life is like for them. Do they
imagine that such families can bring about the release of Shalit? Can
these members of Congress, with all their power, stop homicides
in their home districts? Should all earmarks and aid packages to their
districts be stopped because of the actions of a handful of
constituents?
his very small children is scared by the smallest thing and cries when
alone and how the other is doing better but says "booof" whenever
there's a loud noise. My guess is that they're doing far better than a
lot of other kids in Gaza. But I know these kids and their parents and
have the sense that these members of Congress can scarcely imagine a
Palestinian family in Gaza and what life is like for them. Do they
imagine that such families can bring about the release of Shalit? Can
these members of Congress, with all their power, stop homicides
in their home districts? Should all earmarks and aid packages to their
districts be stopped because of the actions of a handful of
constituents?
