I need to take a breath and say that we are in an amazing moment in the United States where the racism against Palestinians is at last beginning to crumble. For that prejudice is the heart of the 64-year American failure on this issue: our racism against Palestinians, and our refusal to grant them the right of self-determination. That racism is ending.
Why am I hopeful? Because of Nicholas Kristof’s qualified endorsement of one-state in the New York Times, a democracy in which Palestinians could be a majority. Because of Mahmoud Abbas’s amazing speech at the U.N. that so elevated the Palestinian image in dignity and cooperation and international law at a time when Netanyahu and Obama look like thugs. Because of the Arab spring that is convulsing international politics and rocking our thinktanks.
And finally because of an email I got this morning “Homage to Revolutions Past and Present” about the Boston Palestine Film Festival. Look at the events. They’re at prestige Boston institutions. The Museum of Fine Arts, Berklee College of Music. Edward Said is a lion in these events. The Last Interview… And there is tons of stuff about Gaza. Gaza is entering American liberal culture. Our world is changing.
Let’s hope so. Truth will out in the end. The question is whether it will be too late. Israel is painting itself into a corner, not dissimilar to South Africa – everybody knows it is wrong, the facade is acknowledged and understood as such, and the hideous wrongs done to Palestine are being slowly established in the public mind. The lobbyists and paid shills are becoming more shrill and desperate to sustain the lie.
Phil,
Your characterization of the Kristof piece is odd.
Weeks ago, you characterized similar pieces as contemptably pro-Israel, pro-two-state.
The content of the Kristof piece was of the nature of a warning, similar to years of Akiva Eldar, many others.
If you read my comments to the Dimi Rieder/Gershon Gorenburg dialog at 972, you could characterize my comments as similarly “endorsing” a single state, but it ain’t so.
Ask Kristof yourself if he “endorses” a single state.
Blessed be god who has allowed us to live until this day. It is the birth of this “day”, a “day” like the 6 days of creation, but a “day” now well begun. Soon may it be a “day” complete of which people say, “It was good.”
the racist’s options after liberation day?
emmigration
adapting to the more egalitarian society
after palestine is liberated, the jewish israelis’ choice?
could go the way of mozambique*
could go the way of south africa**
*95% of the mostly portuguese colonists returned to portugal
**most of the european colonists have stayed
“A Child’s View from Gaza” the art exhibit created by the children in Gaza, is being featured on October 25 at the Boston Palestinian Film Festival. The children’s drawings reflect their experiences during Operation Cast Lead and reveal the trauma and emotions caused by Israel’s 23 day bombardment and invasion. The Festival’s program also includes the video “A Child’s View from Gaza” based on the exhibit and created by Rajie Cook with Tom Francisco.
The idea for the exhibit began during a discussion by our delegation shortly before we left Gaza. Lacking a name, the delegation is refereed to as the May 2009 Gaza Trip or Group. Philip was part of that delegation. Many, if not most, of the people we met in Gaza asked that we tell Gaza’z story when we returned to the US. Hopefully, the exhibit does just that!
ACVG is a traveling exhibit. It’s headed to Canada where it will go from the west coast to the east coast with five or six stops in between. A few of the upcoming US venues include Boise, Idaho, Wichitaw Kansas, Albequerquey New Mexico and Park Slope in Brooklyn, New York and many additional. It’s also gotten requests from cities in Turkey, Germany and other European countries.
For those interested in further information about ACVG, email achildsview1@gmail.com