Rachel Corrie memorial disrupted.

[reprehensor]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,917119,00.html

Israeli forces fired teargas and stun grenades yesterday in an attempt to break up a memorial service for Rachel Corrie, the American peace activist killed by an army bulldozer in Gaza on Sunday.
Witnesses including several dozen foreigners and Palestinian supporters say Israeli armoured vehicles tried to disperse the gathering at the spot in Rafah refugee camp where Ms Corrie was crushed to death.

The 23 year-old activist with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) was trying to prevent the destruction of Palestinian homes by the Israelis when she was hit by the bulldozer.

Joe Smith, a young activist from Kansas City, said about 100 people were gathered to lay carnations and erect a small memorial when the first armoured personnel carrier appeared.

more at link.

[Desertrose]

1. so sad....

Tensions rose further when a convoy of vehicles, including the bulldozer that killed Ms Corrie, passed the area.

"I don't think it was deliberate but it was pretty insensitive," said Mr Smith.

I'd lay odds it was deliberate after they sprayed them with teargas.....
What is wrong with this world???


Peace
DR

[el_gato]

2. IDF = scum

[tom_paine]

10. Again, you go too far in your rhetoric and I must strongly disagree

The Israel-Arab situation has historical roots and atencedents in which there is MORE than enough blame to spread around.

I'll admit the soldier who crushed Corrie (or what it a construction worker...I forget) was scum.

So also are the Palestinian Suicide Bombers who target civilians...mothers, children, etc. Scum. Care to argue that?

(yes, I know the Israelis have done the same with their air and artillery attacks...and they are badly wrong, too)

Like a pair of angry drunks, the Israelis and Palestinians have to accept that they have been wronging the hell out of each other (to put it mildly), sort of like "admit you both have a problem" for 60 years.

Neither side is morally pure in this. In fact, both sides are filthy as hell.

Today the Israelis wronged the Palestinians and the friends of Rachel Corrie. Wait for it. Sadly it won't be long until teh Palestinians get their bloody vengeance.

And the murderous cycle continues. I have no answers but I do know that to place blame on one side or the other is ridiculous, IMHO.

[Red_Storm]

11. So, basically you're point is...........that you have no point.........

[tom_paine]

12. No, not it at all. Are you being intentionally obtuse?

If you cannot understand my point I must assume that you are still in some form of schooling.

Let me reiterate and simplify:

The way out of the Israeli-Palestinian is NOT going to be made by ONLY one side stopping their "scummy" behavior. Both sides have wronged each other more than enough, thank you. The same goes for blaming a single side.

Is this too complex to be understood? Perhaps. I will strive to speak in less complex thoughts in the future.

If I may add further (and I understand I am risking you utterly missing a second very simple point) it is quite disturbing to see in DUers characteristics, such as the "false dichotomy" (look it up) in which one must either be for something or against it, not taking into account numeorus alternate strategies or "shades of grey".

As I said, that is an example of the extremist/Totalitarian mind. Which leads me to ask you: Are you a Comrade?

To Quote the good Lennon:

"And if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao.
You ain't gonna make it with anyone anyhow."

[Red_Storm]

13. Since you like to quote the good Lennon..........

"Living Is Easy With Eyes Closed" ......wise words indeed......

[tom_paine]

15. Missed my point again, did you?

(you could have faked understanding it, you know, though I do appreciate your honesty)

Education, my lad. Finish your education.

Then we can talk.

Bye.

:hi:

[Dark Angel]

17. I agree

:)

While I do support Israel more than Palestine, even I can realize that the bastard who killed Corrie is scum.

That does not, however, excuse the behavior of the Palestinian suicide bombers(as you pointed out so eloquently), and some on here are all too willing to excuse that behavior as part of the "Palestinian resistance against their Israeli occupiers."

[sonias]

3. Let's honor Rachel

I went to a talk last week here in Austin where a couple of Rachel's cousins were speaking at the UT campus. Today the 16th is the one year anniversary of her death.

The one thing the family wants us to do is remember the peace makers. Rachel's image belongs right there in history with the Chinese student standing in front of the tank at Tiananmen Square.

She was an incredible person. At the age of 10 she was speaking before her state legislature on ending world hunger. This woman had a lot of strength. I only wish I had known her.

Rest in peace Rachel Corrie
http://www.rachelcorrie.org/

Sonia

[Aussie_Hillbilly]

4. Publicity

I was at an ISM-sponsored meeting here in Melbourne last night. Began with a minutes silence for Rachel. I'm really glad she will not simply be forgotten as so many IDF victims have been. She was truly a hero.

Palestinian ISM co-ordinator, Saif Abu Keshek made a really good speech to a packed Trades Hall here. He had known Rachel Corrie before her death. I was quite impressed with ISM.

I have to say, it must be distressing for the Palestinians to realise that one "International" life is valued more than the thousands of Palestinians killed by the IDF. Is it the media, or just we Westerners?

[Matilda]

5. Her death has a different value, because she can't be dismissed

as a Muslim fundamentalist, or an ignorant Arab, or a brain-washed
Palestinian. She was Anglo, educated, articulate, and therefore
far more dangerous, because she couldn't be pigeon-holed and
dismissed.

[Zhade]

6. Yeah, instead a bunch of pro-Sharon Israel-firsters...

...denounce her as a terrorist-supporter and "pancake princess".

How one can support that fascist Sharon and still be progressive is honestly beyond me. I understand wanting Israel to defend itself against legitmate threats, but to go so far as to excuse IDF war crimes is to go right to "the ends justify the means" - every neoconservative's favorite debate point.

[Red_Storm]

7. Many of those people saying those things.....

are fellow DUers........go to I/P forum, if you dare.......

[Zhade]

8. Heh...where do you think I heard the term "pancake princess"?

There are more ultra-conservative barely-Dems in I/P than anywhere on the boards.

Either that, or more willfully blind Dems. Either option is an unfortunate one.

[Red_Storm]

9. You're right...........very unfortunate......

[sonias]

14. Just realized that the article link is from 2003

Just thought you would like to know this happened just a few days after her death. She was killed on March 16, 2003 and this memorial service was disrupted on March 18th, 2003.

The article is dated
Wednesday March 19, 2003
The Guardian


Sonia

[tom_paine]

16. Wow. Good call.

Funny how it's so easy to whip ourselves up (I agree Rachel Corrie was a hero) on old information or even misinformation.

There is a lesson to be tsaken here for all of us, myself included, about jumping to conclusions and examining data more thoroughly.