D.C. area organizations hold memorial for Rachel Corrie

[Scurrilous]

http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article2500.shtml

<snip>

"As Israel's construction of the "wall" has renewed debate in the United States on impediments to peace in the region, Washington DC peace activists are organizing a memorial on March 16, 2004 to bring Israel's Occupation to the forefront of American public consciousness. March 16 will mark one year since the first American peace activist was killed in the Occupation. Hence, event organizers, who represent over 20 national and local organizations, will hold a memorial for Rachel Corrie, as a timely issue in the debate on U.S. policy towards the Middle East. Rachel Corrie was killed on March 16, 2003 when an Israeli soldier ran over her with a US-made Caterpillar D9 bulldozer, as she tried to nonviolently prevent the demolition of a Palestinian home. Since September 2000, Israel has fully or partially demolished more than 14,000 Palestinian homes.

The memorial will serve to honor Rachel's courage and commitment to nonviolent resistance as well as to remind the American public of the Occupation's costs to Palestinians and Americans alike. As donors of U.S. foreign aid to the state of Israel, American taxpayers have a direct stake in Israel's actions in the occupied Palestinian Territories, which have cost Palestinian, Israeli and American lives. In addition, event organizers will bring attention to other parties that are responsible for Rachel's death and the perpetuation of the illegal Occupation. Therefore, the memorial will begin with a rally at 4 p.m. at the offices of Caterpillar, Inc., which manufactures and supplies Israel with the equipment it uses to continue its policy of indiscriminate and collective punishment against innocent civilians. Rally participants will also call on the US government to undertake a full, fair, and expeditious investigation into the death of Rachel Corrie to ensure that this type of incident does not happen again.

The memorial will conclude with a vigil at Farragut Park at 6 p.m., which will last until 7 p.m. Some event speakers include IDF refuseniks, a witness at the scene of Rachel's murder, and prominent international peace activists. Organizations sponsoring this event include Jewish, Palestinian, civil rights, human rights, religious and student organizations.

"Rachel was defending fundamental human values such as freedom, dignity, and the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Yet a year following her death, the US Government has done nothing to bring those responsible for this tragedy to justice," said event organizer Rima Mutreja."

[JohnLocke]

1. "Will serve to honor Rachel's courage and commitment to nonviolence"

Burning flags, instigating hatred, joining a group that supports terror. Yeah, that's real courage. :eyes:

[Resistance]

2. no

what is real courage is the courage it took to bulldoze her to death, don't you think? A young girl trying to promote peace and non-violence, run over by a bulldozer, now that's bravery!

[JohnLocke]

3. I don't think she had malicious intentions,

She just got mixed up in a terror-supporting group.

[Resistance]

27. which group was that?

The ISM doesn't support terror. Don't be fooled by the right-wing smear campaign against the ISM, because it's totally false. The ISM promotes peace and non-violence.

[fiend]

32. It's sad that she died.

I think it was an accident and overly politicized though.

[Resistance]

35. did you know...

that all the eyewitnesses (four of them) all say it was intentional?

[fiend]

40. No, I didn't know that.

I will withhold judgment on whether or not it was intentional. But I read some disgusting posts in Never Forget by one particular poster that disgusted me.

:pals: Get an AOL instant messenger account. I'd like to talk to you about the issue.

[Resistance]

43. Four eyewitnesses describe the murder of Rachel Corrie

It's all here: The people who witnessed the killing, and in their own words.

Tom Dale, Greg Schnabel, Richard Purssell, and Joe Smith

Notice how the American media totally ignored these eyewitnesses. (Well they ignored the entire story altogether)

[lefty_mcduff]

4. Eeek.

You mean they, they, burn....flags?!!!
I was under the impression that this was a valid, non-violent form of protest.

Oh wait, this is about Rachel Corrie.

Normal ideals - out the window.

[JohnLocke]

10. Well, lefty.

I oppose outlawing flag-burning, whether by law or constitutional amendment. I think it's a disgusting and frankly, pointless, act of protest, and feel one could accomplish their aims in more productive ways. But to each his own.
That being said, look at the photos below. Ms. Corrie isn't simply burning the American flag to protest a policy. She's burning the flag to teach hate of the U.S. to these young Palestinian children. I have one question for you: What does this accomplish?

&imgrefurl=http://www.zilberhere.com/blog/&h=209&w=300&sz=26&tbnid=mxjL5C119HkJ:&tbnh=77&tbnw=110&prev=/images%3Fq%3DRachel%2Bcorrie%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8
&imgrefurl=http://altalena.org/archives/cat_news.html&h=238&w=328&sz=14&tbnid=Cv3FJU88vs4J:&tbnh=82&tbnw=113&prev=/images%3Fq%3DRachel%2Bcorrie%2Bflag%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8

[lefty_mcduff]

13. The photo is probably a set-up.

High camera angle. Kids paying attention to everything *but* Ms. Corrie. Staged by a photographer for maximum drama and impact. Probably to illustrate the rage that some US citizens (you remember that part, right?) have against their government actions in I/P. Pretty heady stuff.

Regarding teaching the kids to hate US - that's a joke.

I think 'made in the USA' on the following -
bombs that kill these kids friends, parents, relatives,
on the bulldozers that flatten their houses,
on the apache helicopters that shoot hellfire missiles into residential areas

Are far more likely to teach these children to hate the USA than some idealistic woman burning a flag for a photo. You give the event portrayed in this photograph far too much weight in its overall relevance.

But the reason the anti-Rachel Corries (which in itself amazes me) trot out this picture is that the woman looks quite mad. So you got a picture where the lady looks nuts. Good for you. I got a picture of her standing in front of a bulldozer.

[wtmusic]

9. You are out of your mind

I suppose trying to prevent someone's home being destroyed, with no justification other than "someone else wants the space" is "supporting terror".

Try again.

[Darranar]

15. I'm still waiting...

for evidence that the ISM supports terrorism.

[lefty_mcduff]

30. And you will wait a long time

n/t

[cantwealljustgetalong]

34. are you still waiting...

for evidence that Arafat supports terrorism too?...

[drdon326]

5. Rachel?.....Rachel who ???

ohhhh....that Rachel....

Is this the point we supposed to drop to our knees and
and give all praise to her???

I dont think so.

[lefty_mcduff]

6. No.

Don't see any post asking anyone to drop to their knees and praise anyone. Seems you're getting angry all for naught.

[drdon326]

8. Who ?? What ?? Me ??

angry??...over Saint Rachel??

Perish the thought.... Believe me, no one "appreciates" her
legacy more than I do.

[GabysPoppy]

7. Let us also remember Lior Azulai

http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH0oey0

Feb 22, 2004 - Lior Azulai, 18, of Jerusalem was one of eight persons murdered and more than 60 wounded by a Palestinian suicide bomber on a No. 14A Egged bus opposite the capital's Liberty Bell Park.

[Proudlib]

11. When I Think Of Fallen True Heroes

I think of people like Lt. Col. Jonathon Netanyahu who gave his life to free the hostages at Entebbe.

Too bad this forum wasn't around in 1976. We missed out on seeing the IDF called a "terrorist organization" and never got the chance to read the denouncements of the raid as another act of Israeli aggression and terror along with sentiments of understanding, if not sympathy, for the hijackers who were killed (or as the progressive liberals here would have said, "murdered").

And despite the fact that every single hostage (save for the crew of the Air France plane who chose to stay with their passengers-true heroes if you ask me) was a Jew, and the non Jews were set free, the progressive liberals here would have denied that anti-semitism had nothing to do with anything.

Oh, and for those not totally familiar, Uganda was led by Arafat's bestest buddy, that great progressive liberal Idi Amin. One is associated with company one keeps.

[lefty_mcduff]

14. And neither tradgedy negates the other.

But I don't see the scorn heaped on Lior Azulai that is thrown at Rachel Corrie, her family or people who wish to remember her.

This thread will degenerate into exactly the same theme...

[Proudlib]

16. If The ISM

Was really and truelly interested in stopping violence and protecting the lives of innocent people, it would be regular riders of Israeli buses and would stand in front of the suicide bombers hell bent on blowing up said buses and the people in them.

I wonder if Rachel had ever given thought to riding an Israeli bus to protect the innocent lives on board. I mean, no belt wearing Freedom Fighter would blow up an ISM member considering their all on the same side.

[lefty_mcduff]

18. So.

As long as people are being 'Human Shields' for Israeli civilians, we're all cool with the gig.

Same doesn't apply for Palestinian civilians though. Gotcha.

[Resistance]

19. why don't you criticize her

for not fighting AIDS in Africa, while you're at it?

Or her group should have been in Russia to stop the subway bombing? Or maybe criticize them for not protecting Spaniards recently.

There is nothing wrong with picking a single cause to focus ones energies on, and the implication that just because she/they don't do this or this or this therefore means they are somehow against other people is totally false.

What, are the ISM now anti-Russian? Anti-Spaniard? Anti-Kurd? Anti-Haitian?

Nope, try again please.

[drdon326]

22. Really ??

"There is nothing wrong with picking a single cause to focus ones energies on..."

And focus she did.....boy, did she ever focus.

[fiend]

33. I agree.

Too many pro-Palestinian people exaggerate the accident and try to divert attention from the real tragedy of terrorism.

[meti57b]

12. also remembering, Marla Bennett ...

July 31, 2002 - Marla Bennett, 24, of San Diego, California was one of nine people killed killed when a bomb exploded in the Frank Sinatra cafeteria on the Hebrew University Mt. Scopus campus.


http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH0m5p0

[drdon326]

17. C'mon Meti.....

Did Marla burn the american flag teaching palestinian kids
to hate america??

Was Marla part of a terror supporting group ??

Was Marla protecting tunnels so as terrorists could import
all kinds of fun weapons to kill jews??

So really...does anyone care to remember her??






end of sarcasm.
in memory of Marla Bennett.

[lefty_mcduff]

20. And what a teacher she must have been

Teaching all those little Palestinian kids to hate the USA by merely burning a flag.

Succeeding where all those 'made in the USA' bombs, T1 Tanks Apache helicopters, Predator drones, Bradleys and stuff failed.

[drdon326]

23. Lefty...I respect your opinion....

I just disagree.

[lefty_mcduff]

24. Likewise.

I think the correct phrase is 'ditto'

[Resistance]

21. all innocents killed should be remembered

Rachel's story is unique in the fact that there is a total whitewash and denial of the incident, accompanied with a smear campaign towards her and the human-rights organization she was involved in.

Nobody is smearing Marla Bennett. Nobody is whitewashing it or denying it. Nobody is displaying unbecoming pictures of her to tarnish her name, and nobody is blaming her for being in the 'wrong place at the wrong time'.

[lefty_mcduff]

29. And I can Google

innocent Palestinian civilians that have been gunned down by the IDF. I won't though, as that is not what is being discussed.

And once again, I don't think anyone has referred to Marla Bennet as "pancake princess" (one of the more recent, and disturbing references to Rachel Corrie). There is no animosity towards Marla Bennet. She is eulogized. She has been mourned. Her death has probably even been avenged by an IDF retaliatory strike against Palestinians (and there's a high likelihood that innocent civilians were killed in the operation - simply based in the IDF track record).

On the other hand Rachel Corrie's death, during an act of *non-violent* protest, has never been fully investigated. Despite the fact that a US citizen was killed by another government, It is ignored by the US media (unlike Marla Bennet and 5 US personal who were killed in Gaza recently).

The investigation would open a can of worms for the *GOVERNMENTS* involved - USA and Israel. It could possibly outrage the American public. And *that* is why a full investigation will not be allowed to happen.

And that is also why she is such a third rail topic.

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[lefty_mcduff]

36. Dude.

Firstly - I don't alert. Have never alerted. Prefer to fight my own battles. (Just so ya know...)

Secondly - I Guess you didn't actually read my post, but that's okay - I'll play.

Ah, the catch-all 'terrorist supporter'. At least we've climbed down from calling her a 'terrorist'. Now, the 'terrorist supporter' - that's something to do with a British citizen having tea at an ISM meet-n-greet, is it not? Never been too impressed with that Smoking Gun.

But where's the official investigation that this stunning conclusion is the result of? Where's the big media expose in the US media? After all, a US citizen was killed by another government. You claim she was a 'terrorist supporter' - but one would think that would make the story even more sensational, not less. Maybe even - American Terror Supporters - Tonight on Fox".

Guess my satellite must have been down that week.

[TahitiNut]

37. I guess I just don't understand the moral relativism at play here.

Marla Bennett was a student at the Hebrew University. She was reportedly engaged in no political activity whatsoever. Her death, while horribly tragic, was not coincident with some act of political conscience on her part, no matter whether one agrees with the orientation of such an act or not.

Rachel Corrie was an activist for peace, not violence. It matters very little, from a morality perspective, from which 'side' a peace activist protests -- they're really in "no man's land." I'm quite certain that a peace activist kneeling in front of an Israeli-operated bulldozer and a peace activist acting as a "human shield" against a Palestinian paramilitary force would be close allies -- they'd really be on the same 'side': peace.

Violence is a purported means, not an end. It is both morally and pragmatically arguable whether the alleged ends justify those means in many instances. Peace advocates and activists on all 'sides' abhor the means, mostly independent of the partisan ends.

[Orangeone]

25. Look how people

Blame the victim. The people who heap venom on Rachel Corrie, seem to be the same ones that are always saying: "why can't the Palestinians act like Gandhi and protest non-violently?" ISM is trying to help Palestinians resist non-violently yet these Israel supporters object to even that. Sorry that the Palestinians wont just cooperate and leave Palestine.

[meti57b]

38. In this instance, ....

it makes sense to blame the victim. This was a completely senseless death because the victim could have saved herself, had she used some reasonable care around heavy construction equipment. No one will ever be killed in this manner if they exercise some reasonable care and stay where they can be seen by the operator and preferably, out of the immediate area of where the equipment is in operation.

[Resistance]

41. All eyewitnesses said the killing was intentional

It doesn't make a bit of sense to blame the victim.

[TahitiNut]

42. "makes sense to blame the victim"?

Ahhh, yes. Her death just wasn't enough of a penalty -- let's heap blame on her, too. It's always the victim's "fault" because, after all, with 20/20 hindsight we Monday Morning Quarterbacks can always omnipotently migrate to the land of ShouldaWouldaCoulda and pontificate endlessly in support of our dogma.

[drdon326]

44. Quite frankly Meti...youre 100% correct....

her inability to avoid heavy machinery led to her death.

All other excuses just fall flat.

[shadu]

26. We are establishing an ISM Legacy Fund

This will be over and above Sponsorships and monthly
donations already in active use.
The Legacy Fund will make it easier for individuals and
corporations to donate large sums of money. Moreover, this
will serve to educate and accommodate those who wish to will all or part of their estates to the ISM so that the cause of peace in the Middle East can be realized. This is great. This will make a difference.

Thank You for reading

[drdon326]

28. Sounds wonderful......

LOL....

Perhaps someone can tell me what "legacy" they are refering
to?? hmmmmm?

[drdon326]

39. Article: "Rachael Corrie was a Commie Terrorist Twit"

http://vancouver.indymedia.org/news/2003/04/41109_comment.php

(lousy source----great article)

Only one thing is certain about the circumstances surrounding the death of International Solidarity Movement (ISM) protestor Rachel Corrie: she died in Rafiah, on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip.

But is Israel responsible for her death, or do the doctors at the Arab hospital where she was taken still alive after the accident bear any responsibility? What about the ISM that organizes protests in a closed military zone and harbors known terrorists in their field offices? How she died, exactly where she passed her last moments and who should take the blame for Rachel Corrie's death are questions that demand answers.

snip

By all accounts, Rachel Corrie was one of a group of protestors attempting to disrupt the work of two IDF bulldozers leveling ground to detonate explosives in an area rife with terrorist activity. The bulldozers moved to a different area to avoid the protestors, and Corrie became separated from the group. Some of the agitators stood with a banner, while Corrie picked up a bullhorn and yelled fruitlessly at the driver encased in the small cabin of the 'dozer. This went on for several hours on the afternoon of March 16. It's the kind of activity favored by the young pro-Palestinian types who make up the ISM.

There wasn't enough action for Corrie. According to a fellow Evergreen State College student, Joseph Smith, 21, who was at the site, Corrie dropped her bullhorn and sat down in front of one of the bulldozers. She fully expected that the driver would stop just in front of her. "We were horribly surprised," Smith told me by phone from Rafiah the day after the incident. "They had been careful not to hurt us. They'd always stopped before," he said.

As the 'dozer plowed forward heaping up a pile of dirt and sand, Corrie scrambled up the pile to sit on the top, screaming slogans at the driver. Smith says she lost her footing as the bulldozer made the earth move beneath her feet. "She got pulled down," he says. "The driver lost sight of her and continued forward. Then, without lifting the blade he reversed and Rachel was underneath the mid-section of the 'dozer - she wasn't run over by the tread."

Capt. Jacob Dallal of the IDF spokesperson's office confirms what Smith says about the driver: he lost sight of Rachel. Inside the cab some 8 feet off the ground, visibility is very restricted. The protestors should have known that and kept within the driver's line of sight to avoid getting hurt, Dallal asserts.

The strange thing about this part of the story is the discrepancy over the photos given to the press and posted on several pro-Arab websites.

As Smith describes to me his version of events, I ask about the series of photos printed in an Arab newspaper I picked up that morning in Jerusalem's Old City. "They aren't of the actual incident," he states firmly. "We'd been there for three hours already, we were tired-we already had a lot of pictures."

Yet these are the pictures used on the ISM website to document the before and after of Rachel's interaction with the bulldozer. The same pictures are featured as a photo-essay on Electronic Intifada, where they're even attributed to Joseph Smith.

===================================================================

great article.....thanks to provider

[Lithos]

45. Locking

Discussion has grown inflammatory.

Lithos
FA/NS Moderator
Democratic Underground