Palestinian Debate
Last Saturday, I met a friend in NYC’s Union Square for a little trip to Best Buy. By the way, good luck finding decent help in the television department! I arrived in the area a little sooner than my friend and while waiting outside, I noticed a small protest group across the street. I hate politics. Religion too. In fact, those two subjects are ones I avoid at all costs. People are too tied up in their own ideology to recognize the merit or value in differing views, especially if those views are equally (or even more) valid than their own. However, this small protest really encompassed both politics and religion.
For the record, and maybe to the scorn of many of my Jewish friends, I happen to agree with the Palestinians…at least as far as them having a Palestinian state. Hate me if you will, but the entire world agrees except the United States. Well, we as a country pretend to agree, but always step back from taking real action in the United Nations–we vetoed a resolution regarding the topic just last week. You can read it here: Explanation of Vote by Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on the Resolution on the Situation in the Middle East, including the question of Palestine, in the Security Council Chamber
Anyway, the signage at this protest indicated they wanted a healthy debate. I stopped by for a hot second to snap some photos and was given a postcard showing the Palestinian loss of land this past century. Take from it what you will, but there will never be peace in the Middle East until Palestinians are treated fairly (for a change). If you think otherwise, you’re lying more to yourself than anyone.
Hey Bryan,
so agree with you! I am not really a fan of politics /religion either but its a really interesting issue and one that the majority of American’s have a different opinion for all of Europe as a majority.
A friend of mine came to do a year in university in London from CA some years ago. At the time there was quite a negative opinion for George Bush and she was worried about people in London knowing she was America. Actually that was not a problem at all for her, Brits were not against “American people” at the time. But the one thing she said she noticed is that she had very pro Israel views and was always the minority in discussions here. But she has never heard alternative views on this ever, it was the first time.
I am not sure why there is different views on this debate between the continents. For me personally Israel has had a lot of support and money from America and has a very good position. Palestine has not had an equal chance to be its own country. They can’t get things into the country and Israel block their ports and build on their land.
The tide is turning though. Obama has criticised some of the actions of Israel in his term (no one has ever done that in America before) and many countries have turned against them that used to support them in the UN. The Israeli people in the majority are lovely liberal loving people. They have lots of gay rights going on. But there is a hard line of people and also the politicians are some of the most corrupt in the world!
A lot of people in the UK and Europe boycott Israeli goods and companies. Its been going on many years. But like you say Palestine deserves a fair chance to be its own country.
I read a great blog post somewhere when Israel had that protest ship incident. They pointed out that all the Israelis who appear on tv are well educated. But the Palestinians as a majority don’t have the same education. They come across much less good at making their points for their country. They are not as media savvy!
There is a permanent protest in London outside the Israeli embassy
It’s been going on for at least 10 years. I am not sure anything will ever change though, although I live in hope as many countries are moving against them slowly. There is good / bad people and politics in both countries. I think they should both be treated equally, given an equal chance for the people