|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
Also this issue:
Blind Faith Been Had Casualties of Conflict
Casualties of Conflict The Bork Shield |
|
|
|
|
 |
|||||||||
April 11-17, 2002
mailbag
War and Peace | Owning up to History | Why Can't Johnny Lead?
(Re: News, “West Bankrupt?” Jenn Carbin, April 4)
Apparently, Yasser Arafat has replaced Mumia Abu-Jamal as the current political pinup of the protest set. (After all, they do have a history of murder in common.) Now we read that Kate Sorensen plans to travel to Palestine to serve as a "human shield" protecting the poor, defenseless suicide-bombers-in-training.
Coincidentally, we also read this week that Saddam Hussein is "rewarding" the families of suicide bombers with at least $25,000 in "incentive bonuses."
I have one question for Sorensen: What is now the going rate for "human shields"?
Joseph Chudzinski
Philadelphia
It's nice that Kate Sorensen thinks that blowing up Jewish civilians on Passover is not "something that somebody should be doing," but I doubt that she understands how offensive it is to hear a so-called peace advocate maintain such an apathetic position on violence against Israelis. Either a campaign of violence against civilians is wrong or it's not, regardless of where it comes from or whether the mainstream media is telling us the whole story. Thus far, the pro-Palestinian movement, including many members of the peace community, have been just as willing to overlook the campaign of violence carried out by Palestinian forces against Israelis as their counterparts have overlooked Palestinian suffering. Perhaps this is why the Israel Defense Forces have treated peace workers as enemies of war, and why people like me have been so turned off about getting involved. Choosing which side is more deserving of peace merely makes you look like another combatant -- not a peacemaker.
W.J. Munroe
via e-mail
(Re: Pretzel Logic, “Edge of the Abyss,” Howard Altman, April 4)
Howard Altman is absolutely right. It's time for those who believe in peace to step forward and make it happen. But how? So much damage, perhaps irreparable, has already been done to Palestinian and Israeli (and Afghan!) lives; what can we Americans do? Demonstrations seem futile, e-mails and appeals to the president and the United Nations -- to put sanctions behind their mild condemnations of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's destruction of Palestine, to refrain from bombing Iraq, to help eradicate world poverty -- seem only to fall on deaf ears.
Still, what else can we do? Maybe not enough of us have put our bodies on the line or written to the media and government officials to stop this madness. There's a march on Washington on April 20 that we can still join to help make it a powerful, peaceful protest against Bush's dangerous and self-defeating policies.
Ann Davidon
Philadelphia
Editor’s note: For information on the march, visit www.a20stopthewar.org.
Thank you for your wise editorial in regards to Israel and Palestine. It's about time that the press takes on this issue without fear of being pro-Palestine. The fact, that you are a Jewish-American makes it even more important -- that opinion can cross the border/divide. Also, your coverage of the protest, as well as Jenn Carbin's words on the International Solidarity Movement, were refreshing to see.
This crisis has touched many, and you worded your refrain very eloquently. Thank you.
Monique Mason
via e-mail
(Re: Loose Canon, “Slave Reparations,” Bruce Schimmel, April 4)
I have read several articles in various publications, including yours, regarding the unworthiness, uselessness and divisiveness of this suit for reparations, and I have to say that I am beyond bothered.
First let me say that I am an immigrant who is black and has lived in this country for the vast majority of my life as a citizen. Second, I agree that there are some real issues with the practical implementation of reparations. Finally, I am not an anti-Semite. I am empathetic to the sufferings and injustice of all people.
What I have a problem with is the fact that every time the issues of slavery and reparations are brought up they are dismissed. I have heard the argument in The Financial Times, that, while unfortunate, slavery was legal, and thus reparations have no legal merit. While the enslavement of people may have been legal within U.S. borders, the stealing of people from other countries was not, and thus their forced labor is also illegal. It violates all basic human values and ethics. America continued to engage in slavery long after its European counterparts had abandoned and outlawed it. Not to mention that America was built on the backs of the subjugated, and there are many bastions of American industry that continue to profit from that labor today. I also have a problem with people who seem to feel that reparations will drive a greater wedge between American peoples. Whether or not we want to accept it, a lot of the pathology specifically in the African-American community and the suffering of persons of African descent in the New World can be directly linked to slavery. Thus the U.S., Britain, the Dutch, French, Italian, Spanish and anyone else are accountable.
While the Japanese were interred for "national security" during World War II legally, did they not receive reparations? America was more than glad to pay them off as a way of saying sorry. Oh, that's right -- we have to make nice with economic superpowers and their citizens. The Jewish establishment as a whole has made a global effort to be repaid for its 3,000-plus years of suffering, either via the formation of a Jewish state, repayment of monies and goods taken during WWII and the Holocaust (we have modern Germans paying for what their grandparents did) or taking to task anyone who says anything that is perceived as anti-Semitic.
My point is that if all these other groups have their dehumanization recognized and compensated, why can't African-Americans? Why must our suffering continue to be marginalized -- because everyone just wants to leave it in the past? Because of our lack of economic power? If we're still talking about the suffering of some 3,000 years ago, why can we not talk about 500 years?
Please keep in mind that repayment is not just monetary. And please don't hold up Affirmative Action or the Civil Rights Acts as being enough. And even then, if we look at the dates on those laws, the institutionalized racism of African-Americans by the U.S. was continuing legally well until the '70s. Not to mention that those acts covered all disenfranchised groups and that, by far, women (of which I am one) have benefitted the most from the legislation.
How is it possible that we're supposed to let it all go in 30 years, so white America can move on? We deserve more than a rehearsed speech from Bill Clinton saying sorry if everyone else is being compensated in kind. Why does no one see that? Why is America so reluctant to directly confront its soiled and dirty past when other countries have come to face and deal with their legacy? Maybe the truth is that in the eyes of white America we really aren't seen as equals, thus our issues don't matter as much.
T. A. Koledoye
via e-mail
(Re: Cover Story, “Being John Street,” CP staff, March 28)
I learned a few things from City Paper's interview with Mayor John Street:
Street can't walk and chew gum at the same time (as evidenced by his asking the photographer to snap some pics and stop).
Street is his own biggest fan.
He apparently can't be bothered by public opinion or the facts.
Johnny Boy couldn't have made it plainer that he is a complete putz. He is not in the business of helping anyone other than himself, his family and friends, and his campaign donors. A true politician.
Donna Di Giacomo
Philadelphia
(Re: Icepack, A.D. Amorosi, April 4)
I just read A.D. Amorosi's plug of the farewell show for my band, Trailer Trash UK, and while I appreciate the mention, I'd just like to make a couple of corrections.
A.D. refers to band members "Joe, Jon and Angie" and their intent to go on as Famous in Vegas. For the record, there is no Joe in Trailer Trash UK. It's Michael, Jon and Angie, who will be playing as Famous in Vegas on June 2 at Doc Watson's, previewing songs from the upcoming punk musical, Altar Boy. The quote A.D. attributed to Joe belongs to Michael -- me.
I imagine the confusion came in because Joe is the person who was kind enough to offer his space to host the show. Joe is actually a member of the band Ten Tons of Kill You, who are alive and well and tearing a swath through the scene.
Thanks!
Michael Subvert
Trailer Trash UK
