The Politics of Hope and Suicide

by Mary Shepard, WAMM

On April 2, 2002, the Star Tribune carried a full-page advertisement submitted by Minnesotans Against Terrorism, a pro-Israeli group angry that the Star Tribune does not refer to Palestinian suicide bombers as "terrorists." As with most pronouncements by such pro-Israeli factions, the advertisement contained no mention, no remorse, no sorrow over the suffering of Palestinian people during 35 years of occupation of their land. It was as though only the Israeli citizens suffer.

Conversely, pro-Palestinian groups often express sorrow and empathy for the victims of suicide bombers. While trying to explain the reason for such desperate actions, the pro-Palestian groups' references to suicide bombings have been couched in terms of condemnation for the taking of innocent lives. Frequently, they speak about how such acts cannot be not condoned by faithful Muslims. Why this difference between the two groups?

In an op-ed piece in the same issue of the Star Tribune, columnist Thomas Friedman stated that suicide bombing had nothing to do with feelings of despair on the part of Palestinians but were simply a new weapon of terrorism they had discovered which, if it proved successful, could spread. (To be sure suicide bombing is not a tactic likely to spread to the U.S. military, which prefers bombing from a distance so remote that the bombers do not see the consequences or risk reprisal. This is better?)

As has been stated again and again, the Palestinians have been given no reason to hope for justice. For all of humanity, suicide results from a loss of hope. To say it is otherwise for Palestinians is a painful reminder of Westmoreland's statements during the Vietnam war, when he claimed that the Vietnamese do not feel pain the way we do. This is racism at its most virulent.

Friedman, in recent op-ed pieces, has admitted that Israel cannot continue to occupy its neighbor against their will and save its own democracy. He recommends that the U.S. send troops as permanent peacekeepers. Another occupying force? This is giving hope to the Palestinians? Friedman admits that Sharon needs a policy that could result in some route to peace. Even George W. Bush is now saying that Israel needs to keep open a "road to a peaceful resolution."

Sharon's unwillingness to consider diplomatic dialogues until the violence for which he is largely responsible stops, along with his stated wish to exile Arafat-the only Palestinian with the authority to sign a peace pact, can only be interpreted as a decision to ethnically cleanse Israel from the scourge of Palestinians. What other route to peace has he endorsed? He has called for Arafat to stop the suicide bombings but has removed all means for him to do so. Bereft of a communications network, with his police shot at by Israeli soldiers, Arafat is still imprisoned in his headquarters without heat or electricity. What can he do?

One of the most distressing things about the Star Tribune advertisement was the list of politicians and respectable Minnesotans who signed onto it. Surely they read the ad before allowing their names to be used. We hope they will redeem themselves by another statement reflecting a more balanced picture. Senator Wellstone, in a letter to the editor on the same page, stated reservations about the criticism of the Star Tribune contained in the ad, saying it was "too sweeping" a condemnation-not of Palestinians, but of the newspaper.

Finally, frequent assertions by media pundits that the U.S. should be more involved make no sense. The U.S. has never been uninvolved! Largely unknown to most Americans, the U.S. gives billions of dollars and tons of arms to Israel on an ongoing basis. Just threatening to cut off this support, which has made the repression possible, could have immediate dramatic results. Why have we never heard this suggested as a viable strategy by any of our political representatives or the corporate press? Besides facilitating a peaceful resolution, it would free funds for our schools, housing, and health care. Perhaps the U.S., like Israel, could offer citizens cradle-to-grave free health care.

Sadly, history will condemn the U.S. people for this tragedy. Our nation has been a key protagonist from the beginning. Those who cannot or will not protest may find themselves in the same footnote to history as those who ignored the Holocaust and supported the Vietnam War.

Middle East Media Resources

Reliable information on Israel's war is hard to come by these days. Balance your corporate media diet with the perspectives of these media critics:

Arab Media Watch
info@arabmediawatch.com
www.arabmediawatch.com

Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR)
112 W. 27th Street
New York, NY 10001
212-633-6700 Phone
212-727-7668 Fax
fair@fair.org
www.fair.org

The Middle East Research and Information Project (MERIP)
1500 Massachusetts Avenue W.
Suite 119
Washington, D.C. 20005
202-223-3677 Phone
202-223-3604 Fax
merip@nb.net
www.merip.org

Palestine Media Watch
pmwatch@zworg.com
www.pmwatch.org