In Honour of Mohamed Bouazizi

Last night I slept a happy man. The news of the day left me and millions of other Arabs reflecting on events we thought we would never see. The brave Tunisians’ protests finally cracked the dictatorship that had ruled them for well over two decades. The president, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, was forced out of the country flying from place to place until he finally found refuge in Saudi Arabia. Before going on any further, I think we have to pause and pay tribute for the brave man who gave his life, and started the revolution.

Mohamed Bouazizi’s story is similar to the story of millions across the Arab world, a young man full of potential, let down by his country and forced to make ends meet by way of street vending. He had purchased a farm which was confiscated by corrupt officials. He then turned to street vending where his fruits and vegetables were confiscated repeatedly. Desperate to feed his family, he had borrowed money to buy fruits and vegetable to sell, this time after the police confiscated his wheelbarrow, he went to complain to the Governor. No one listened to him. Enraged, he decided to set himself on fire, dying from his burns on January 4^th. How desperate, and powerless does someone have to feel before going to such measures?

The bravery of Bouazizi was in no doubt the catalyst to the unimaginable change we’re witnessing today. A sweeping change that no one expected. After Tunisia’s protests, others started to protest in Algeria, and Jordan. Could this be the awakening that many had thought, and dreamt about?

Unlike me, the handful of corrupt leaders across the Arab world most likely had a little trouble sleeping last night. The lessons from Tunisia’s revolutions are simple and clear. With today’s technology protests can be organized, documented and broadcasted across the world, by individuals. There’s no need for official media organizations to cover a story, as clearly demonstrated with this revolution. I can’t speak for European media, but North American media stayed largely silent during the past few weeks, a stark contrast to the coverage that Iran’s protests received just months ago.

The second lesson is that the people are not far from the boiling point. This was clearly demonstrated by the protests that erupted in several other countries. Once the protests develop a certain critical mass, it becomes next to impossible to stop them without a massacre. While history shows that massacres are not far from the imagination of certain dictators, the development of technology which I talked about earlier makes their actions impossible to hide.

Another important consequence of the revolution is setting precedence. As Tunisia develops a democratic government, neighbours will want the same. An example has been set now, the steps have been laid out by the brave Tunisians, all that’s missing is the catalyst.

Lastly, Tunisia now serves as a prime example that freedom is not an American export. What the Tunisians did with the deaths of 66 brave protestors, America still hasn’t done with tens of thousands of civilian deaths. Freedom and democracy are not cars and Hollywood movies.

When we reflect on the events of the past few days, let’s not forget the bravery and sacrifice of Bouazizi and the other protesters. You will never be forgotten. You have entered history books from grandest gates.

Palestinians are bound to be bound

There seems to be an international competition on which country can cause Palestinians the most suffering. Israel has always been a front runner, and a favourite to win the competition in all its categories: land theft, starvation, discrimination, human rights denials, among many others. Lately, another country has emerged as a strong contender to take away Israel’s spots in some of the categories. The country is of course Egypt. The country that once stood as a symbol of human ingenuity is now a cowardly state bending over backward to please its true rulers, in an effort to maintain its political status quo.

Apart from imposing a ban on the Gaza Freedom March, reports have recently revealed Egypt’s secret plan to build an iron wall that goes deep below ground to prevent the smuggling of essential goods into Gaza. The wall is American made, built with the construction expertise of the French and Americans, with the guidance of the Israeli’s. The iron wall will be the biggest project taken on in Egypt since the pyramids, or so it seems. If anything the wall proves that that ancient Egyptian ingenuity is still running through the blood of the government. After all, even Israel didn’t think of building a double purpose underground/over ground wall!

Sarcasm aside, the iron wall coupled with the international silence is ought to be the biggest disaster Gazans have gone through since the massacre exactly a year ago. Last year about this time, Gaza was being bombed to pieces. The aftermath of ‘Operation Cast Lead’ was 1400 Palestinian deaths, destroyed infrastructure, and scores of homeless, injured, and hungry Palestinians, whose only fault was that they lived in Gaza. Re-construction of homes, schools, and government buildings had been put on hold. Israel and its sidekick Egypt felt it wasn’t the right time to let in any concrete or any other building materials into Gaza. Palestinians resorted to digging tunnels underground to get much needed medicine, concrete, and baby formula, among hundreds of essential items that we take for granted. But even smuggling essential goods was too much for the Palestinians. Egypt had put its thinking hat on and came up with the iron wall. The wall is bomb proof, equipped with breach sensors, and combined with a complex piping systems pumping water from the Mediterranean underground. The water will make it even more difficult to dig tunnels, and at the same time contaminate underground aquifers and farm land. Two in one, Egypt thought as it high-fived Israel, we stop them from getting food from outside and inside.

These ‘solutions’ to the Palestinian ‘problem’ are only temporary. The resilience of the Palestinians has been proven time and again. In an increasingly uncertain world there’s one thing I’m certain of, Palestinians are not going to give up. The connection to their land, the denied rights, justice and freedom are the fuel that keeps Palestinians going. As I write this, two friends of mine are en route to Egypt to take part of the Gaza Freedom March. Both of them were born outside of Palestine, one as a refugee in Syria, the other in Kuwait. The fact that third generation Palestinians are making the effort to take part of the solidarity march says a lot. A wall may prevent this or that from entering Gaza, but there’s no wall that can stop Palestinians from fighting for their simple right to land and peace.

The Wars of Today

As I listened to the radio this morning to a 90 year old veteran of WWII, I had nothing but respect for the bravery he must have had as a 25 year old fighting on the front lines in Normandy. A thought crossed my mind as he went on describing the gory details he had to witness, are we going to reflect back on the soldiers of today the same way we reflect on the ones who died in the two world wars?

The whole nature of war has changed so dramatically in the past few years, that it is even hard to classify any of the violence across the world as a ‘real’ war. We have seen the rise of a type of war where a professional army faces scattered groups of rebels united by a set of beliefs. We have a seen wars (massacres would perhaps be a better description) where multi-million dollar jets drop multi-million dollar weapons on mud houses, refugee camps, and weddings. These wars are fought

by thousands of troops brainwashed to believe that they’re bringing freedom, and justice. These are the “vets” of today. Troops fighting behind thick armour, equipped with advanced weaponry, and armed with falsified facts and fabricated objectives. Behind them is a media machine pumping Orwellian messages into air waves. We hear war, justice, and freedom in the same sentence, and we see family vans and SUV’s with “Support our Troops” ribbons stuck to the back.

Fifty years from now, I wondered, which wars will we reflect back on? And are we going to be honest with ourselves and remind ourselves of the mistakes we have committed during those wars?

Asking for a Settlement Freeze is Hard in the Midst of Global Warming

If Hillary Clinton’s current visit to the region proved anything, it’s that Obama’s message of change was nothing but a load of crap. “Yes we can” continue our ways of standing on the side of the oppressor against the oppressed is the message I have been hearing lately. In his attempt at justifying his premature Noble Peace prize win, Obama is settling for the easy way out, putting pressure on Palestinians in a time when their international representation is in complete disarray.

It is naive for anyone to think a US president can truly bring about change in Middle East policy. But in a time of unprecedented life loss, oppression, one can only hope and perhaps dream a little. Obama went from asking for “a stop to settlements. Not some

settlements, not outposts, not natural growth exceptions”, to allowing “natural growth”, to asking for an Israeli intention to stop settlements, to asking Palestinians to turn a blind eye to land theft. Natenyahu strengthened by Obama’s demands has asked Palestinians plainly to “get a grip” and drop their ridiculous demands of asking for their land back. In fact, Clinton went as far as saying that settlements are essential for Israel’s security!! On the same token should we start seeing American settlements in Canada to enhance American security?

So what are settlements such a big issue?

International law sees any land gained through war as illegal (see Finklestein below for a more thorough explanation). The West Bank has been occupied by Israel since 1967. Since the occupation started, Israel has systematically confiscated Palestinian land, destroyed homes, and built settlements in way that would introduce a status quo rendering any fair peace deal impossible. The settlements are connected by a vast network of roads for settler use only. Palestinians are denied access to these roads built on their land. At the same time Palestinian roads are littered with checkpoints, operated by soldiers who chose who can pass and who can’t based on their mood. Women have given birth at checkpoints while waiting to go to hospitals. Ambulances are often kept at checkpoints for hours. School children have to wake up at 3 AM to make their morning classes on time. Palestinians are denied a normal life, while illegal settlers enjoy a safe, luxurious lifestyle. Add to that a 9 meter high “separation wall”, or “security fence” as the Israeli’s like to call it, which serpentines through the West Bank confiscating even more Palestinian land, splitting villages in half, and creating yet another barrier for a just peace.

I would like to see Clinton live under the same conditions as Palestinians in the West Bank for a week, and see if she still thinks Palestinians should stop whining about a settlement freeze. But that would assume she was an honest person, not just another politicians seeking re-election.

Giving Equality to Women - The Muslim Canadian Way

Let’s recap. The Supreme Council of Al Azhar in Egypt approved a ban on wearing the niqab in their schools. A few days later, the Muslim Canadian Congress made a call to the federal government to prohibit women from wearing niqabs and burkas in public. Ironically the reasoning for their call is “covering one’s face has no place in a society that supports gender equality.” Because as we all know, a bunch of men deciding what a woman is allowed and not allowed to wear is a sure way of creating equality.

Now I’m not sure what the real motive was behind their idiotic call. Maybe it was an attempt at disassociating themselves from the extremist image that the media has so cleverly imprinted in our minds. Perhaps it was the other reason they stated for their call: the Quran doesn’t call for a woman to dress in a niqab or burka. But why should a woman dress according to the Quran anyway? I’m not an expert on the Quran, but I don’t think the holy book calls for men to grow beards, especially long, unkempt ones. If we’re making rules here, then we should keep the ball rolling and introduce some rules for men, such as trimming their beard every once in a while. Quite frankly I think Bin Ladin style beards are so 2003. Muslim men should project a more modern look.

To be honest, I’m not a big fan of the burka, niqab, or hijab even, in the same way that I don’t like earrings on men. So What? One of the beautiful things about society is that people are different. How dull would the world be if we were al identical. I’m not oblivious to the fact that some women are forced to wear burkas or niqabs, but does enforcing a ban on such things really solve the problem? What about the women who actually like to wear burkas? Why should we have the right to ban them from wearing something that makes them feel comfortable?

Society or government should never enforce rules on what people should dress like. A person should dress and present themselves however they like to. We start with banning the niqab and who knows what comes next. In a country that prides itself in its freedom multiculturalism there is no place for such rules. By expressing such a ridiculous call, the Muslim Canadian Congress has reinforced the same stereotypes they were trying to get rid themselves of.

In Memory of Frank McCourt

I came across his book while searching for a work on poverty for my grade 12 class. At the time I didn't know that I was to embark on reading a book that would have such an impact on me for years to come. Angela's Ashes is the autobiography of Frank McCourt, an Irish boy, born in America to a Protestant father and a Catholic mother. McCourt's book wasn't simply a description of his poor childhood, but rather a brilliant critique of culture and religion and the contradictions they bring about in society. His honesty brought him much criticism and made him an outcast in his own city. McCourt continued his great tale with 'Tis and finally by Teacher Man. I can't say much about his books because whatever I say I won't do them justice. I have re-read his books several times, and enjoyed reading them every single time. Maybe it's his sense of humour mixed in with the tragic moments of his life, or maybe it's his shear honesty. Whatever it was Frank McCourt will be remembered by many, and his story will live on, reminding us of how harsh poverty is and how good we have it.

Rest in peace Frank.

Increasing Israeli Arrogance

Her arrogance is growing day by day, perhaps it's in reaction to the slow but noticeable change of opinion towards her, or maybe it's just stemming from growing levels of ignorance. One doesn't have to dig deep to see the signs. In one instance we have Israeli President, Peres, warning that Syria should not expect the Golan heights to be given back to her on a silver platter. In another she's upping the ante against Iran to make sure that she's the only one in the region with nuclear weapons. We hear her Prime Minister using a new language for legitimizing settlements, "natural growth" he calls it, completely ignoring that the natural growth of these illegal settlements is counterbalanced with an unnatural confiscation of Palestinian farm lands. Her politicians were furious when President Obama applied but the tiniest pressure to freeze the "natural growth". Taking 78% percent of original Palestine wasn't enough, she's after he 22% using force, illegal occupation, and an ever changing set of laws designed to rob Palestinians of their homes and farms. Her media uses the laughable expression "security fence" to describe the electronically monitored, soldier manned, automatic rifle protected, nine meter high concrete wall, cutting deep into Palestinian territory robbing even more land, and imposing a status quo. I'm talking about the same "fence" that the International Court of Justice had deemed illegal, and called for the dismantelement of yet again just a few days ago. They are trying to make gains even in their travel posters posted all over London. In the poster a map is shown including the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and the Golan Heights under the banner of Experience Israel. The tourism ministry defended the poster saying that they intended to show areas in and around Israel, not to convey a political message. How nice of them to promote vacationing in occupied Palestinian and Syrian land.

Things on the inside are also getting worse for 1948 Palestinians living inside Israel. Last week the Israeli Transport Ministry decided to get rid of Arabic and English names for cities and villages on street signs keeping only Hebrew names, in a clear attempt at erasing any memory of the existence of Palestinians before the "creation" of Israel. And to artificially turn Israel into a pure Jewish state, arid of any Arab roots. Jerusalem will now be referred to as Yerushalaim in all languages, completely disregarding Jerusalem and Al-Quds. To finish off the job Jewish extremists in Jerusalem are going around the city defacing the Arabic writing on street signs.

Maybe it's an illusion but it seems like things are getting worse at a much quicker pace than before. I interpret it as desperate attempt for Israel at making as much gains as possible before pressure mounts (if it ever will) from the international community. It has been mounting on a grassroots level. I have certainly witnessed stronger, better organized activist campaigns that have been and continue to be very successful at showing what's really happening. It took the world 300 hundred years to recognize the horrors in South Africa. I have a feeling it will take a lot less time to realize the horrors perpetrated by Israel. Especially when we have the likes of President Carter, Archbishop Tutu, and John Dugard agreeing that what's happening in Palestine is worse than Apartheid in South Africa. But who knows I could be just an optimist.

Bin Ladin's Biggest Blunder

What was Bin Ladin’s biggest blunder? Are you ready for this? He didn’t say the magic word.  That’s right, had Bin Ladin said “sorry” after the attacks on the twin towers everything would have been fine and dandy.  After all we all make mistakes, and if parents teach you anything it’s that a real man (or woman) takes responsibility for his/her mistakes.  Look at Hillary Clinton for example.  Last night over 100 Afghani civilians died in an accidental “strike” (a soft word for bombing).  What does Clinton do? Well she apologizes, she just release a statement saying that she’s “deeply, deeply sorry.”  That should patch things up with family members who are left grieving over their loved ones. 

While you’re at it, why don’t you deeply apologize for all future “accidental strikes.”

The Diplomat's Pledge of Allegiance

They stumbled over each other, elbowing one another each trying to be the first person to escape from the crowded room.  Blasphemy was in the air and nobody could bear to hear it.  The words being uttered on the podium just didn’t make sense.  Once outside they put their hands together and pledged their allegiance by issuing ‘official’ statements condemning the ‘hate speech’ they had to endure.  Didn’t the speaker read the rules before attending the conference on racism? 

While I disagree with some of Ahmadinejad’s views, one cannot dismiss everything that comes out of his mouth, as Western diplomats have done today.  The guy had a point.  Israel is a racist government and there are facts supporting his statement.  Have a read of the following Israeli laws and some of the commentary that follows, and assess just how blasphemous Ahmadinejad was today:

Section 7A(1) of the Basic Law: The Knesset (1958), passed in 1985
Bars a list of candidates from participation in elections to the Knesset "if its aims or actions, expressly or by implication" deny "the existence of the State of Israel as the state of the Jewish people."

This sort of thinking is still existent in main stream Israeli society.  For instance, last week Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu stated "Israel expects the Palestinians to first recognize Israel as a Jewish state before talking about two states for two peoples."  The statement that Netanyahu wants to hear would set the stage to expel Palestinians (Christians and Muslims) who are currently Israeli citizens, out of Israel.  An act that Israeli Foriegn Minister, Avigdor Lieberman promised during his election campaign.  A Jerusalem Post article described Lieberman’s promise

 “ [Lieberman’s]  aim is not to deport terrorists or traitors. No, his goal is to deport Arab citizens, no matter whether they're law-abiders or criminals, whether they're construction workers or doctors or housewives or newborn babies, for no other reason than that they are Arabs.”

Law of Return (1950)
Grants right of immigration to Jews born anywhere in the world. Amended in 1970 to extend this right to "a child and a grandchild of a Jew, the spouse of a Jew, the spouse of a child of a Jew and the spouse of a grandchild of a Jew." A "Jew" is defined as "a person who was born of a Jewish mother or has become converted to Judaism and who is not a member of another religion."

Non-Jewish native-born Palestinians - most importantly those who fled during the Zionist massacres in 1947 and 1948 - are in most cases prevented from returning.

My grandparents belong to the category of “Non-Jewish native-born Palestinians.”  They were forced out of their village in 1948, and have lived in Syria as Palestinian refugees since.   In an earlier post I described the sorrow that they experience on a daily basis since their expulsion 61 years ago. 

Land Acquisition (Validity of Acts and Compensation) Law (1953)
Confiscates the land of more than 400 Palestinian villages; "validates" retroactively their use for military purposes and for Jewish settlements.

The tens of acres of farms, for which my grandfather still has the ownership papers, are among the land confiscated by this law.

National Planning and Building Law (1965)

Creates a system of discriminatory zoning that freezes existing Arab villages while providing for the expansion of Jewish settlements. The law also re-classifies a large number of Arab villages as "non-residential" creating the "unrecognized villages." These villages do not receive basic municipal services such as water and electricity; all buildings are threatened with demolition orders.

These are just some of the realities not discussed in the media.  They are truths that are consciously ignored by the very same diplomats who walked out on Ahmadinejad this morning.  Instead of exposing the facts, the media machine works instantaneously and tirelessly to paint a convoluted image of the truth, throwing labels left and right, while massaging in the all too familiar propaganda phrases we are so used to hearing by now.   Conferences like the one held today are a great idea.  They should be an open forum for discussing injustices no matter which side the injustice is incurred by.  As soon as you limit what can be said at a conference like this, you take away all credibility.  Sadly, this is exactly what happened today.

Missing: Victoria Stafford

Update: Victoria alleged killers have been arrested, bringing a tragic end to this horrible story.

I haven’t been getting my usual dose of local news lately and such I have missed Victoria Stafford’s story, a 3^rd grader who appears to be the latest victim of kidnapping. The story hits close to home in a town about half an hour of where I live. The innocent victim was caught on video “show[ing] a woman in a white puffy coat and black pants walking side-by-side with the Grade Three pupil. [With] no sign of a struggle.” (source) Parents are pleading on facebook, and traditional media trying to raise awareness.

I shudder when I hear stories like this. I cannot comprehend how any human can do harm to any other, let alone an innocent child. I hope that Victoria is okay, and that she will reappear soon.

In the meantime if you happen to live in Canada take a good look at this picture and spread the word.

Isobel compiled a list of websites containing a list of all missing children along with information for parents on protecting their children.

Missing Children Society of Canada
ChildFind Canada
RCMP - Our Missing Children

Galloway Interview With CBC Discussing His Ban From Canada

Canada's control of free speech

While the world was relieved last fall from what history will remember as the worst leader to ever walk the earth, Canadians were stuck with the remnants of Bushism with the Harper government. The parallels between Harper and Bush are too many too mention, and the events unfolding in Canada right now are the biggest proof of how we’re still stuck in the age of Bush.

Last week, Immigration Minister Jason Kenny, sent an official letter to British MP George Galloway banning him from entering Canada because, get this, he presents a threat to our national security! Galloway has just completed a lecture tour in the United States, where he presented no threat at all, but apparently he had other plans for Canada.

Galloway who is vocally opposed to the War on Afghanistan, Iraq, and critical of Israeli aggression against Palestinians, has been labeled as a “controversial British MP” in the media. His recent effort to relieve Gazan’s of their suffering was the main motive behind barring him from entering Canada. That and the fact that our right wing government cannot tolerate people who oppose a failing “military campaign” costing Canadian tax payer money, and more importantly, lives.

Today a judge failed to grant Galloway the right to enter Canada, forcing him to deliver his lecture via a live video feed from across the border. Plans are underway for a huge crowd to greet Galloway on another border crossing later this week. A group of Canadian MP’s, lawyers and activists will attempt to escort Galloway into Canada. If their plan fails the “controversial” MP will give his lecture via megaphone, making Canada look even more like an Orwellian state!

While all of this was happening the Jewish Defense League couldn’t keep it in their pants and had to go on boasting on how strong of a lobbying power they have over the Canadian government. Newspapers are now reporting:

A letter – sent March 16 to Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, his cabinet colleague Peter Kent and opposition MPs – asked the government to keep that "hater" out of Canada.

"We asked that he not be allowed in," said Meir Weinstein, national director of the Jewish Defence League of Canada.

So what has been Galloway’s response to all of this nonsense? Here are some excerpts from his op-ed in the Guardian.

Kenney is quite a card. A quick trawl establishes he's a gay-baiter, gung-ho armchair warrior, with an odd habit of exceeding his immigration brief. …Most curiously of all, in 2006 he addressed a rally of the so-called People's Mujahideen of Iran, a Waco-style cult, banned in the European Union as a terrorist organisation. On one level being banned by such a man is like being told to sit up straight by the hunchback of Notre Dame or being lectured on due diligence by Conrad Black. On another, for a Scotsman to be excluded from Canada is like being turned away from the family home.

But what are my views on Afghanistan which the Canadian government does not want its people to hear? I've never been to Afghanistan, nor have I ever met a Taliban, but my first impression into the parliamentary vellum on the subject was more than two decades ago. At the time the fathers of the Taliban were "freedom fighters", paraded at US Republican and British Tory conferences. Who knows, maybe even the Canadian right extolled these god-fearing opponents of communism. I did not, however …

The Afghans have never succumbed to foreign occupation, heaven knows the British empire tried, tried and failed again. Not even Alexander the Great succeeded, and whoever else he is, minister Kenney is no Alexander the Great. Young Canadian soldiers are dying in significant numbers on Afghanistan's plains. Their families are entitled to know how many of us believe this adventure to be similarly doomed and that genuine support for troops - British, Canadian and other - means bringing them home and changing course.

To ban a five-times elected British MP from addressing public events or keeping appointments with television and radio programmes is a serious matter. Kenney's "spokesman" told the Sun, "Galloway's not coming in ... end of story." Alas for him, it's not...

To be continued, from another border crossing…