Uri Avnery - founder and editor of the first independent weekly in Israel, former Knesset member, activist - has some words on the Iraqi situation:
The following passage may look familiar:
"On the fourth day of the 1982 Israeli attack on Lebanon, I crossed the border at a lonely spot near Metulla and looked for the front, which had already reached the outskirts of Sidon. I was driving my private car, accompanied by a woman photographer. We passed a dozen Shiite villages and were received everywhere with great joy. We extracted ourselves only with difficulty from hundreds of villagers, each one insisting that we have coffee at their home. On the previous days, they had showered the Israeli soldiers with rice. A few months later I joined an army convoy going in the opposite direction, from Sidon to Metulla. The soldiers were now wearing bulletproof vests and helmets, many were on the verge of panic. What had happened? The Shiites had received the Israeli soldiers as liberators. When they realized that they had come to stay as occupiers, they started to kill them.
"When the Israeli troops entered Lebanon the Shiites were a down-trodden, powerless community, held in contempt by all the others. After a year of fighting the occupiers, they became a political and military power. The Shiite Hizbullah is the only military force in the Arab world that has beaten the mighty Israeli army."
End of passage. I wrote it in an article called "Bitter Rice", which appeared on March 22, 2003, on the eve of the invasion of Iraq, and which started with the words: "Beware of the Shiites. The troubles of the occupation will start after...
Article comments
1 - sheri
This is a quote from the link you provided, from an article written by a Canadian.
"Sharon's gang has always wanted the West Bank,minus it's inhabitants, carefully dressing up it's language in biblical terms, that strike a special chord IN THE BACKWATERS OF AMERICA".
Very, very, disturbing.
2 - Corinna Hasofferett
right.
3 - sheri
So do this mean that inhabitants of backwater America are now branded with the Star of David ?
4 - boomcrashbaby
I was told that the reason 'backwater' America tends to side with Israel is because the bible says the Second Coming cannot happen until the Israelis return to their homeland, which was occupied by Palestinians. So that the reason why so many Christians are on Israels side is so that the end of the world can happen and that Christ can return. I don't know if that's true or not, but have heard that is their primary reason for Israel support on more than one occasion.
5 - sheri
Not exactly Boom. First the Jews have allready returned to their homeland.The state of Israel was declared in May, 1948.
Second, anyone who has been taught these beliefs, also knows there is nothing we can do to force God's hand to make these events take place.
Then...the Second Coming will not take place until ALL NATIONS have turned against Israel, including the United States.This, according to the beliefs, is a prophecy that must be fulfilled
.And then the end of the world means only the end of it as far as we know it.Events will follow that will lead to the destruction of the earth by fire, and the consequent creation of a new earth.
So, if christians were trying to bring this about, we would be turning against Israel, instead of assuming a protective role, one in which we have warned Israel to stop the attacks.
But what gets me is the constant pointing of the finger at the backwaters, the rednecks, the sometimes poor class of people in this country who struggle day to day, often have no say so in anything, who only want to be left alone so they can live their life in peace.
It's a burden being from the bible belt. We have the finger pointed at us on one hand because of the KKK, who hate Jews, and wish they would all die, then at the same time, we are bible thumpers who love the Jews, and favor them.
F*f that sh*t.
6 - Eric Olsen
Which sh*t are we f*king?
7 - sheri
RE: Eric
The broad generalization of a group of people, to lay blame on for the dangerous, deadly situation between Israel and Palestine. The writer of the article did not say Americans, he pointed to a specific group of Americans, the "backwater".
I realize that that is not what Corinna was pointing us to when she provided the link, I have no idea as to her personal thoughts on it.But I read everything, and I'm especialy aware of scapegoating. That's the sh*t f*kng.
8 - Ms. Tek
No worries... The end times aren't here yet. The RED HEFIER HAS BEEN DISQUALIFIED!!!
9 - Corinna Hasofferett
Sheri, I posted that link so that people might get aquainted with Uri Avnery's writing.
He is a sharp, excellent journalist and commentator worth listening to. I agree to most of his ideas re the situation in Israel. As for anything outside of Israel, I'm not in a position to comment as I do not know first hand the reality at your landscapes.
The major issue at that article was that occupation is not a happy state, nor does it induce good tidings, most of the time.
10 - sheri
I know Corinna, and , thank you. Very interesting, and me and my family felt the same before the invasion of Iraq.
I read everything you write, including the links. The "backwater" article stood out and glared at me, like Daisey Mae, prancing through the West Bank. Telling the Palestinians to get the hell off cause Jesus was coming.
It's not funny though, just kind of zoomed in on the backwater right off.