The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
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Thank you, Noasalira, for explaining that. And I can see your point. I also know from your postings that you care very much about what is happening to the Iraqi people. That's why I said that I was probably unreasonable. - I had just read the two articles I subsequently posted and my emotions got the better of me. Still, the future 'crime' you are referring to is an _abstract_ crime - and many people will deny that it is a 'crime' at all. But the harm the invaders are inflicting on Iraqi civilians right now is very real and goes straight to the heart. And something that has left an imprint on the public psyche is much harder to deny or to justify later on. At least that's how I see it. An example: On March 7, a German TV station showed a scene where an Iraqi family is being harassed by US military at their home. This station is a proud supporter of the US aggression and is by not means 'left-wing'. (Mainstream left-wing media is an oxymoron today, I think.) I didn't see it but a European (nationality?) described one scene on a German political forum. (I alluded to this in my first post when I said they "storm into houses, like the Israeli military"). Here is the scene - in the poster's interpretation: <QUOTE> Just now they are showing pictures of US raids in private homes in suburbs of Baghdad. (It's noon time.) With much shouting and brandishing of machine guns, the democratization and liberation army is forcing a family out of their house. First comes the husband, who clearly doesn't understand a word. Hands held above his head, he tries to signal that the family is just having their midday meal. Behind him follows his wife, also hands held high, and behind her the four children. In front of the house, they are all forced at gun point to kneel on the ground - hands held high. The children appear terrified and are crying. I remember pictures of weeping children in front of guns taken at the Warsaw ghetto in 1944. This then is the 'liberation' of the Iraqis - from their meal. A great achievement, Mr. Bush! <END QUOTE> No doubt, this poster is biased in favour of the Iraqis. But regardless of the justifications one could make in favour of the military, the pictures of the kneeling family subdued at gun point speak for themselves - especially the pictures of the weeping, terrified children. And these are scenes that must be made available to a worldwide public. They humanize the victims - make people aware that we are not talking about mere statistics. How these pictures are interpreted on average, depends, I suppose, on the individual's capacity to empathize. There was much response to this description on this forum. And the majority responded in empathy with the Iraqi civilians - and in disgust with the US military. Anyway, this is my explanation. And here comes the point where I would normally apologize, not for what I said but for possibly having hurt your feelings. I do this in real life too. Still, Bert says I mustn't apologize on CASI so I just hug you in my thoughts instead. Elga -------------Original Message------------- >From Noasalira@aol.com Tue Apr 8 17:07:22 2003 Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2003 12:25:37 EDT From: Noasalira@aol.com To: citext@chebucto.ns.ca, casi-discuss@lists.casi.org.uk Subject: Re: [casi] Background: AIPAC and the Iraqi opposition In a message dated 4/8/2003 4:21:22 AM Eastern Standard Time, citext@chebucto.ns.ca writes: > But what did you have in mind when you posted this? And why should CASI be > concerned right now about the interests of pro-zionist groups and the > opportunistic > INC? Why Noasalira? Why? Because it goes to what kind of government that US has in mind for the "New Iraq" Some people get very passive on the issue of Iraq - they only hope that the war ends - rather than consider that the crime continues when a regime is put in place that cares less about the needs of the Iraq people and more about the favor of the sectors that put it in place. That's why. _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk