We Are the Dead
By Tali Shapiro at Jan 06, 2009 |
|
I've talked about the inhumane actions of the Israeli government, army and mainstream media towards the Gazans. I'd like to take a step back and talk about the complete disregard towards Israel's citizens. (Don't worry, I'll go back to Gaza on my next post- it's the reason I opened this blog, in the first place.)
We were dragged into this war (some of us kicking and screaming, some with violent vehemence and the majority dazed and confused) with promises that it would stop the bombings. This hasn't happened and if it happens by the end of this "operation", you can be sure it's due to a mass massacre.
There is no one in Israel who doesn't know a soldier, most of us were soldiers ourselves. (I was drafted by the state and all I can say in my defense is that I didn't know better at the time- feel free to ask questions about this.) Right now, there is a massive drafting of reserves.
I'm writing this post, because today the army managed to blunder twice. In two different incidences 4 Israeli soldiers were killed (unsure about number of wounded) by Israeli army fire.
What does the mainstream media have to say about this?
I was appalled and yet not surprised to hear the newscaster say things along the lines of "well, this is a part of war..." and while interviewing the commentator of matters of war, she said:
"We don't want things like this to happen, we understand that they do, but what can be done to prevent it?"
What does the army have to say about this?
Zahal spokesperson, Avi Bnayahu, wasn't at all apologetic and didn't flinch when saying
"...these things will happen... you can't get dizzy and have a studio debate about it..."
That's right! In this so-called democratic country you can't have a debate, on the news, about army blunders.
What do the dead soldiers' families have to say about this?
"He is a hero of Israel, he is a saint of Israel, he fought the war of Israel."
"If you want to belong to this people, it's not easy, it hasn't been easy throughout history and you pay the price."
That's the brother and sister of dead men teenagers. Boys not over the age of 21. This is free speech. And this is what they chose to do with it. We are the dead.



The First Victim of War
By Petridis, Athanasios at Jan 06, 2009 16:12 PM
The first victim of war is always the truth. As the dead and the wounded are reduced to numbers bereft of their humanity and personal stories or are transformed into symbols such as heros or saints the horrid reality is buried even deeper than the departed. War always has two losers no matter what governments say. Peace has two winners. The people of Gaza are now paying an inordinate price for their wish for independence and for the actions of some violent militants but the people of Israel are also suffering from the insecurity, the untruth and the dehumanization that is the result of fear of the "other" and the violence it induces.
Reply this comment
Re: The First Victim of War
By Shapiro, Tali at Jan 07, 2009 01:07 AM
Reply this comment
Re: The First Victim of War
By Zuisman, Moshe at Jan 07, 2009 06:28 AM
Reply this comment
Re: Re: The First Victim of War
By Shapiro, Tali at Jan 07, 2009 07:40 AM
Reply this comment
Re: Re: Re: The First Victim of War
By Zuisman, Moshe at Jan 07, 2009 14:21 PM
Reply this comment
Re: Re: Re: Re: The First Victim of War
By Shapiro, Tali at Jan 07, 2009 15:27 PM
Reply this comment
Re: The First Victim of War
By Zuisman, Moshe at Jan 08, 2009 02:00 AM
Reply this comment
Re: Re: The First Victim of War
By Shapiro, Tali at Jan 08, 2009 07:18 AM
Reply this comment