Bastardisation of the East: Demonstrating peace to the IDF. And giving them a few ideas

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Demonstrating peace to the IDF. And giving them a few ideas

"Thousands of people expressed their views in an earlier, lawful, rally in Trafalgar Square...What followed was totally unacceptable criminal behaviour by a small minority who do not appear to care about any cause. Their behaviour was inexcusable as they took part in wanton criminality." Commander Bob Broadhurst, Metropolitan Police

I happened to be in London this weekend for a good friend's birthday and, walking the streets of the city yesterday with time on my hands, could think of no higher calling than the demonstration against the bombing and incursion of Israeli forces into Gaza. Like many, many people I've tried to do my modest bit to contribute to an end to hostilities and killing, save for posting on this blog (I was too paralysed by rage to write for a good long time. Also, I can't say anything that hasn't been said better elsewhere by various impartial and authoratative NGOs. It helps that people actually read what they have to say) so my presence was assured.

Despite my tender age I'm already a veteran of many demonstrations and actions, so I know these can be a mixed bag; I'm not going to be in full agreement with everyone, but broadly we are moving in the same direction. Yesterday's lineup, mixing domestic political figures like Tony Benn and Diane Abbott with victims of previous horror in Gaza, topped off with some impressive singing from Reem Kelani, was an intelligent, impassioned and well-informed one. It should have made me wonder how anyone could oppose this peaceful movement or dispute the facts at their hands, backed up by reports from human rights organisations and journalists that have got as close to the violence and the truth as possible.

Yet I didn't leave feeling this. I stomped off a short while before the event offically drew to a close in a huff, and not just because the of layers of injustice faced by the average civilian in Gaza, which pile up with such weight that I can't believe anyone can survive there (many don't...). No, what made me angrier than usual about this state of affairs was what I saw as the hijacking of this push for resolution by dangerous cretins, these infectious bigots whose contribution is worse than useless. For a few reasons I can perhaps bring myself to understand why some would brandish a placard calling these wicked attacks on Gaza "genocide" or a "new holocaust": Many people in Britain aren't clued up on the Holocaust these days and can't comprehend the scale or evil of Hitler's systematic murders; WWII for too many Brits is the Western front and the Battle of Britain rather than the more miserable business to the East of Berlin; in a protest environment some will get enraged or maybe unwittingly competetive over who can vent the whitest-hot outrage. But we should stick to the facts and name the names without slumping into overblown comparisons. The atrocities in Gaza are not genocidal in intent and don't have to be to be recognised as callous, unjust and worthy of criminal tribunals.

Spot the university. Clue: it's under the explosion

If these people need a small talking to, then the flag burners need a stronger shock to the system from the anti-war movement, for it is this movement that suffers the most from their stupidity. Yesterday a representative from Jews for Justice gave her time to speak out. In Israel the human rights NGO B'Tselem records the crimes committed by members of the Israeli Defence Forces with invaluable accuracy. IDF conscripts that don't want to kill women and children brave prison and pariah status not to fight. And there are numerous other groups that try to cooperate with their Palestinian counterparts to work for justice and the two-state settlement. So how would these courageous types feel seeing their flag and collective identity burned by thick-headed publicity tarts, whose chosen outlet is so destructive because they know they will never live out their misguided fantasy of wringing Ehud Olmert's neck? Tony Benn quite accurately said yesterday that the media never focus on what is said at these rallies, only the civil disturbances that afflict them. Yesterday was indeed a day when a lot of good, constructive things were said. It was the second group of flag burners I saw that prompted me to leave, strutting about on the platform in front of TV screens that were there to show us reports and images of the effects of this IDF terror on Gaza. An indiscriminate attack against every Israeli and bait for anyone in the business of setting back the Palestinian cause, the likes of Melanie Phillips and anyone else quite content to report, if not believe, that these events and actions are run by bigots for bigots. Thanks guys.

And finally, a big thanks and round of applause to the heroic vandals, who made such a fine statement by smashing in the windows of two branches of Starbucks. I'm sure the staff will spend their time picking up broken glass reflecting on the wrongs of their proven, well-substantiated pro-occupation bias and support for Operation Cast Lead, no doubt the reason they were employed there, rather than, say, their willingness to dispense coffee for a living wage. Meanwhile, chairman Howard Schlutz, allegedly a donor to Israel, will probably react with as much panic as if someone told him his coffee chain wasn't bland, souless and homogenous enough. Obviously a boycott isn't enough for these heroic smashers of windows. ‘Starbucks smashed and looted as anti-Israel protests turn to violence’, reported the right wing Daily Telegraph. They may have missed the real story, but they sure didn’t make this one up. War: what's it good for? Double glazing sales, I guess.

These latter two categories of hangers-on, as far as I'm concerned, are a hindrance and would struggle to outsmart ‘Joe the Plumber’ in a debate on the Middle East, let alone a sentient being. Police and reporters regularly get accused of lowering the figures of demonstrators present at these events and wilfully forgetting to count every fifth participant. I would consider it a favour if the flag burners and looters played the assigned role of every fifth participant and stayed away so that the rest of us can show something constructive in the face of such terror.

Smashy smashy. Why should the IDF have all the fun?

¶ posted by the leech at 1/18/2009

Comments:

Hmm, maybe they really were unsatisfied customers of Starbucks who, under false pretenses of being anti-Israel, took to the streets for a little anarchy... What better time to revenge on that unrefunded cafe latte that wasn't frothy enough.

Next time take some pictures!

# posted by

Jon : 28/1/09 5:04 PM

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