OPINION
7A
FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2008
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
>> COMMENTARY
Age-old story needs new ending
Palestine in need of student voices to bring attention to country's occupation
There exists in America today — on college campuses, in politics and in the media — a silence where there should be a voice, indeed a multitude of voices, speaking out against the occupation of Palestine.
Those few who have been brave enough to speak out have faced persecution in the form of accusations of racism, censoring and discrimination. These include notable scholars such as Norman Finkelstein and Mehrone Larudee, formerly of DePaul University, and respected public figures such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former President Jimmy Carter, to name a few.
Of course this persecution pales in comparison with the oppression experienced by millions of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza who experience it daily in the form of restrictions on basic materials, fuel, electricity, trade and movement as well as terrorism from daily military incursions by the Israeli Defense Forces.
That includes intimidation of the population, extra-judicial — as well as sanctioned — assassinations, and the illegal abduction and imprisonment of thousands of Palestinians without fair trial in prisons with well known histories of torture.
simply could not exist without the American taxpayer.
For those lucky enough to live in the shadow of one of the hundreds of illegal Israeli settlements that dot the hilltops of the West Bank, this often includes harassment, vandalism and abuse from extremist settlers, who are known to poison the pastures of Palestinian shepherd and urinate in their dwindling water supplies — a scenario that often occurs under the watchful gaze of the IDF, who do little if anything — to ensure their safety.
Israel receives more money than the Caribbean, Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa combined. By some estimates the U.S. sends $22 million to Israel a day. Pinch this pipeline—even for a moment—and the entire occupation would grind to a halt.
If millions of dollars are given to Israel on the agreement that they be used to buy back arms from the United States, how many of those bullets are used to cleanse Palestine of its indigenous population?
Lake City Army Ammunitions Plant in Independence, Missouri. the largest small arms plant in the world, manufactures 80 percent of all the small arms bullets in the United States.
The relevance of the conflict for us as Americans is simple: we are funding it. The occupation
Historically, these dialogues have amounted to one thing: a stalling tactic wherein Israel can "prove" that peace is being worked toward, while the situation remains unchanged.
Israel continues to expand settlements and intimidate and terrorize the population, slowly milking the land of its inhabitants and the will of said inhabitants to continue living on their own land. It is the age-old story of colonization, an elaborate but blatant land-grab, complete with broken treaties and ethnic cleansing, of which history provides us with multiple examples.
The question is: what example will Israel/Palestine ultimately follow?
In 2008, the 60th anniversary of the Nakba, or catastrophe, let's vow to open our eyes and learn for ourselves the brutal reality of the occupation of Palestine. Then, let's open our mouths and speak out for those whose voices are stifled, whose death sen-tence we write if we continue to refuse to do so.
Anderson is a Perry senior in creative writing.
the good and bad of historical occupations
- North America: the colonial success story. The Indigenous population is successfully subjugated through a combination of military and political machinations
- Algeria: the worst-case scenario. The population successfully revolts against
the colonial occupiers, driving them out
- South Africa: the dream. Apartheid is abolished and the two so-called irreconcilable peoples learn to live together in peace.
》 COMMENTARY
Dirty election issue in need of serious laundering
NICK MANGIARACINA
With a mere nine-and-a-half months remaining, the 2008 presidential election is heating up. In the past few chilly months, candidates have focused their campaigns to let the American people know where they stand.
For instance, Hillary Clinton's epic health care plan now vows to cover all Americans, while Mike Huckabee is committed to improving marriage by reducing the number of divorces.
Likewise, both Republican and
Democratic candidates have not shied from controversial issues. Each party has dealt with important questions like: Was the fossil record faked? Will teenagers survive in the global economy as Mexican immigrants take their abhorred low-paying jobs with no benefits?
However, these are only a few of the compelling issues unfolding on the rocky road to November 2008. Before then, a more important issue must be dealt with, for if it is neglected it only shows that Americans don't care about the most important issues facing this country.
Also, should the government be abolished because of bureaucratic red tape? Or, is the annihilation of the human race in a few generations because of climate change something to be concerned about right now?
This ultra-important issue is that of the desegregation of laundry.
For decades articles of clothing have remained separate in the name of combating lint. Socks and shirts alike have been designated for separate piles for separate loads. It's time now for this apartheid system to end. What kind of
for decades, white and colored
"A more important issue must be dealt with, for if it is neglected it only shows that Americans don't care about the most important issues facing this country. This ultra-important issue is that of the decoration of laundry."
message does this send to our children?
day for businessmen and soccer moms alike.
1 envision a better day for laundry across America—and a better
The government's complicity in allowing this policy to continue
the desegration of laundry."
only reinforces how broken the system is. Top economists are predicting an economic slowdown, but we can prove them wrong.
try proud in the manufacture of such rollers. We can only rely on the Chinese for so much.
More lint means more lint rollers, and with more lint rollers come more jobs. I dream of an America where teenagers can serve their coun-
If the economy slows down, jobs
will be lost. You will no longer be able to work hard to "put food on your family," in the words of our great president.
I urge all of you now to petition Congress for the abolition of laundry segregation. In fact, to show your seriousness, I urge all of you to send two petitions — in case Congress ignores the first or uses it as a napkin. They can't keep wiping their mouths with our democracy.
We must stand up against the tyrannical idea that says blouses and socks and jeans and t-shirts must be washed separately.
Oh, and don't let them laugh you off. Remember, the most important issues are the ones that seem the most ridiculous ones at first.
Mangiaracina is a Lenexa senior in journalism.
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish.
I love Ron Paul.
--how come nobody calls me anymore?
》 FREE FOR ALL
When are people just going to accept that we have not ever had a candidate like Ron Paul since Thomas Jefferson?
--how come nobody calls me anymore?
--how come nobody calls me anymore?
I have never heard anything against Ron Paul that is valid. Nothing. Ever.
--how come nobody calls me anymore?
I'm starting to feel like Ron Paul supporters are going to ask me to drink their punch with them. The mothership is coming
coming.
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Think about the reasons Bush is a bad president. The war, Patriot Act, wiretapping, etc. These are all things Ron Paul is against. The others are not necessarily against them, though.
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I think we need a president that finally respects the constitution. Ron Paul is that man.
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The only difference between us and the Nazis: We're not taking over Europe; we're taking over a bunch of sand.
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aecides to vote for him.
Please, KU. Please, just do some reading and look at Ron Paul objectively. Everyone that looks at his policies for what they are likes him and usually desires to vote for him
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Ron Paul, Barack Obama,
Hilary Clinton ... blah blah blah
Free For All, please don't.
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Though I hate to see all the chatter about Ron Paul being a Gravel supporter, at least these kids believe in the democratic notion again, and if Ron Paul is responsible, maybe he's worth looking at.
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Everyone at KU needs to research the Council on Foreign Relations
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Do you guys seriously think the Democrats will change anything? They haven't, have they?
I'll bet nobody heard about all of the KU students that went to Iowa to volunteer for Ron Paul. There were even people that drove from there to South Carolina.
Carolina for another week!
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