Like most Americans, conservatives get to the suicide bombings and make their conclusions without looking any deeper. Whatever happened to your pursuit of integrity; the hard truths?
Looking deeper might give you more understanding so it's a good idea but it doesn't change the hard truth the the bombers and those who lead them are terrorist murderers.
Tim, let me see now. Once upon a time, there were two peoples. Both lived together in the same cities and villages in the region. One people had lived in the same area for hundreds of year; the other was relatively new. Both were promised their own nations and independence. However, only one of the two did get their sovereignty; the other was relegated to refugee camps adjacent to the new nation because they had objected to the way the matter was being handled.
You live in one of those refugee camps. It's been over 70 years since your people were promised their own state; over 50 years since your family has lived in the same make shift camp where the walls are so thin you can hear your neighbors' bathing habits. There is no AC to bear the brunt of the desert heat and when the pressure is low, no water to wash your face or quench your thirst. Your older brother went to the university but can't get a job because there are no jobs for the educated of your people even in the new nation of the other people who's nation btw is not so new anymore.
In fact, those people now determine the fate of everyone in the refugee camps. They have become the most powerful nation in the region thanks to the aid of another powerful nation. They control the exits and entrances to the refugee camps. They control who gets job in their cities. They control who builds what in your camp. Worse they control your future and the establishment of your peoples' own independence.
They were the fortunate ones; they got the best the region had to offer...........well established ports, beautiful beaches, the mountains, and most importantly, the most potable water. With the help of their powerful friend, they have thrived. Their cities reach for the sky; their children go to the university and get jobs as scientists, programmers, engineers, stock brokers etc. They have taken their potable water, and turned desert into farmland. And when they ran out of potable water, they began to convert sea water into more potable water.
They have become the most powerful nation in the region and all your neighbors fear them so you can't call on them for help. And now they bring their potable water and powerful machines and educated peoples to the land in between the refugee camps, and they are developing them into new settlements. Already, there are over 200k of their people living on land that was supposed to be your land; your country; the basis for your peoples' independence.
The camp elders complain in despair but they are helpless. Your people have few weapons, certainly none that can stand up to your enemy's armies. These others are so powerful, they can keep your leader holed up in his offices for weeks much to the embarrassment of him and his people. They have promised you your freedom for decades but continue to withhold it because there are some of you who have resisted their demands and fought against their restrictions only to be found guilty of anarchy.
And yet, when they kill some of your people, they are exonerated or they explain it away by saying it was self defense. Who can dispute them on these issues? Their special friend has now become the most powerful nation in the world. And their powerful friend thinks your people are the bad ones.
One time, one of their soldiers allowed the massacre of thousands in one of your camps.....and his people brought him to trial and found him guilty. Ten years latter he was the gov't official who was encouraging the development of new settlements on what was supposed to be your land.
There is no way out for my people. We can not control our own destiny....if the others tell us we must go to bed at 9, then we must comply; if they tell us we may go to the stores only on Wed., we must comply; if they tell us we must stay in our homes 24/7, we must comply.
There is no hope, no future for my people nor for me. Nothing matters.......life is not worth living. I want to work; I want to marry; I want to have children but not like this. Not like a child who must ask for permission to go to the bathroom. I do not want to be a child wearing the clothes of a man.
Tim, you are the person who wrote the above. What would you do to gain the freedom of you and your people? You have no weapons, no armies, no nothing, no control. You are desperate. How would you make it happen?
ted |
