Move over Africa, I had the pleasure of attending my first cool politics discussion on the Holy War in Palestine last Wednesday night. After an hour long documentary film, I'll be the first to admit i found myself holding back tears. (Okay i had to because I recently started using fabuloush mascara, its so to die for! the last thing i needed was eyes caked in the stuff!) Suddenly i had a new set of words floating around in my head. Hamas?
Zionists?
Occupation?
Israeli Activists?
What led to the Jew and Arab conflict way back when it begun in the 1800's?
Why Palestine?
Why the creation of the Gaza strip?
Was this a political battle? Religious? Both?
I did get one thing though, as usual America has acted as the uncle who took his nephew Israel to school, saw him through university, though molested him all the while. It's the usual case of a higher power empowers one people to milk their resources out of them. There's always some sort of uprising when the people who are getting the raw side of the deal suddenly realise it. Thousands of dead civilians later, some kind of peace accord is signed (usually not the first of its kind) spear headed of course by the United Nations. These attempts do little or nothing to stop human right injustices. Meanwhile living in Palestine today seems hellish. A huge prison of sorts with checkpoints on every other corner, no access to proper medical care, families living in absolute filth and poverty. Okay so whats new right? The greater part of Africa lives that way. Wrong. The greater part of Africa do not live under military rule. Added to all of the above, the Palestinians have to live with the constant presence of Israeli soldiers carrying rifles and are at liberty to harass at will. Watching young soldiers so determined on their mission makes me think of the youth malitia in Zimbabwe. So determined in the wrong mission.
Okay before i get ahead of myself, to simply generalize all the problems in Palestine on the Israeli's isn't being totally fair. This story to me sounds like it has at least three sides to it. It's hardly a case of Jews occupying the majority and fertile land in Palestine and oppressing at will. The dynamics are thoroughly interwoven in religion and the result of what happens when that thin line between love and hate reveals itself. I'll definately be reading more on Palestine, i figure there's nothing worse than being ignorant on issues that affect people who laugh, eat, cry and want to be happy just as i do. Wednesday night was nothing short of insightful.
SO... I discovered a new space i can chill at on a Wednesday night where young multi cultural people come together and discuss political issues. Great music, add a boudouir type setting decked with cushions and bean bags. A place to just kick back and talk. Next Wednesday (25th Nov 09) we are discussing 'A United Africa?' Sounds great i've already started reading on the subject and I'm loving it. Do join us if u're in Jozi. The venue is at a jazz club called House of Ntsako, 101 High Street, Brixton (five minutes drive away from the Newton Precinct ) at 18.30. Lets be the empowered young people with a hunger to learn and change the world, in the little way we can. Plus (and this is the best part I think) because there's a bar and dj, we all get to party, albeit on a Wednesday night, afterward. WHOOP! WHOOP! (for more info go to coolpolitics.org.za)
No comments:
Post a Comment