Shit Is Happening in the World

While Americans are mourning the loss of a company that sells sweet pastries, the people of Israel are being shot at by rockets; the people of Gaza are having bombs dropped on them; our soldiers in Afghanistan (remember that?) are risking their lives--and the Afghan people are living in fear; a drafted Israeli soldier is waiting to be deployed; a poverty stricken world is reeling from a global economic-slowdown; and the genocide in Darfur is still real. 

Let me explain this. Hostess, the 82 year old company went bankrupt  this week. The American icon has been something of a legend for decades. The brand "Twinkies" was the cornerstone of this company, or at least the one with the most lore. The brand has even spawned a derogatory term--which is a indicator of something deeply  ingrained in the American culture, as it was. The brand also makes the famous Wonder Bread--a staple for many people. 

This "loss" for Americans comes after months of repeated rocket attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip. The 95 year old conflict (starting with the Balfour Declaration) has defined the region since the creation of the Israeli state in 1947. The conflict of a largely Jewish state with its Muslim neighbors was the creation of an aggressive Zionist movement, spurred by the horrific pogroms of Eastern Europe and eventually the Holocaust. The need for a Jewish state and the Palestinians already living there, who saw an economic threat, created conflict. Some extremists in the Zionist movement became terrorists--driving out the British/Ottomans as well as many local peoples. This has spread resentment on both sides.

The most recent war in the conflicted area was the invasion of the Gaza Strip in 2008 , started for similar reasons as the current war: the safety of the civilian population in Israel. After rockets have been touching down in Israel for months, the news aggregate/blog The Huffington Post ran a highly cited opinion piece which expresses Israeli frustration at the West's apathy towards rockets aimed at civilian populations. (http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/arsen-ostrovsky/palestine-bombs-israel_b_2011785.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false) To sum up the article (which I suggest you read): other nations would care if they were constantly under attack, so why should Israel not take action for its people? This is a fundamental aspect of the conflict. Here in America, we are fighting our wars tens of thousands of miles away, Afghanistan (and previously Iraq). In Israel, the border is the war-zone. 

Though the Israeli military has yet to invade Gaza, they are using tactical airstrikes and the IDF to taker out Hamas leaders and rockets. Unless a cease-fire is achieved, there will likely be an Israeli invasion of Gaza. This will cause more civilian casualties, no doubt. In that case, no one wins. Peace is where someone wins. Hamas causing casualties among its own people to shame and isolate Israel will only make Israel more reactionary. The current Israeli government is run by hawkish right-wingers. This is never good for a country. Isolating Israel will only make Israel reelect these people. In the end, this war is a step back for the already strained peace process. 

The conflict must end. Only an end to this conflict will ensure stability in the Middle East. How will it be solved? I can't answer that. Only a new generation of Israeli peaceniks will solve this problem. Being an American, I can't answer for Israel. What I think is a good idea is the China model. Set up autonomous regions within a larger state. To ensure civil rights, give 40% of the Knesset (Knesset means assembly in Hebrew) to the Palestinians as a baseline number. Part of the problem is great economic inequity. Giving Palestinians full civil rights would help with inequality. But, I am an American. I do not know the realities on the ground. I am but one person wanting peace, one person wanting justice. I think the demonstrators in Israel over this past decade know this: peace is justice and justice is to be sought after. 

This war effects everyone, but especially the people in Israel and Palestine. Everyone in Israel serves in military (except some religious people) feels the pain of war; everyone in Gaza feels the pain of airstrikes; everyone in Israel can feel the pain of rocket strikes; and everyone in the region can feel the effects of a war close to home. 

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Afghanistan is a war-zone. The Taliban is instituting conservative patriarchies that prevent girls from learning to read. The people of Afghanistan feel the terror of constant warfare--warlords ravage the country. Gunfire can be heard practically anywhere in this war-torn country. American soldiers are fighting for their lives in this quagmire, all while "nation-building".  Yet, we live our lives not caring for the true 1%: our soldiers and their (immediate) families. The GI Bill is a start. The 99% can at least a acknowledge that a war is happening, and that one ended. We have yet to have a parade for our soldiers in New York--the symbolic place for such an event. This is a plain and simple outrage. We expected them to fight for a war based on false pretenses, and we don't acknowledge their accomplishments. 

Celebrating Veterans Day is not enough. Caring about the war is a requirement. Even though the majority of Americans support ending the war in Afghanistan, there has yet to be anything other than apathy. If there was a draft we would care. We'd be out in the streets, like we did for the Vietnam War. Even our songs--a form of "slack-'tivism"--has lacked anything to do with the Wars. Other than a few Green Day songs, there is nothing that has reached popularity for protesting either the Iraq or Afghanistan Wars. Us peaceniks have to latch onto faded nostalgia of the 60's and 70's--a time when I was not born. This is only one sign of American apathy. Apathy is unacceptable, period. 

We are at war when our debt is exploding. Our priorities should be at home. Poverty rates have risen in the wake of the Great Recession, and we need to address it. At the same time as poverty rates have risen--the wealthy have become wealthier. Inequality is a structural issue. A true free market would have some stratification, but it would look more like a bell-curve--with the most people in the middle class. Of course that assumes that the nation is economically prosperous, more developed country (MDC), rather than a less developed country (LDC). So, the government ought to provide for more meritocracy. 

The way to introduce more social mobility is to increase the social safety net. The social safety ensures that a person or family has the necessary resources to reach economic stability. The idea behind the social safety net is not communism, but to ensure that any one person has the ability to reach their potential. Great people have come from poverty, such as Carl Sagan, but it is less often than richer people, because poverty is adversity. The government has a moral obligation to the welfare of its people. Economic security ensures the peoples welfare. It is, then, imperative for the government to ensure that security. The only determining factor of your security should be how hard you work. 

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That is why, peace is important. Rockets being fired into Israel, airstrikes in Gaza, or any senseless violence is a drain on what is most important: the welfare of people. Every piece of unnecessary defense spending robs food from the mouth of a child. Every war causes a hungry child. Though the conflict is runs deep in the murky waters of mutual mistrust, there must be a solution. If Israel has to concede land (say the Golan Heights), then so be it. There is precedent for this. The transfer of land by Israel in 1979. The point is, that Israel is in the unique position to back up the peace treaty with one of the best equipped military in the world. They have room to make concession, and still be safe. Hamas will not concede. This means the Israelis are in the uncomfortable position of negotiating with terrorists. But, Israel has my support. Israel has the support of the US Government. The need for Israel is strong, and not even the International Community cannot dispute that. There are fewer antisemitic people in this world than respectable people. Israel then has responsibility. I, still, as an American; as someone who as never been anywhere but North America cannot judge. 

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The most important ideas that someone should get from this is:

A: There are things happening in the world that are a greater concern than your favorite snack. 
B: We, at the end of the day, can't judge the Isreali's. They are dealing with trauma that most of us cannot think of. I think of the child waiting to get out of a bomb shelter, waiting for school to start again. 
C: Terrorism is NEVER acceptable. No matter the plight of the Palestinian people, if they, and their government, decided to protest peacefully, Israel would, in a heartbeat (possibly less) decide to grant you full, unrestricted rights, the ability to govern yourself, trade, and jobs. The hate and propaganda makes the peace process harder for Israel. Violence is never the answer.
D: Defending yourself is the most desirable option, sometimes. I can't say this without cringing, but living in fear is unacceptable. 
C: Any suffering ANYWHERE is unacceptable. The emphasis remains anywhere. 

Stay safe everyone. May hope liven up these trying times.