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"The Palestinians have taken the greater
share of the losses…but they’re still fighting.
The Intifada is alive—and swelling.
Oppression does that."
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You
can feel the tremor…America knows it’s well overdue. Many have
prophesied a “revolution,” but for all the wrong reasons. Many have
mischaracterized the agents of change, but everyone agrees on the
cause: injustice. What I know is that “no man embraces bondage.” I said
that some years ago, as we Blacks in East Knoxville said collectively,
“Enough is enough.” No matter where injustice may live, the intifada
shall come.
Have you seen the news of late? The Jewish state of Israel is in a
panic. At least eight Israelis have been killed by Palestinians in
near-daily stabbing and shooting attacks over the past month. More than
40 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in clashes over that
same period of time. Pundits are asking the insane question, “Where is
this spike in violence coming from?” Get the f@#$ outta here! The
violence never stopped.
They forget the Palestinian rocket fire protesting the Israeli blockade
of Gaza, or the subsequent onslaught of bombing in 2007 and 2009 as a
“lesson” to the Palestinians. The killing of innocent humans shall
always bring more violence. This time it’s different; this violence is
local—in yo’ face—violence.
The thought of old ladies being sliced up on a bus, or a hack to the
head on the way to the Synagogue simply terrifies the Israelis. But,
why? Israelis have no intrepidness about dropping military-grade
explosives on Palestinian children’s schoolyards. If this were to be
called “an eye for an eye,” then I’d say only one party can still see.
The Palestinians have taken the greater share of the losses…but they’re
still fighting. The Intifada is alive—and swelling. Oppression does
that.
When people’s land is snatched from them; when they are treated like
children or collectively punished, anger builds, and acts of resistance
occur. But here I posit, this Intifada is also happening in the Western
hemisphere.
Black Americans are tired of living under threat and siege, as well.
Though the resistance here is but a scratching of the surface; however,
I believe I feel a shudder. Every week, another law enforcement
authority meets his maker. And you ask, is it justified?
What’s happening is nothing that isn’t deserved. Let’s define what
we’re talking about here: Intifada is an Arabic word—a noun literally
meaning "tremor", "shivering", "shuddering." It is derived from an
Arabic term nafada meaning "to shake", "shake off" or "get rid of."
Israel has the Palestinians living—existing—under repressive rule. My
country—the US—condones it, though she proudly claims to be “The Land
of the Free.” Insane, huh?
Israel is building a 15-foot wall around a Palestinian neighborhood!
What? And they think that’s going to make them safer? That’s only
adding insult to injury. Didn’t the Israelis watch “The Women of
Brewster Place?” Walls only make people more resolved to tear them
down! Furthermore, why isn’t the US telling Israel to quit it?
Taking land, building new settlements, expanding old ones, blockading,
bombing innocents, denying Palestinian sovereignty…after a while, any
sensible person would think, “Damn, they’re going to burst one of these
days.” Well, feel the earthquake…or at least the tremors. But as we
look at the news of another Palestinian shot in the back by Israeli
soldiers, look in the mirror. We’ve got our own tremors.
From the uprising in Ferguson to the resistance in Baltimore, these
people of color are saying enough is enough…again and again and again.
The older people are out of gas, yet their spirit is strong. The
children are sick and tired of watching their elders suffer as the
elders fight to protect them. The young people are channeling this
misery and pain into resistant energy. Life or limb be damned! And one
thing I’ve learned about white people is that they hate to feel
uncomfortable; they could care less about making others uncomfortable
(shall I say gentrification, Jim Crow, slave ships?).
Just know that Palestine isn’t the only tremor happening. Just look in the mirror; a shudder is occurring in your backyard.
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BlackCommentator.com Columnist, Perry Redd, longtime activist & organizer, is the Executive Director of the workers rights advocacy, Sincere
Seven that currently owns the FCC license for WOOK-LP 103.1FM/ok103.org. His latest book, Perry NoName: A Journal From A Federal Prison-book 1 , chronicles his ‘behind bars’ activism that extricated him from a 42-year sentence and is now case law. He is also the author of As A Condition of Your Freedom: A Guide to Self-Redemption From Societal Oppression, Mr. Redd also hosts a radio show, Socially Speaking, from his Washington, DC studio. Contact Mr. Redd and BC.
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 is published every Thursday |
Executive Editor:
David A. Love, JD |
Managing Editor:
Nancy Littlefield, MBA |
Publisher:
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