The Deafening Silence
To claim that Israel vicious attack on Lebanon is self defense is even more preposterous than weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. To deliberately kill hundreds of innocent men, women and children is not self-defense. To deliberately target schools, bridges, hospitals, power stations, fleeing refugees, humanitarian relief supplies is not self-defense. Israel’s rationale for the capture of two of its soldiers by Hezbollah guerillas was to kill as many Lebanese as they could. Muslim or Christian did not matter. Hezbollah guerilla or innocent civilian did not matter. But they did give warnings. “Your village is now a kill zone. Get out of it in four hours for we are gonna burn it to the ground”.
But where were the voices against these atrocious acts? The silence was deafening. Instead, predictably George ‘Guantanamo’ Bush said “Continue to kill indiscriminately.” Other Republicans and Democrats alike rushed to give an enthusiastic green light to continue the indiscriminate killing. The House voted 400 to 8 to support the continuation of indiscriminate killing. Even voices that I expected to rise up in vociferous opposition called for continued indiscriminate killing by their deafening silence. Ceasefire became a dirty word.
I am glad I am not a politician so that I can speak up freely against the Israeli attack. Lebanon, I am sorry that I did not speak up before. I was hesitant because I was afraid of offending my Jewish friends, whose friendship I value. But they too should be bravely raising their voices in opposition. I did not hesitate to speak up loudly against my own country’s invasion and occupation of Iraq. I speak up because I hate for any country, especially mine, to do wrong. I want to be proud of my country. But, I should not have hesitated this time too.
In this world that is fast deteriorating into might makes right, the only hope that can temper this descent is voices that speak up against such atrocious acts regardless of country. So it’s time to break the silence. The world is at stake. Any time soon, George ‘Guantanamo’ Bush, emboldened by the deafening silence, might use another preposterous rationale to invade either Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela or any other invasion country–of-the-month he chooses.