To the Editor:
I identify so much with those in the "time warp" that Audeh mentioned. I once was a solid Israel supporter, proud of what they had built in a so-called "desert" land. But when I started looking into what caused 9/11, I found that Israel had lied to us and they had actually ethnically cleansed Palestine in 1948, producing what the Palestinians call Al-Nakba, the catastrophe where 750,000 Palestinians were forced out of their homes. I made a gut-wrenching decision to change my allegiance, far more gut-wrenching than when I changed from Republican to Democrat when Bush invaded a country that had not attacked us.
When I first started speaking out against Israel's human rights violations, I (a born-again Christian and life-long Sunday School attendee) was breathless, my voice shaky, sure I would be struck by lightning for saying anything against the "holy, chosen" Israel. But with every Palestinian death, with each story of suffering from eviction or home demolition, with every settler clubbing of little children going to school, I have now become quite bold in my righteous criticism of Israel. I no longer try for balance in my letters because the media bias against Palestinians provides plenty of balance for the Israel viewpoint, so I proudly present only the Palestinian viewpoint now, and that IS balance.
Israel is an apartheid state; they say they seek separation from Palestinians (apartheid is the South African word for separation). The Israeli military is out of control; they are brutal to Palestinians. The ideological settlers are completely insane in their devotion to a horrific god who glories in the killing of those who disagree (anyone for jihad?).
Well, this letter is too long to print but I feel better now. I hope you read this far.
Albany, OR
I identify so much with those in the "time warp" that Audeh mentioned. I once was a solid Israel supporter, proud of what they had built in a so-called "desert" land. But when I started looking into what caused 9/11, I found that Israel had lied to us and they had actually ethnically cleansed Palestine in 1948, producing what the Palestinians call Al-Nakba, the catastrophe where 750,000 Palestinians were forced out of their homes. I made a gut-wrenching decision to change my allegiance, far more gut-wrenching than when I changed from Republican to Democrat when Bush invaded a country that had not attacked us.
When I first started speaking out against Israel's human rights violations, I (a born-again Christian and life-long Sunday School attendee) was breathless, my voice shaky, sure I would be struck by lightning for saying anything against the "holy, chosen" Israel. But with every Palestinian death, with each story of suffering from eviction or home demolition, with every settler clubbing of little children going to school, I have now become quite bold in my righteous criticism of Israel. I no longer try for balance in my letters because the media bias against Palestinians provides plenty of balance for the Israel viewpoint, so I proudly present only the Palestinian viewpoint now, and that IS balance.
Israel is an apartheid state; they say they seek separation from Palestinians (apartheid is the South African word for separation). The Israeli military is out of control; they are brutal to Palestinians. The ideological settlers are completely insane in their devotion to a horrific god who glories in the killing of those who disagree (anyone for jihad?).
Well, this letter is too long to print but I feel better now. I hope you read this far.
Albany, OR
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