I heard a recent speech by Ralph Nader to an Arab-American convention
yesterday on Pacifica Radio. Once again, I was impressed and pleased by
what this great man had to say. I cannot help but think how different the
world would be today if Democrats had not wasted their votes on Al Gore and
had joined the Greens in electing Ralph Nader and Winona La Duke. Gore
would have been more or less like Bush (controlled by the corporate
interests); whereas Ralph Nader and Winona La Duke would have worked for the
public interest, as both have spent their careers doing.
In his speech, Nader made several very fine points, and made them strongly.
I would love to see the text of that speech made available to all interested
parties. But here are a few points I remember from the airing on "Democracy
Now"!"
1) The invasion of Iraq was based on lies, prevarications, and deceit. The
invasion of and war against Iraq is unforgivable. (American MUST reflect
this reality in the next election -- in my opinion).
2) The American flag has been disgraced by corporate-influenced politicians
and defense contractors who wrap themselves in the flag while begin for
huge financial handouts that now total 1/2 of all discretionary spending of
the U.S. government. The flag was not intended to be a gag against freedom
and justice for all, including free speech.
3) Hatred of Arabs and Middle Eastern Jews by other Jews is "the other
anti-Semitism". The word anti-Semitism has been disgracefully used as a
mechanism for censorship of criticism of the government of Israel. Only
Jews seem to be allowed to criticize the Israeli government, and non-Jews
cannot even get an op-ed published in major newspapers criticizing the
government of Israel. This is improper and wrong.
4) The U.S. government has utterly failed to link with the substantial
Israeli citizen peace movement, which is documenting injustices by all sides
and sees many Israelis taking a stand against the illegal occupation of
Palestine. A "refusenik" movement of Israeli combat veteran soldiers is
growing and refusing to serve in occupied areas and oppress an entire
people, while still being willing to defend Israel proper. The U.S.
Government and Corporate Media act as is these Israeli peace groups do not
exist, when collaboration with them would be a big boost for peace.
5) Israeli leaders for decades have made statements that indicate full
knowledge of the unfairness of Israeli occupation and Palestinian
resistance. The root of the problem in Palestine is not Palestinian
"terrorism", which is completely understandable to astute Israelis when then
full situation is pondered honestly. David Ben-Gurion, Moshe Dayan, and
others were quoted by Ralph Nader to validate his point.
6) Violence should be a non-preferred means of solving disputes. Violence
creates its own rationale for all sides in any dispute, and thus becomes
cyclical and never-ending. Yet, the disparity of raw military power between
the combatants in the situation in Palestine makes the situation grotesque.
Israel has no incentive to alter its methods when it continues to have
overwhelming military superiority over its disputants over land, water, and
basic human rights issues of the Palestinian people. Clearly, Israel is in
the historical wrong, but violence cannot bring the needed final solution
for the benefit of the Palestinian people.
There were a number of other points in this speech. I hope the text can be
published widely.
The writer is a member of several falconry and ornithological clubs and
organizations. He contributed above article to Media Monitors Network (MMN) from California, USA.
