By Eileen Fleming
You say you want a revolution?
You can count me
in, out, in.
13/06/08 "ICH"
--- - On
June 6, 2008,
Vice President
of the European
Parliament Luisa
Morgantini and
Nobel Peace
Prize Laureate,
Maried
Corrigan-Maguire
were assaulted
by Israeli
Forces with tear
gas during the
weekly Friday
afternoon
nonviolent
protest against
the route of the
wall and
military
occupation in
Bil'in. Julio
Toscano, an
Italian judge,
suffered head
wounds when he
was hit by one
of the tear-gas
grenades. The
incidents came
on the last day
of Bil'in's
third annual
international
conference
supporting
nonviolent
protests against
the route of the
wall and
military
occupation of
the West Bank
agricultural
village.
June 8, 2008
VIDEO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23ul33taRtY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKcSnysC0O8
At the
conclusion of
the second
annual Bil'in
conference, on
April 21st,
2007, Mairead
Maguire, was
shot with a
rubber-coated
steel bullet by
Israeli Forces
an hour after a
press conference
where she
stated:
"Thanks to the
media here for
telling the
truth.. Bring
this truth to
whatever country
you come from.
Non-violence
will solve the
problems here in
Israel and
Palestine.
Often, the world
sees only
violence. But
Palestinians are
a good people,
working towards
non-violence.
This Wall must
fall! It is an
insult to the
human family and
to the world–
that we are
building
Apartheid Walls
in the 21st
Century! More
than forty years
of Occupation
and Land
Appropriation."
In 1976, in
Belfast,
thousands of
ordinary people
throughout
Northern
Ireland, led by
mostly women,
demonstrated for
an end to the
killings known
as "The
Troubles" which
began in 1969.
By 1998, over
thirty-four
hundred people
were killed in
the crossfire of
a brutal war
against British
colonial
interests,
revolutionary
republicanism,
and a revolt
against the
age-old,
oppressive
bigotry and
fanaticism of
religious
ideologies.
On August 10,
1976, Máiread
Corrigan
Maguire's two
nephews and one
of her nieces,
all little
children, were
killed on a
Belfast street
corner. "A
British army
patrol shot and
killed an IRA
gunman, Danny
Lennon, whose
car then plowed
into the
sidewalk,
killing the
children, and
severely
injuring
Mairead's sister
Anne, who died
several years
later. In a land
soaked with
blood, their
deaths came as a
severe shock.
Suddenly,
thousands of
people began to
say, "Enough is
enough. The
killing and
violence have to
stop." [1]
Máiread, Betty
Williams and
Ciaran McKeown,
organized weekly
peace marches
and
demonstrations
were attended by
over half a
million people
throughout
Ireland and
England.
Máiread has
'insisted "that
a peaceful and
just society can
be achieved only
through
nonviolent means
and that the
path to peace
lies in each of
our hearts."
Fueled by her
faith, Maried, a
lone voice of
wisdom,
compassion and
common sense
stood on the
streets of
Belfast and said
"No -- No to the
IRA, No to the
UDA and LVF (the
Ulster Defence
Association and
the Loyalist
Volunteer Force,
unionist/
loyalist
paramilitaries),
No to the
British
government's
emergency laws
and
interrogation
centers and
human rights
abuses, No to
injustice,
bigotry,
discrimination,
No to any
desecration of
human life and
dignity.' [2]
In Belfast
during the
1980's and early
90's, Máiread's
vision of
non-violence was
dismissed,
ridiculed, and
ignored, while
those who called
for retaliatory
vengeance and
violence were
applauded. From
the start,
Maried
understood that
her dream had to
reach beyond the
narrow
boundaries of
North Ireland to
embrace a
non-violent
future for all
humanity.
After a year of
political
negotiations, a
breakthrough
settlement was
reached on Good
Friday 1998,
bringing
Northern Ireland
to an Easter
dawn of peace.
Maried and Betty
were awarded the
Nobel Peace
Prize in 1977
for what had
once been
unimaginable
became reality
and Maried
continues to
envision the
unimaginable:
justice and
peace in Israel
Palestine.
At the third
annual
international
conference in
Bil'in that
promotes
non-violent
actions against
the route of the
wall and
military
occupation of
the West Bank
agricultural
village; Maried
delivered this
message:
Salaam Alikum,
I am very happy
to be here and
would like to
thank Bil'in
Friends of
Freedom and
Justice for
their
invitation.
I am grateful to
have the
opportunity to
join in
Solidarity with
the Palestinian
nonviolent
Resistance
Movement, with
Politicians,
Israeli, and
International
peace activists.
As you know this
month is the
60th Anniversary
of the
Palestinian
Nakba, in l948,
when 750,000
Palestinians
were expelled
from their
homes, losing
property, land,
Everything they
owned.
This suffering
of the
Palestinian
people, at the
hands of the
Israeli
Government,
continues to
this day. In
this village
your land
continues to be
annexed and
recently Israeli
soldiers stood
by as Israeli
settlers moved
their mobile
homes onto your
land. When you
rightly
non-violently
resisted, as you
do at the wall
each week, you
are gassed and
showered by
rubber bullets.
How can anyone
take the Israeli
Gov. peace talks
serious whilst
all the while
they demolish
Palestinian
homes, build an
apartheid wall,
and deny basic
human rights to
the Palestinian
people?
The Siege of
Gaza where the
IDF control l.4
million Gazans
denying them
food, energy,
and freedom of
movement is a
Human Rights
abuse for which
the Israeli
Government
should be deeply
ashamed, and for
which it looses
all right to
call itself a
humane or
democratic
Government.
The World was
horrified when
it watched on
Television, the
Israeli military
on lst March,
this year, kill
over 120 people
were killed,
over 360
wounded, some
200 of which
were children
under l8 years
of age. At least
10 of those
injured were
serious lower
limb amputees,
not simple
wounds. On this
day 3 Israeli
soldiers, were
killed.
The Siege of
Gaza should be
lifted
immediately, and
International
Community meet
its obligations
by recognizing
the
democratically
elected Hamas
Government, and
restoring
economic aid and
help to Gazans.
The Palestinians
should be given
space to sort
out their own
Government and
then serious
peace
negotiations
instead of
forcing them
into desperate
counter
measures.
This year the
State of Israel
celebrates its
60th
anniversary.
I recognize the
right of all
people including
Jews to a
peaceful
existence.
I also recognize
the State of
Israel, but
reject its
domestic and
foreign policies
some of which
are Racist and
uphold an
apartheid
system.
I believe Israel
needs to move
from a Jewish
state to a
power-sharing
democratic state
and in doing so
there are many
lessons to be
learned from the
Northern Ireland
Peace Process.
If Israel wants
peace it can
have it, but it
needs to reject
military means
and replace them
with peaceful,
non-violent
conflict
resolution to
solve the
Palestinian
problem.
There are
obvious steps
which require
political
courage and
leaderships,
such as:
End the
Occupation;
Uphold its
obligations
under UN and
International
Law and end all
violence; open
serious
unconditional,
all inclusive
dialogue with
all parties to
the conflict;
and with their
enemies (as in
the Northern
Ireland peace
process the
British
Government
talked with
Representatives
of Irish
Republican
Army).
The Palestinians
need also to
reject violence
and armed
struggle and
use
non-violent
resistance, such
as the
inspirational
grassroots
peoples'
movement in
Bil'in, and the
pushing down of
Raffah Barrier
in Gaza.
Suicide Bombs,
Qassam rockets
into Israel,
must be stopped
as they are
abuses of Human
Rights of
Israelis. The
Palestinians can
build
Palestinian
Unity and use
non-violent
conflict
resolution
approaches.
I believe, from
our own
experience in
Northern
Ireland, that
women and civil
community play
an important
role in building
justice and
peace, and the
upholding of UN
Resolution l325
would means
Governments have
to protect women
and children
during conflict,
and women must
be
given
representation
at the peace
talk table. The
women in
Northern Ireland
when
participating at
the peace talks
table, brought
new insights
into conflict
resolution.
Also in our own
experience
people in
conflict often
need outside
help in
Their peace
processes. In
N.Ireland we had
Irish/British/American
help.
So too it will
be important to
build Middle
East Community,
i.e.,
Palestine/Israel/Syria/
Lebanon,/Jordan,
and Iran.
Building
Economic/Cultural/Friendship
links with all
these countries
will be Israel's
best form of
security, and a
more reliable
one, than
nuclear weapons,
Militarism, and
ongoing enmity.
Israel, (and
USA) talking to
enemies like
Iran, is the
only way to
solve problems,
as war, nuclear
weapons and
militarism no
longer are
acceptable and
do not work.
There is always
an alternative
to violence, and
we the human
Family must use
the ways of
nonkilling and
nonviolence if
we are to
survive. When
people enter
into dialogue
solutions will
present
themselves.
The question of
Jerusalem can be
solved.
Why not share
the City, or
alternatively
could it be a
World City
State?
Three great
religions Islam,
Christianity,
Judaism, who
trace their
roots to the
prophet
Abraham, could
be a light to
the world, and
give us all
hope, if they
can begin to
live together in
peace, justice
and
reconciliation.
The question of
Palestinian
refugees is
indeed painful
and difficult.
Sadly the wounds
of Nakba are
wide open, and
will not be
healed until
Israel apologies
for the Nakba,
and recognises
the Right to
Return of the
Palestinian
refugees.
Jewish society
needs to do
this, because in
their heart of
hearts they are
a people who
themselves
suffered in the
Holocaust and
know the pain of
injustice and
the need for not
only an apology
but also
restitution to
allow healing
and
reconciliation
to take place.
I am hopeful for
the future peace
of
Israel/Palestinian.
I take my hope
from the
resilience,
patience, and
courage I have
witnessed in so
many Jews and
Arabs living and
work for peace,
and I encourage
you to hold onto
your hope and
believe
passionately
peace will come
in your day.
Thank you.
God Bless you
all.
Salaam, Shalom,
Peace,
Mairead Maguire
www.peacepeople.com
4th June,
2008-05-31
Bil'in,
Palestine.
Maried has also
said, "Hope for
the future
depends on each
of us taking
non-violence
into our hearts
and minds and
developing new
and imaginative
structures which
are non-violent
and life-giving
for all. Some
people will
argue that this
is too
idealistic. I
believe it is
very realistic.
I am convinced
that humanity is
fast evolving to
this higher
consciousness.
For those who
say it cannot be
done, let us
remember that
humanity learned
to abolish
slavery. Our
task now is no
less than the
abolition of
violence and
war.... We can
rejoice and
celebrate today
because we are
living in a
miraculous time.
Everything is
changing and
everything is
possible.
"While
Governments can
make a
difference, in
the final
analysis it is
the individual –
that is each one
of us – that
will bring the
dream of a
non-violent
world to
reality. We, the
people must
think and act
non-violently.
We must not get
stuck in the
past as to do so
will destroy the
imagination and
creativity.
"To change our
world we need a
spiritual and a
political
evolution. The
political steps
are often very
obvious: uphold
Human rights,
and
International
Laws, demand our
Governments meet
their
obligations
under these
Laws, support
and reform
United Nations,
etc., However,
all the
legislation,
resolutions, and
fine talk will
be of no use, if
we do not as men
and women evolve
and become
transformed, so
that we, the
human family,
achieve a more
enlightened and
humane way of
living together,
and solving
conflicts." [4]
The change we
all want to see
in the world is
the
transformation
from violent
retaliation to
non-violent
solidarity. Our
leaders who
choose violence
must be led to
see that only
justice; which
requires equal
human rights for
all, as the only
way to peace and
security for
any. We the
people for
justice and
peace, fuelled
by faith,
ethics,
morality,
non-violence and
wisdom are the
ones to lead our
leaders in the
ways of peace.
Imagine if those
politicians who
claim to be
Christian
actually were on
God's side, such
as in
understanding
that all people
are equal and
sacred beings
and thou shall
not kill.
"Just think of
what would
happen if God's
justice and
peace were our
heart's desire,
and the dignity
of every human
being our
deepest concern.
There would be a
revolution,
which is
precisely what
God's work,
God's mission,
is all about."-
Bishop Frank T.
Griswold
1.
http://www.wearewideawake.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=128&Itemid=105
2. Ibid
3.
http://www.wearewideawake.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=929&Itemid=201
4. Ibid
Learn More:
http://www.bilin-ffj.org
Eileen Fleming,
Reporter and
Editor WAWA:
http://www.wearewideawake.org/
Author "Keep
Hope Alive" and
"Memoirs of a
Nice Irish
American
'Girl's' Life in
Occupied
Territory"
Producer "30
Minutes With
Vanunu" and "13
Minutes with
Vanunu"
