Indigenous people were "savages", "animals" then. They were "fair game" then, - but now the world is watching.
British massacre of Indians, Punjab 1919
The game was played with gusto, from the 15th Century through to the 20th Century. The Portuguese got it going, then any self-respecting European nation invaded other lands, plundered resources, exterminated indigenous peoples, and toted righteousness, culture and religion as their justification.
Twas easier then - witnesses and reports of their cruelties were few, and the news reached fewer people and much later.
Imperialism and colonialism got more sophisticated with 20th Century technology spreading news more quickly and to more people. It all still works today, - but harmful impacts are more hidden - deliberate genocide is old hat now.
I truly cannot help feeling sad for the Israelis. Jews have had a rotten time, over many centuries of 0persecutions, pogroms, every kind of discrimination across Europe - culminating in the 20th Century horror of Nazism. Europeans did this.
And then - as an ultimate bit of meanness, The European and American leaders sort of got rid of Jews out of Europe, by pretending that Palestine was pretty empty really - let's just give it to the Jews. Never mind about a few Arabs.
So - like an abused child, Israel went on to become an abuser. And the poisoned relay race went on- Hamas now taking up the abusing baton.
Israel might get away with the genocide of the Palestinians, if only it were the 15th, or even the 20th Century, But the deliberate extermination game is over, and it's just not going to work this time.
No comments:
Post a Comment