My letter to CSM RE Global Newsstand: Rami G. Khouri's "Constant cycle of violence won’t bring peace to Israelis and Palestinians"

Palestinian dress and golden key

 RE Global Newsstand: Rami G. Khouri's "Constant cycle of violence won’t bring peace to Israelis and Palestinians"
http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Global-Newsstand/2014/1204/Constant-cycle-of-violence-in-Israel-regulating-working-hours-in-Japan-Bangladesh-s-quiet-mobile-revolution-Kenya-standing-against-terrorist-attacks-Latvia-s-first-openly-gay-politician

Dear Editor,

Thank you for linking to and publishing Rami G. Khouri's excellent commentary "Constant cycle of violence won’t bring peace to Israelis and Palestinians" on the Global Newsstand.  I hope many people forward the link, and read and think about the article- and figure out what they can personally do to help empower and promote a just and lasting peace. But don't be surprised if they don't. 

Khouri is right to conclude that "neither popular grassroots movements nor enlightened leaderships have emerged on either side to pull us all out of the endless cycle of death."   In today's world the internet provides information, and heart wrenching photographs and stories all about the very real plight of the Palestinians, but the internet also provides a podium for bad ideas and hate campaigning activist-entertainers, as well as religious extremists who are fueled by the Israel-Palestine conflict. Half truths flourish, basic logic is ignored, and reasonable people are harassed and pushed away. 

Enlightened leadership is not supported.  Compassion and diplomacy are scorned.  State building for Palestine is sabotaged by Israelis and also by "pro-Palestine" activists who use Israeli sources to build a case to boycott and destroy Israel.  It would be funny if it weren't so very very tragic... and dangerous.

Ending the Israel-Palestine conflict ASAP with a fully secular two state solution based on international law and fully respecting universal human rights is the best way forward. Weighing in one can chose to exasperate and perpetuate the Israel-Palestine conflict with all its many negative ramifications including the escalating rage that both sides feel towards "the other", or one can follow the lead of many noble and courageous albeit unsung heroes who, day after day, conscientiously focus in on ending the Israel-Palestine conflict for everyone's sake.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

NOTES
Palestinian Refugees (1948-NOW) refused their right to return... and their right to live in peace free from religious bigotry and injustice.

UNITED NATIONS

• About Palestine
  • Government of the State of Palestine
  • Palestine Liberation Organization
  • Diplomatic Relations
• Status of Palestine
  • Membership Application
  • Resolutions & Reports on Status
• Mission Documents
  • Statements
  • Identical Letters
  • Press Releases
  • Mission Reports on GA
• UN Resolutions
  • General Assembly
  • 10th Emergency Special Session
  • Security Council
  • The Wall – Landmark Documents
• Conferences
• Palestine Programmes
• International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People 2014

************
Tala Haikal: Empathy Is Essential to Humanity

Hussein Ibish: Non-violent resistance is Palestine’s most powerful weapon

ATFP Calls for De-Escalation between Israel and the Palestinians

To honor a tragic history, we must work for peace : "The only way to honor our tragic histories is to create a future for our children free of man-made tragedy. This means making peace fully, completely and without reservation, between Israel and Palestine." Ziad Asali

AMERICAN TASK FORCE ON PALESTINE:

A Moderate Palestinian Group Struggles As Hope For A Two-State Solution Wanes

STAY CONNECTED... Given the U.S. commitment to religious freedom, and to the international covenants that guarantee it as the inalienable right of every human being, the United States seeks to: Promote freedom of religion and conscience throughout the world as a fundamental human right and as a source of stability for all countries

"Where, after all, do universal human rights begin?

The Golden Rule... Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

My letter to the New Yorker RE The Civility Wars By Hua Hsu

Maan News via American Task Force on Palestine: A Palestinian woman walks in the rain past houses that were
destroyed during the 50-day Gaza war between Israel and Palestinian
militants, on Nov. 24, 2014 (AFP Mohammed Abed)

 RE  The Civility Wars By Hua Hsu
http://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/civility-wars?utm_source=tny&utm_campaign=generalsocial&utm_medium=twitter&mbid=social_twitter

Dear Editor,

Free Speech and civility are compelling catch phrases easily tweeted in order to escalate a social media witch hunt case against the University that decided, for what ever reason, that it did not want to give Steven Salaita a permanent podium.

I fell badly for Steven Salaita, but I feel much worse for the children of Gaza who are trapped in and tortured by a horrible conflict they did not create.  Right now there are some very active social media savvy "pro-Palestine" activist-entertainers who seek to blame Zionists and pro-Israel supporters for pressuring the University into "unhiring" Salaita.  These "pro-Palestine" activist-entertainers do not support state building efforts for Palestine, they do not support a two state solution to actually end the Israel-Palestine conflict, and they do not approve of dialogue with Israel. 

Step back and think: Seems to me American students work hard to get into college, and their parents have already invested a huge amount of time and money in raising them. College tuition and text books are punitively expensive and either hard earned savings are spent or loans are taken out, with the expectation that college will be a good influence, and a college degree will hopefully help one's beloved child get and keep a better job in a very competitive global world. 

Parents and students have a right to investigate: Is Palestinian American Steven Salaita a good role model- and a good poster child for Free Speech, or Palestine, or Native America Studies?   Or is he a cautionary tale... Will Congressmen and women and voters following the Salaita conversation on "civility" elect to welcome in more Palestinian refugees? What about funding for UNWRA? 

Furthermore, do astute business executives looking to hire new graduates already quietly prioritize resumes from colleges and universities that value civility and diplomacy? 

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab