November 2002 Letters to the Editor (Dr. Hassan El-Najjar) http://www.aljazeerah.info                                    

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From: Mike Chittum, San Francisco - USA (11/30/02)

Subject: Hamas and Palestinian-Israeli peace

 
In reviewing one of your responses, you state that Palestinian resistance would cease immediately should Israel cease it's occupation.  Does this include Hamas?  My understanding is that Hamas will never accept a permanent state of Israel.  If this is the case, what is the purpose of negotiation?  I'm trying to understand what Israel has to do to achieve peace, while remaining a nation.  Americans usually look for compromise and will support a solution that results in a separate Palestinian state.  Americans would gladly support funding for rebuilding as well, if it helps diffuse the non stop violence we have seen for 50-60 years. But, will Hamas cease it's activities with such a settlement?  Also, can it's many trained combatants return to peaceful lives (or begin)as shopkeepers, farmers, computer programmers, etc.?  Thank you.
 

Ediror: Hamas and the rest of the Palestinian organizations have always agreed to cease-fire if Israel withdraws from the Palestinian occupied territories. However, Israeli settlers and their supporters in the Israeli government have done everything they could to prevent a cease-fire or withdrawal. Everytime the Palestinian Authority secured an agreement with Hamas and Jihad to stop targeting Israelis inside Israel, the Israeli government (both Likude and Labor) would torpedo that by assassinating Palestinian leaders, killing civilians, and destroying Palestinian homes on daily basis. This leads to retaliation, like what happened two days ago in Beisan.

When Israelis end their occupation, negotiations can be more successful to finalize the many issues of concern, known as final status issues (refugees, Jerusalem, water, final borders, etc.). There are specific UN resolutions that guarantee Palestinian rights. Good faith negotiations will lead to permanent peace with time. But the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza has to end first. Concerning Palestinian fighters, including Hamas fighters, they can be incorporated in the military force of the Palestinian state, like what happened in all cases of national liberation forces all over the world.

The Israeli occupation could not have been maintained without the unqualified support the Israeli government receives from the US government. Israel is completely protected by the US from any international pressure. About $4 billion of US annual financial and military aid to Israel has led only to supporting aggressive Israelis continue their brutal occupation. Right now, the Bush administration is about to approve $14 billion in financial and military aid to the Sharon government in order to increase the chances of the extreme Likude right-wing Party and its leader, Sharon, to win the January 28 elections against the pro-peace candidate, Amram Mitzna. 

The problem is not Hamas or any other Palestinian organization. Rather, it is Israeli government and the blind support it gets from the US. I don't see any near peace between Israelis and Palestinians as long as the Sharon settler government is not pressured by the US to make peace. That is why it is crucial for the American people to pressure the Bush administration to stop its blind support for the Israeli aggressors.

It is easy to blame the victims but that does not solve the problem. It is courageous and productive to admit the truth and confront the wrong doers. Only then, there will be real progress to peace in the world. Otherwise, Cold War II will continue to involve Israel and the US in a long conflict with Arabs and Muslims for decades to come.

Finally, remember that in 1948, Israelis evicted most Palestinians from their lands and never compensated them for their property or allowed them to return to their homes. In 1967, Israelis occupied the rest of Palestine together with the other Arab territories of Sinai and the Golan Heights. For 35 years now, it is Israel that has been occupying the Palestinian territories and controlling the Palestinian people. Palestinians are not occupying Israel. It is the Israelis who have F-16s, Apache helicopters, tanks, bulldozers, and the US blind financial and military support. They use all of that to continue their aggression and their occupation. Remember these simple facts and you will never be confused about who is the aggressor and what should be done.

 


 

From: A reader who requested anonymity (11/29/02)

Subject: Chilling Human Rights Violations at Negev Tent Prison

My friend has just told me about the conditions at the Negev Tent Prison. And they are grave. There must be immediate action. These men are suffering terribly and many are endanger of dying. None of these men are even charged with any crime, yet they've languished for months. Someone must have the power to at least give these men humane conditions. PLEASE HELP NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The conditions are described in detail below

1) Medical treatment is being denied to all prisoners. Only those on deaths door are taken for treatment. Many men have severe burns (I’ll describe the fire later), infected bullet wounds, broken bones, pneumonia, and malnutrition. Aspirin is the catchall cure for all the men’s maladies. Organizations must act quickly to save and care for the sick and wounded patients in the Negev detention camp. No surgeries or proper medication was given to them. They are facing a slow death as a result of this blatant neglect.

2) There are presently about 1,280 prisoners at the Negev Tent Prison. The men are help in barbwire cages, 60 per sector, and 20 per 6x6 meter non-waterproof tent. They sleep on wooden planks with one blanket per man. The temperature plummets to zero or just above at night. The men are suffering because of the cold, especially as some have little or no clothing and let be noted that they are in the same clothes they were arrested in. In terms of sanitation there is a hole in the ground and this dug up only once every 2 months so the stench is horrific. The cages as I said before are open to the elements and snakes and scorpions often crawl into the common areas. During the heat of the day, flies swarm all over the men. They have to keep moving to avoid the flies and at night mosquitoes torture the men. There is also no electricity.

3) The prisoners live on inhuman food rations they get peas and rice, rice and peas and peas and rice. They are given moldy, many times frozen bread and every 4th day lukewarm tea.

4) There are no basic supplies or items for personal hygiene. There is a spout for a shower but it only has ice-cold water. There are no paper or pens. The men are not allowed to receive clothes or gifts from family.

5) If they are seen to move out of the tents, the soldiers have been ordered to point their rifles, with their fingers on the trigger, ready to shoot. In addition, the guards inside are all armed, which is in direct contravention of the law.

6) All the men in the Negev desert prison are held for indefinite periods of time without charges or trial. Many times the men are told they are to be released but then at the hearing they renew the sentence for 6 more months, on grounds “that are a threat to the nation.” Now remember there are no charges and no evidence to make such a charge. The prisoners' lawyers are often barred from seeing them and since the prison is on a military base all Human Rights Groups, Family and Media are barred from the prison.

7) Many men have been tortured. All are systematically beaten.

8) On October 24th at 8:30 am 3 men were told they must come with the IDF guards because they were accused of trying to escape. The other prisons knew this was false and all that the guards were going to do was torture the prisoners, so they refused to leave the cage. A scuffle ensued and the guards lobbed tear gas and percussion grenades into all the prison sectors. In several sectors the percussion grenades started fires and in one sector the winds whipped up the fire so furiously the men were in danger of being engulfed. The 60 men desperately used wooden planks to break their way into the next sector to escape the fire. They succeeded but it took quite a while and many men were badly burned. The guards also shot rubber bullets into the men’s cages and several men took deep hits because the shots were taken at close range. In all 33 people were wounded and no one got care. Even more disgusting was that the men housed in the badly burned section were left to sleep on the remains of the charred tent with no blankets and no tent covering for 15 days.

Editor: I don't know what kind of help you're asking for in particular. The first thing that comes to mind is Human Rights groups, international organizations, and the US Department of State. I appeal to readers who have contacts with or can reach with any of these to bring this to their attention.

 


 

From: Richard (11/29/02)

Subject: Suggesting a good website

Hello - First well done for making a better news service for us!
Second - Here is a site i recommend in Britain.
www.seizetheday.org They are a band of peace activists who are also musicians. One of their best songs called 'United States' has just been released on a national anti-war album to gather support against the pressure to make a war on Iraq. Its a great song and it has its own page with the words and even one of the same pictures of a boy throwing stones at a tank you have on your website.
Peace to you

Editor: Thanks for suggesting the website. It's been added on the front page. Peace to you, too.

 


 

From: Michael Bernet (11/28/02)

Subject: Al-Jazeerah and aljazeera.tv

I have read with great interest the current postings on your site, and your valiant attempts to correct the public's impression on what is happening in the Middle East.

I was actually browsing for information from the television station of that name. Do you happen to know its url? I am glad, though, to have discovered your site, and have earmarked it for future reference.

Editor: It is www.aljazeera.tv But it is in Arabic and hard to receive online. You need to subscribe to it through satellite companies.

 


 

From: Tony, Mr. Mechanic (11/27/02).

Subject: Israeli and Palestinian viewpoints of the conflict

 
     Thank you for taking the time to respond to my letter of 26 Nov 02. Religion in America has been kept at arms length since our inception over 200 years ago. Separation of church and state is one of the cornerstone beliefs of our society. This certainly does not mean America is a God-less nation, quite the contrary. We hold that an individual's relationship with the Almighty is a personal issue and should not be forced. I cannot begin to guess the number of religious organizations operating freely in this country.
     My understanding of Islam, and please correct me if I am wrong, is that there cannot be a separation of church and state. The recent "letter to America " from Osama bin Laden states that separation is one of the faults of our nation (in his opinion). The ruling class in Iran sentences a professor to death for stating an opinion which differs from their religious beliefs. Officials in Nigeria recommend a reporter be killed for writing an article that was found to be religiously offensive. This tidbit is coming from a country which is about to stone-to-death a woman for having a child out of wedlock (by the way, what is to become of the man who helped put her in that position?). You asked me not to mix religion and politics but I cannot see the distinction.
     In discussion of Palestine, there seems to be more than enough blame to go around. Did the Israeli clampdown cause Palestinian homicide-bombers or was it the other way around? Both sides claim they are right based on actions dating back two thousand years. What are they prepared to do now ? If Arafat, as elected leader, has been unable to control his people as a first step toward a new nation , is it wrong for the Israelis to act in the interest of their own security? If Sharon is wrong then what is a better solution based on prior experience ? I do not see America having the blind support for Israel as stated in many Arab news sources. I do see a small democratic nation in a hostile region which has come under continuous attack since it's inception. The average American is going to be hard-pressed to side with individuals strapped with bombs claiming to be advancing their religion. If the American "road-map" to peace has become the laughing stock of the Arab world then what can the Arab nations offer except the elimination of the Israeli state?
     In conclusion, I believe America is attempting to help a variety of groups and individuals around the world. I see billions of our tax dollars going to Egypt, Somalia, Ethiopia etc. If the world does not want our assistance then stop asking. We will save our time and money for more fruitful endeavors.

 

Editor: You did not answer my question about which country you were referring to in which a reporter was grabbed and his head was chopped off. 

Your assertions about Islam are so inaccurate that I cannot respond to them here. Please read the Islam section and the links mentioned there to get you started. Briefly, Islam is a way of life. It has teachings that organize people's life in all aspects, political, economic, legal, family, etc. Religion should be understood as a whole. You cannot judge it by selecting bits and pieces that suit your argument. What we have today is not a contest between Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. The conflict is about land and resources. Israel occupies Palestinian and Arab territories, that is why there is resistance. It is not a war between Islam and Judaism. The United States is involved in war with many Arab and Muslim countries because it has sided with Israel and is attempting to control Middle Eastern oil. Other nations, Christians or otherwise, are not involved in the conflict. They are being coerced to do so by US-Israeli pressures.

The rest of your letter reflects the Israeli viewpoint of history and of the present conflict. Here are my reactions to some of the viewpoints you expressed above. Even if some of us don't like it, there are other sides of the truth that are not told. This is an attempt to show another side of the truth.

First, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is not thousands of years old. It started in 1948, when Israelis took the property of the Palestinians and have not allowed to go back to their property or compensated for it.

Second, Present Palestinian resistance (Uprising) is a reaction to the brutal Israeli occupation of Palestine. Palestinians do not occupy Israel. If Israelis end their occupation, resistance will stop automatically. Neither Arafat nor Sharon can stop resistance of the Israeli military occupation. The examples of resistance throughout history demonstrated that at the end freedom would win. By insisting on the continuation of the occupation, Zionists only lengthen the pain of the two peoples. Palestinian resistance aims at freedom from the Israeli occupation. It is not to advance any religious teaching. It is a human right.

Third, Sharon is not only wrong but a butcher and war criminal, who will be tried one day for his crimes against humanity, probably after leaving office. There is a case against him in a Belgian court for his role in the Sabra and Shatilla massacres of 1982, in Beirut.

Fourth, Israel is not a democracy. It is the last racist and oppressive regime on Earth. Five million Zionists took the property of seven million Palestinians (Muslims and Christians). They denied them citizenship and have been controlling them for the last 35 years. Probably, you can argue that was some democracy during the first 19 years of Israel's existence. Since 1967, Palestinians came under the Israeli direct rule but without any human or political rights. 

Fifth, Palestinians know for sure that the Bush administration is not serious about implementing its own proposals, including the new one, "the road map." The evidence is in what happened to the previous ones: the Mitchel and Tennet plans. President Bush kept demanding that Sharon withdraw his troops outside Palestinian cities without any response from the latter. Actually, instead of pressuring Israel to withdraw, the Bush administration is about to give Sharon $14 billion to increase his chances to win the elections against the pro-peace candidate, Mitzna.

Finally, US foreign aid is mainly targeting Israel and its security. That is why Egypt has the second largest share of the US foreign aid, after Israel. The goal is keeping Egypt away from threatening the security of Israel. Outside Egypt and Israel, aid supplements American foreign policy. It is used mainly as inducements to countries which cooperate with the US war efforts. So far, the US foreign aid has been used to serve Israel and its interests. If Zionist Israel stops its aggression and ends its occupation, there will be no need to bribe other nations with foreign aid and American tax payers can save their dollars. But who in the US government dares to stop aid to Israel and its oppressive and non-democratic regime?

There is always another side for the truth. We should seek for it. Perhaps this may get us closer to more understanding.

 

 
                                                                                                      
    

 

From: Tony, Mr. Mechanic (11/26/02).

Subject: In the spirit of fairness in reporting

     I have noticed the recent addition in most of your articles of the phrase "....US-equipped and funded...".  In the spirit of fairness, please add "..Iranian-funded..." the next time you describe how someone strapped with bombs blows up a civilian bus. Also add "...Islamic-sponsored..." when someone grabs another  reporter and chops off his head. Thank you for being impartial journalists.

Editor: You have a point. But the phrase was used to describe the horrible pictures, "not articles," of today. If this continues, we have to mention the sponsors and supporters of any crimes against humanity whenever they are reported. However, the objective was to attract the attention of the American people and the US government to these Israeli crimes against humanity. Concerning sponsors of Palestinian suicide bombers, I don't think you are right in your assertion that Iran has a role in that. The term you used for the last suggestion, "Islamic-sponsored" is not accurate. Islam does not condone any violence against civilians. In the spirit of fairness, you should not mix religion with politics. We know for sure that Israeli soldiers killed the British UN worker in Jenin, killed Italian journalist few months ago, and injured several other journalists the last one of them was yesterday. In the spirit of fairness, which country are you referring to in which a reporter was grabbed and his head was chopped off? We haven't heard of that. Waiting for your answer. 

 

                                                                                                                        


 

From: Jason V (11/25/02)

Subject: Al-Jazeerah

Asalaamu alaykum.

    I just wanted to thank Al-Jazeerah for launching this English site -- jazeerah.info, jazakumAllahu.  As someone not yet able to read Arabic media -- I'm currently learning the language -- I'm so glad that you are making possible for the English-speaking world THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY!  American media is so amazingly and mind-numbingly one-sided, so profoundly frustrating that it literally destroys the process of critical thought and renders impossible an informed understanding of the current situation of the world.  Please never stop your efforts, spread yourself throughout America, through all the west.  All Americans need to see is that which is before their eyes and they will flock to the support of the oppressed, that's their nature.  Tolerance, freedom, equality, and fair play are absolutely paramount to the vast majority of them.  They only support policies that result in injustice because they are lied to on a constant basis.  Please maintain your great efforts.  Peace be upon those who follow right guidance.  Ma' salaam.

Editor: So happy and humbled. We'll continue and expand by the grace of God.


 

From: Concerned American (11/25/02)

Subject: Saudi Arabia

Just wondering why there is no mention of the checks written by the wife of a prince that were given to close friends of the 9/11 hijackers.
 

Editor: The FBI investigated that and found nothing. Read this article that was published at Al-Jazeerah.

                             White House cautions against judgment on 9/11 inquiry

More: 

Saudi Arabia informs US of probe into 9/11 money link

Basannan ‘never knew Al-Bayoumi personally’


 

From: Charlotte Henry (11/24/02)

Subject: Cold War II: America's War in the Muslim World

Since the onset of airline hijackings, hostage taking and killing, Olympic Village siege, etc. Americans have not seen much else from Islam.  I'm not implying that there is nothing more to Islam, just that this is all we see and hear.  When the Soviets were thrown out of Afghanistan there was no attempt to build infrastructure, schools and hospitals, but there was plenty of money to buy weapons, explosives, and military training camps.  Instead of focusing on America, why don't Muslims focus on themselves.  The truth is that individual Americans are so busy just trying to earn a living, raise our children, and build a better life, we don't have time to go around thinking about other nations or religions until our blood has been spilled and at that point we are more than willing to respond in kind.
Americans have plenty of faults, but we are not a culture that values the killing of civilians.  Yes, I would like to see bin Laden dead, but at the same time I would like to see the Palestinians enjoy self determination and an end to children blowing themselves up.
I remember watching a video tape of bin Laden and top lieutenants last Dec. and one of the gentlemen was telling Osama how he learned of the WTC destruction.  He said that he and friends were sitting around talking about how they don't have anything when they heard the news come over the radio.  What struck me about that is that they have plenty of military things because it reflects their values. 
Muslims won't be able to walk better when my leg is broken.

Editor: Any conflict has two sides or more. You just thought about one side of the conflict. What about American foreign policy, which has created the roots of the conflict. I invite you to think about this side. This will make your job easier for both understanding and hopefully finding solutions to the conflict. There should no doubt in your mind about the good nature of Muslims, who are instructed to love all people, particularly Christians, as they believe in Jesus Christ as the Messiah and will rejoice for his second coming, just like Christians. 

But whether Muslims or non-Muslims, humans are good by nature. It's the politics of war and global dominance that pit one nation against another. The biased US foreign policy led to the 1991 Gulf War, which resulted in the US military presence in Arabia. Instead of allowing Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait without war, the Bush Sr. administration insisted on war. That war resulted in the destruction of Iraq and the killing of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. The continuous US support for the Israeli occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people is a major cause of anti-American sentiments around the world, not just among Muslims. 

The conflict is not between Muslims and Christians or between Muslims and Jews. The problem lies in the US foreign policy that aims at global domination for the benefit of the military industry, oil industry, and Zionist Israel. Americans need to be more politically active and vote for more peaceful administrations. You need to think about the reasons these people feel that way against the US. You didn't hear about the Islamic threat before the collapse of the Soviet Union. For about half a century, Muslims were considered good people. Actually, some of them like those who were in Afghanistan helped America in its war against the Soviet Union there. After the collapse of Communist systems in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, US weapon manufacturers and those who benefit from them needed a new enemy to justify the huge American military spending. They found support from oil companies, which will be the major beneficiary from the US invasion of Iraq. They will control Iraqi oil production and marketing.

There is much more to the conflict than just "terrorism," which is a reaction to the Israeli and US policies. There is a global capitalist class headquartered in the US, which perceives itself as the heir of the imperialist European powers, namely Britain and France. During the first half of the twentieth century, Germany tried twice to enter the imperialist arena but was defeated and humiliated. The British and the French empires were also destroyed during the World War II and the United States took their place. However, the Soviet Communists were on the way. That is why Cold War I was fought in about half a century until both the Soviet Union and its Communist ideology were defeated. Now, with no rival super power, the US capitalist ruling class cannot wait any longer to reap the fruits of winning its conflict with the defeated Soviet Union.

The fruits are the raw materials and markets of the Third World, which Britain and France enjoyed for centuries. This was why the Bush Sr. administration insisted on launching war on Iraq in 1991 and this is why the Bush Jr. administration insists on launching war against Iraq right now. Iraq has nothing to do with Bin Laden. Neither the Bush administration nor any of the US government intelligence agencies, including the CIA, claimed that there is any evidence that links Iraq to September 11 attacks. Then, why does the Bush administration still insists on invading Iraq. Weapon manufacturers will sell a lot of weapons, the oil industry will acquire huge wealth, and Israel will have America fighting its conflict with Arabs so that it extends its influence on the entire region.

What are the consequences of invading Iraq? Will Arabs and Muslims, including Iraqis, be happy to see the US invading an Arab-Muslim country and taking over its resources? Absolutely not. There will be resistance. Just look at the results of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories for 35 years. Have the Palestinians accepted the Israeli domination and invasion? No, they have not. They have been resisting that Israeli aggression ever since, and there is no reason to believe that they will stop their resistance until they are free of the Israeli occupation. Likewise, Iraqis will resist the US invasion even if their government collapses. We will be in Vietnam II, decades of bloodshed and destruction.

But can we, the people, stop it? I doubt it. But we can make its impact easier on the victims. We have to be more involved in the political process. It's a shame that this year's Congressional elections represented only 36 percent of American eligible voters. This means that the ruling "Republican" Party represents only a little bit more than 18 percent of eligible voters. It's the rule of the few, it's the dictatorship of the upper class. Historically speaking,  it's the same old story, the most powerful invades the weaker for resources. This was what the ancient Egyptians, Iraqis, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Turks, and Europeans did, and what Americans are doing now. In every case, the ruling elite would invent a reason for their invasion of other nations, and in every case, the invading nation would accept the excuse.

But do you really need a reason to invade another country if you are the super power? Not really, the Bush administration could not produce any reason. Lately, they came up with the excuse of weapons of mass destruction. Iraq has accepted to be inspected to clear itself of this accusation. However, Secretary Rumsfeld said that the US would attack Iraq for any "material breach," that is for any excuse. The military preparations to invade Iraq have not stopped. After Iraq, members of the Zio-servative alliance (alliance of Zionists and neo-conservatives) that rules the United States, have been calling for the invasion of other countries after Iraq. A short list includes Iran, Syria, and Libya. A longer one includes Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Whether this is going to happen or not depends on how the invasion of Iraq goes on, and on whether the American people will wake up and stop the Bush administration from creating one of the most disruptive upheavals in the human history.

 


 

From: mouna ouakkat (11/23/02).

Subject: Moroccan elections

bonjour je m'appelle mouna de nationalité marocaine,agé de 18 ans je suis en premier ennée dans la haut institu du genie appliqué,et je desire d'avoir des information sur les election marocaine 2002. je serais tellement ravis si vous m'enyoye ses information bien detaille, parceque i'ai un exposé sur se téme. merci de votre chaleureuse atention,veuillez acceter mon amitée. mouna.

Editor: You can browse in the news archives section to get details. Here is one news item about Moroccan elections:

Religious party gets a boost in Morocco polls


 

From: ... (11/16/02)

This reader sent the following letter for publication on 11/16/02. His name stayed there until December 24, 2006, when he requested his name to be removed because of negative feedback experienced by him and his family.

Subject: In simple terms, you guys (at Al-Jazeerah) are awsome

Watching CNN or MSNB (sitcom “Friends" masquerading as News.) or reading the dailies has become a nightmare  - none of it is real anymore.

I was beginning to think the world had gone mad or perhaps I had.

But thanks to you guys some reality has crept back into my life.

 BTW – For most of my life I have had a profound respect and admiration for the Israelis. However my emotional response towards Israelis (Zionists) has deteriorated markedly.  I fear that Israel and its actions have become the best promoters of anti-Semitism - their own worst enemies.

 Wonderful work.

 

 

 


 

From: Linda S Heard (11/15/02)

Subject: Support for Gretta Duizenberg for her popular drive to end the Israeli occupation of Palestine

I am sending you a site for a group of people in the Netherlands headed by a lady, Gretta Duizenberg, who is supporting the Palestinian cause. She raised the Palestinian flag on the balcony of her house in Amsterdam. As a consequence, she has received 5000 death and hate letters from pro-Israelis in The Netherlands. However, she received 60,000 supporting e-mails/letters, from Dutch and Arabs in the Netherlands. She wants to collect 6 million e-mail signatures to go to the Dutch and European parliaments to request an end to the Israeli occupation. 

The Zionist lobby has been very active and filed a lawsuit against her. She needs our support to collect the 6 million signatures from all over the world to challenge them.

Let's support someone who is helping us without any money and at great personal risk. She is invited by Yasser Arafat to visit Gaza in late November 2002. She is looking forward to collecting the 6 million signatures before traveling. 

Please forward to as many people as possible to sign. The group's website where you can sign the petition www.stopdebezetting.nl (It means stop the occupation.)

Click on the English version. Translation of the submittal form is as follows: Naam: name
Beroep/Functie: Function (occupation?) Plaats: location (country)


 

From the Editor of Al-Jazeerah (11/15/02)

To: Thomas Chaney

Subject: Bashing Muslims

My answer to your message is the same answer I gave to Shirley Nelson below. You are bashing Muslims. Therefore, your message cannot be published. It contradicts with our mission, which promotes cross-cultural understanding by opposing war and the Israeli military occupation of Palestine.

Most Americans oppose the war, read the polls. You are among the minority. Pitting Americans against Arabs and Muslims only serves Israel in its expansionist policies in the Middle East.

President Bush has criticized anti-Islam statements. read this news item from the Islamic Institute (Al-Jazeerah, 11/15/02):

PRESIDENT BUSH CRITICIZES ANTI-ISLAM STATEMENTS

President Bush directly opposed statements made in recent weeks and months by several conservative Christian leaders, including Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and Franklin Graham, attacking Islam and characterizing Islam as a violent faith.

In his meeting yesterday with U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, the president said "Some of the comments that have been uttered about Islam do not reflect the sentiments of my government or the sentiments of most Americans.  Islam, as practiced by the vast majority of people, is a peaceful religion, a religion that respects others."  President Bush also said that "Ours is a country based upon tolerance., and we respect the faith and we welcome people of all faiths in America.  And we're not going to let the war on terror or terrorists cause us to change our values."

Last week, Islamic Institute Chairman, Khaled Saffuri, raised the issue with President Bush and other elected officials about condemning racist comments about Islam by conservative Christian leaders and others.   "These destructive comments inspired by hate, need to be openly condemned in order to ensure peaceful existence for all Americans regardless of whether or not they are Muslim, Jewish or Christian.  We commend President Bush and the Administration for taking a stand against these racist comments."


 

From the Editor of Al-Jazeerah (11/14/02)

To: Shirley Nelson

Subject: Bashing Muslims

If you would like to criticize any article published at Al-Jazeerah, you're welcome to do so. Just include the name of the author, the title of the article, and the date of publication.

If your complaint is regarding other publications, please forward your message to them. We are not responsible for the work of others.

If you don't specify the works you want to criticize, your letter will be nothing but bashing Arabs and Muslims, in general, who constitute about one-sixth of people in the world. I don't think that this is your intention.

 


 

From: Michael Juby (11/14/02)

Subject: Canadian-US relations

As you probably know, in recent months, the Canadian government (my
government) signed a foolish agreement with America which would allow
American troops to enter Canada if we are attacked by "terrorists" to aid in
quelling panic and other weak reasons.  At that time I expressed concerns
publicly about how pointless the agreement was and how easily it could be
exploited by America or a terrorist faction.
A terrorist Faction could exploit this quite easily, any 2bit terrorist
group from anywhere in the world could place a bomb in say Parliament or the
CN tower.  Now this would allow American troops to basically occupy Canada,
and this could easily hurt Canadian American Relations and make a rift in
NATO, and could also hurt British American relations and that would really
disrupt NATO and even the UN.  Of course the whole reason for the agreement
could be America basically encouraging some group to attack Canada over
America and save precious American lives over expendable Canadians and from
there they could either risk the rift and occupy Canada, or be with content
at saving American lives.
There is another possibility, America could CIA up a terrorist attack on
Canada so that they could occupy us and bring them one step closer to
Manifest Destiny, either way, I am very concerned for the safety of
Canadians and I felt it was necessary to point out certain connections that
others might have failed to make in an effort to maintain my much beloved
Multi-Cultural/Orderly/Happy society that I live in.


From: Paul Marcus (11/11/02)

Subject: Horseman without a horse

Hello,
 
I am interested inn viewing the entire Dream TV Series "Horseman Without a Horse".
Because the show is not broadcast here in the US, do you know if there is any way to purchase the series from the producer or any other outlet?
 
Thank you.

Editor: I don't think that you can buy them now. They are being aired one episode a day on Arab TV stations. They will be available when all the 41 series are aired. However, you can watch them in the US on Arab satellite stations. Dish Network has the package. Look for example, for Egyptian, Yemen, Al-Manar TV stations. But I'll let readers know where the series can be sold.

 

From Tim Stinson (11/7/02)

Subject US wants prints of Muslim visitors

This is but one of many policies here in the U.S, which reflect the degree which Muslims and Islam, have been demonized.  Through establishment of these policies, this administration has made it clear who has been designated as an enemy to the U.S.  With Conservatives in absolute control of the U.S government, more policies (along with a greater push for war against Iraq) such as these are on the way.  It appears that Canada was absolutely correct in issuing the travel advisory for Muslims or all of middle eastern decent, who choose to visit the U.S!
 
 

 


 

From: Andrew Collingwood, UK (11/3/02)

Subject: Information about the Day of action against war in the UK,

             in response to the Editor's request below.

 

Unfortunately the coverage of the event was poor in the media, even though a large number of people were involved all over the country, but here are a few articles from the national media:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_politics/2379387.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/england/2384821.stm

http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianpolitics/story/0,3605,823843,00.html

In my own town of York, we had a successful day of protest hanging banners of the city walls and later surrounding an army barracks followed by a march into the city centre involving around 350 local residents, although once again the press played down the numbers, thankfully we did a head count.  An article can be found in our local paper at:

http://www.thisisyork.co.uk/york/archive/2002/11/01/york_news_local20ZM.html

Details of the national campaign can be found at:

http://www.stopwar.org.uk

There are plans for another mass rally in London in February.


 

From: Andrew Collingwood, UK (11/1/02)

Subject: Day of action against war in the UK

Although it has not been heavily reported in the media, October 31st saw a national day of protest against the proposed war on Iraq all over the UK.

Towns and cities in the UK staged protests, sit in's, stopped traffic, participated in marches and vigils which involved thousands of citizens who are strongly opposed to the war.

The anti war movement in the UK is growing by the week, with a lot of our own members of parliament speaking out against military action.

If Tony Blair does end up dragging the UK into war, it will be without the backing of a large section of the British population.

Editor: Thanks Andrew for the news. Please send more details so that we can publish them in the news section. This will encourage people everywhere to report the unreported events of such importance.

 


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