It sure can't be Canada. I sat transfixed last night to the live stream from Gaza provided us by @HarryFear and his associates, my anger rising with each report of an airstrike or child casualty. As events unfolded having already learned that predictably the US and Britain offered unconditional support to Israel I awaited Canada's response even though I knew what it would be and sure enough the Harperites echoed our masters in offering Israel their support.
I now turned my attention to the Liberals, tweeting Bob Rae asking their position on Israels attack on the Gazans of course I received no reply, however Rae later released his party's response and low and behold it was the same as the Cons, Israel has a right to defend itself. Of course this ignores the fact that toddlers do not launch rockets. Again I couldn't truly be surprised as Rae has long been recognised as a "friend" of Israel.
Next up was the NDP. Now this was my one true hope for a statement that at least acknowledged the wrong being perpetrated against the people of Gaza, most of whom only resist by living, alas, I was to be disappointed. They trotted out the tired old press release asking both sides to show restraint as if there is some equivalency in the capability and culpability of the two sides. There is not.
One side is the oppressor and has all the modern weapons the US can give it. The other side the Palestinians are the oppressed and have but a few homemade rockets and their will to survive at it's disposal. Desmond Tutu said it much better than I can ‘If you are neutral in situations of injustice you have chosen the side of the oppressor
In the end I was left with an overwhelming sense of shame at what we have allowed this great nation to become. I certainly no longer recognise it.
The NDP has been a disappointment on foreign policy for about a decade if not longer. It's no wonder Sven kind of lost it - must have been hellish to deal with such a NATO-loving, military fawning gang. Did they step up to bat Israel bombed a UN post in Lebanon in the summer of 2006, killing Canadian peacekeeper Maj. Paeta Derek Hess-von Kruedene? I kept waiting for someone to make a stink but all parties stayed silent.
ReplyDeleteHi Beijing,Yes as this new "pragmatic" NDP continues it's move to the centre or as I call it Liberal Lite I find it increasingly difficult to remain in the fold. This country needs a party firmly on the left of centre I'm not sure we still have one.
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