Start / Politik (Archiv 2012) / 2012052801

M. Qumsiyeh: What happens to a dream deferred? [28.05.2012]

Gegenstand der aktuellen Email des palästinensischen Bürgerrechtlers Mazin Qumsiyeh, Professor an der Bethlehem und der Bir Zeit Universität, ist die sich verschlechternde Situation in Palästina und die Kollaboration der PA.

What happens to a dream deferred?

Langston Hughes wrote a poem, "Lenox Avenue Mural" in the 1930s:

What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore-
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over-
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?

Our situation in Palestine is very dire indeed. Millions of Palestinians squeezed into concentration areas and money pours in to a few of them to keep the lid on the rest of us. Among Palestinians and Israelis, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer (though the disparity of money allocation is still 10:1 in favor of Israeli Jews over the indiginous Palestinians). But it is also not just an economic issue: the issue is racism. Zionism, bult on notions of privilage and chosenness cannot help but spread racism. The pogroms in Tel Aviv against Africans is just a small manifestation of the kind of pogroms and ethnic cleansing done against the native Palestinians. And it continues to be done. Even as Zionists celebrated occupying Jerusalem, studies show Israeli policies succeeded in creating the highest levels of poverty among Palestinians of Jerusalem. And the disastrous affects of the Oslo agreements continue to be felt throughout the occupied areas. Settlement building and destruction of lives and livelihood continue.

There is a process of slow transfer from most of the West Bank to the ghettos otherwise designated area A. The Palestinian "Authority" continues to have a charade of a "government" (appointing new "ministers" recently) while under occupation. And while talking for years about "reconciliation" and the need to revive the "peace" process (it is a process so the quotes are correctly placed only on "peace"). No consultation with people and no strategy of liberation is presented. An Israeli general once quipped to his fellow criminals "once we have settled the land, all the Arabs will be able to do is run around like drugged roaches in a bottle." Sharon used to call it with his thick English accent: the "piss process" and his right hand man Dov Weisglass correctly identified the purpose: to ensure there will never be a Palestinian state and to never discuss Palestinian rights. The only efficiency worth noting today for the PA is its ability to suppress any "friction" via the security cooperation with the Israeli army. Acts of armed and non-violent resistance are both successfully suppressed. The PA meticulously adhjeres to its obligations under Oslo (as subcontractors for the occupation) while Israel regularly invades area A that is nominally under PA "control" (the 12% of the WB or 2% of historic Palestine). Meanwhile, money and resources are taken from Palestinian lands and people to enrich the coffers of Israeli billionairs (including land developers) and the Israeli military. A profitable occupation indeed! The Palestinian dream of living in freedom and dignity is deferred yet again as the Zionist dominated media works feverishly to talk about Iran and other issues. Israeli authorities continue to think of ways to direct anger towards anything and anyone other than Zionism (the primary cause of instability in this part of the world). Billions of dollars keep moving and millions become poorer.

But back to Hughes question: does a dream deferred sag or does it expode?

Jerusalem Day 2012: Unprecedented Deterioration in East Jerusalem: The prolonged policies that created 78% poverty rates and a frail job market in East Jerusalem.

For Europeans who came here illegally and expelled the indiginous peopel to make a Khazar State, this turn of events is ironic: How I survived a Tel Aviv mob attack // Israeli Kristallnacht: Africans attacked in Tel Aviv anti-migrant demo (PHOTOS)

Worth reading (Note: title usually chosen by editors not author): Not All Israeli Citizens Are Equal

Saturday (Tomorrow): Hosh Jasmin is a new organic farm and camping/hicking facility in Bethlehem area (Al-Makhrour). Their first event is a hiking trip to Battir. For more info call 0599868914, saadehmazen@yahoo.com

Israel's Mabo - Israel/Palestine

Nakba documentary on Aljazeerah

Good news: "Art is a hammer to shape reality". PalFest breaks the siege of Gaza

Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD
A Bedouin in Cyberspace, a villager at home
Professor, Bethlehem and Birzeit Universities
Chairman of the Board, Palestinian Center for Rapprochement Between People,

 (ts)