World cup - Mea Culpa

Last July, I wrote a post about how Nelson Mandela used a rugby match to help heal some of the racial divide in the newly democratic South Africa after the collapse of apartheid. This was the basis of the movie, "Invictus." It just added to all the many other things which I admire about Nelson. But, lately I have contradicted my own conviction by writing on a number of FB walls about how I did not want the Netherlands to win the World Cup in South Africa because of their brutal colonial policies there and the establishment of the apartheid policies by descendants of the original Dutch settlers. Shame on me for not seeing this as another opportunity where sport can be a source of healing instead of a political divide. Here is how South Africans themselves are reacting to the Dutch team:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/11/sports/soccer/11soccer.html?_r=2&hp

Important video

Please, please, please look at this video and share it with everyone you know. We were so upset about blood diamonds. Now, we are supporting the horrific rapes and other violence in eastern Congo with our cell phones and computers including the one I am using right now. How many women were raped so I could work on my laptop while watching TV?

http://www.youtube.com/enoughproject#p/a/u/1/aF-sJgcoY20

Conflict minerals

On the 50th anniversary of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, perhaps we should all think about how each of us contribute to the horrific violence which is going on there when we use our cell phones or computers.

Check out this video:
http://www.youtube.com/enoughproject

And this Nick Kristof column:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/opinion/27kristof.html?scp=2&sq=Nicholas%20Kristof&st=cse

Congo Celebration?

Today, June 30, 2010, is the 50th anniversary of the independence of the Democratic Republic of Congo from Belgium. But, is there anything to celebrate? It has been 50 years of war, rebellion, corruption and horrific violence. It seems to me that this is a legacy of Belgium. While all the nations which colonized Africa have abysmal records of exploitation and destructive policies, none can match the horror imposed on Congo by Leopold II and later Belgium. They made it next to impossible for the Congo to establish a stable nation after gaining independence. And, then the leader of independence, Patrice Lumumba was overthrown withing weeks of independence and assassinated within months. Belgium has accepted "moral responsibility, but not guilt" for this. Huh? Unfortunately, there is more "moral responsibility" to go around. The U.S. and the World Bank supported Lumumba's successor, Mobutu, as part of our Cold War policy in Africa. Strange how we stopped supporting Mobutu once the U.S.S.R. collapsed and let the Congo implode. Lumumba's son is currently suing Belgium for complicity in his father's murder. He wants them to admit guilt and do something to help his tortured country.

I am left with two questions:
1. Is there anything to celebrate about the last 50 years in Congo?
2. Can a nation (or person) have moral responsibility, but not guilt?

And now from Bono

In Sunday's NYT, Bono wrote an op-ed piece about the apology which PM David Cameron issued on behalf of Britain for the actions of Bloody Sunday. 38 years later. He explains far better than I ever could why this apology is so important and what it means to the people in Ireland. Please check it out and share your opinion.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/opinion/20bono.html?scp=2&sq=Bono&st=cse

Finally, Britain Takes the Blame for Bloody Sunday

Finally! It took 38 years, but Britain finally admitted that its troops were totally responsible for what happened in Derry, Northern Ireland on January 30, 1972. Some of you have seen the excellent film, “Bloody Sunday” (some of you with me), more of you know what happened on the horrific Sunday and all of you know the U2 song, “Bloody Sunday”. But it took a twelve year investigation and 38 years for the British to admit that 14 unarmed, innocent Irish demonstrators were shot and murdered while participating in a non-violent civil rights march based on the principles of Martin Luther King. Instead of more peaceful protests, this dreadful day led to a resurgence of the IRA and almost 40 years of bitter dispute and violence between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland. Prime Minister David Cameron said in the House of Commons, “...There are no ambiguities. What happened on Bloody Sunday was both unjustified and unjustifiable. It was wrong...And for that, on behalf of the government - and indeed for our country - I am deeply sorry.”

I guess this answers the U2 question:

“How long...
How long must we sing this song
How long, how long...”

The answer is 38 years.

It was a very dignified apology by Cameron, but it leaves several serious questions unanswered. After this conclusion, should the British troops or their commanders be held criminally responsible for their actions in 1972? And what does Britain owe the families of the victims now that it has admitted that all of the casualties were unarmed?

More on the Flotilla

I just wanted to share some sites from former Conflicters. First is an article written by Ben Joffe-Walt, an old Conflicter. Some of you may remember him as the man who got his picture on the front page of the NYT as a human shield in Iraq and then had to sneak back into the country when he spoke to that Conflicts class. His article is at:

http://www.jewishjournal.com/flotilla_crisis/article/israelis_react_to_the_confrontation_at_sea_20100531/

Also,from Nehad Khader (Tarek's sister) who is currently in Ramallah. She sent a reminder about the Irish:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0601/breaking33.html