Witnessing the birth of new campaigners

COMMENT

“Politics concern… who does what to whom” – Vladimir Lenin

In my time I’ve known many activists who have campaigned tirelessly against great odds on a range of important issues. From the military use of Shannon Airport to global warming, I’ve known people who have dedicated pretty much all their spare time to running campaigns and raising awareness on issues.
They are interesting passionate people and something of a rare breed. In most cases they are viewed with either suspicion or mirth by others for the vehemence with which they support their cause but this week has brought an interesting thing to my attention.
Since the Israeli government forces attacked the humanitarian flotilla of ships earlier this week new activists seem to have been birthed in people formerly uninterested in all things political or activist related. It has been stunning to see the number of protests and campaigns being advertised through social networking sites and the response of people in wishing to attend or expressing solidarity.
The issue of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands has been with us for many years and yet it seems that we are further than ever from resolving the situation into some kind of workable peace. Countless politicians from all over the world have tried to bring about a peaceful resolution but all have been thwarted.
To say the subject is a thorny one is a gross understatement. Many people do not wish to even comment in private regarding the matter for fear of being branded anti-Semitic. This tool has been cynically deployed by the Israeli government for many years and, given the fact that anti-Semitism in itself is a very real and disgusting thing, only has the effect of cheapening the phrase. On the Palestinian side children are indoctrinated from infancy to loathe Israel and suicide bombers are glorified. The whole scenario is mindbogglingly complex.
I think a good way to view the conflict is to remove labels and I think that’s maybe a good way to proceed. In reality the outrage that has greeted Israel’s attack on the flotilla is part, in my opinion, due to the fact that these are civilians from different nations. Micháel Martin has issued a statement on the matter as has the new British foreign minister William Hague. The UN Security Council held a ten-hour meeting before issuing their missive.
The statement began as follows, “The security council deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries resulting from the use of force during the Israeli military operation in international waters against the convoy sailing to Gaza. The council, in this context, condemns those acts which resulted in the loss of at least 10 civilians and many wounded, and expresses its condolences to their families.”
This is far from an outright, direct condemnation of the act but at least it acknowledges the fact that human life has been lost.
Despite labels such as nationality drawing attention to this latest incident, I wish to continue with my proposal of removing labels from all sides. There is a simple fact in this case – people are dying in unacceptable numbers all the time as a result of the conflict.
Human beings continually suffer as a result of it and this is unacceptable. On all sides of this horrific situation human suffering continues all the time and mostly in silence. People starve, lack medical supplies and much else while the world watches. Viewed through simply humanitarian terms this is a disaster and a disaster that has gone on for many years.
The problem is of course politics. Politics in the form of ideology and intransigence is killing people on a daily basis while the world stands by. Of course, this is happening all over the world but, given the level of international interest in this conflict, it is a sorry state of affairs.
As I write, people who never had an interest in politics or campaigning are protesting all over the world at this situation. What is needed is a political solution so it is up to politicians to find one. Activists are being born every minute just as people are dying because of a failure of politics in this conflict. The people have taken to the streets of their nations because they care about people. They want justice and an end to needless death. The people of the world are passionate about seeing an end to suffering it now remains to be seen if their elected representatives feel the same way.
In reality, part of me knows that I could be writing this same column in ten years time. Peace in the occupied territories feels further away than ever at this time. The cycle of violence and death in that place seems to have found a deep groove that ensures its continuation for a very long time to come. With every human death a zealot is born on both sides. Everything terrible in the human spirit is on display for all of us to watch in horror and revulsion. It is a depraved and utterly horrific situation.
Just as new zealots are born new activists are too and the whole self-perpetuating cycle continues the swirls at its edges reaching all over the planet and drawing in those who want to put humanity first in defiance of politics.
This conflict may be with us for many years to come and essentially all we the un-elected, powerless people can do is hope that somehow a resolution can be found and the suffering of the powerless will cease.