Headlines You Will Never See

Headlines You Will Never See By Sherwin Pomerantz ITEM: July 4 2012, Pawhuska, Oklahoma – The Osage Indian tribe held a massive demonstration today in the parking area of their tribal museum marking the “disaster” that befell the native American Indians in 1776 when the US declared its independence. The protestors raised black banners and tribal flags to mark the event which they traditionally see as an illegal takeover of their tribal lands as a result of the American Revolution. Indian tribal leaders were quoted as saying that they have suffered as a result for the last 236 years. Nevertheless, they still retain the deeds to the lands that were taken from them and hope, one day, to return to those areas from which they were illegally expelled. ITEM: Jan 1 2013, Amhem Land, Australia – The governing council of native Australians (i.e. Aborigines) called a nationwide general strike to mark the date in 1788 when the first fleet of Englishmen landed in Botany Bay. To the Aborigine community this event was a “disaster” that presaged the end of their political hegemony in Australia and the march to second class citizenship. Many of the demonstrators held earthen vessels carrying what they said was earth from the lands that were taken from them by the invading British. ITEM: June 1 2012, Table Bay, South Africa – Representatives of the Council of Native South Africans held a massive demonstration today to mark the anniversary of the arrival of Jan van Riebeeck of the Dutch East India Company on South African soil in 1652. The demonstration was called to mark the “disaster” that led to the eventual domination over the native South African population by the descendants of that original group. Even though this rule was finally overthrown in the period 1992-1994, the local population feels it is important to find an outlet for the pent up anger created by almost 350 years of subservience to an alien government. These are, of course, dreamt up stories about populations world-wide who have witnessed political change and needed to find a way to deal with it. In all of these examples, while there may well be a segment of the population that pines for the “good old days” for the most part there has been an acceptance of fact coupled with a realization that looking backwards is simply not productive. Of course, not so in our little corner of the world. Today, May 15th, the 64 anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel (according to the Gregorian calendar), is designated “Nakba Day” (the Day of Catastrophe) by the Palestinian leadership. The day, so far, has been marked by rioters throwing stones, firebombs being thrown at Israeli civilians and soldiers, with at least 20 Palestinian injuries at the Kalandiya checkpoint. A number of neighboring Arab countries are also planning to commemorate this event. The Palestinian Authority has also closed schools and work places in order to maximize the number of people who will be able to participate in the observance. Is this productive? Is there any benefit to be gained from spending a day every year lamenting a historic event that, had it been embraced by the Palestinians, could have generated an economic miracle no less beneficial to them than it has been to us? Wouldn’t it have been better not to have lost the lives of so many young and promising people, on both sides, in six wars in 64 years? Does the Palestinian leadership really believe that the keys to homes in Jaffa and Jerusalem, abandoned by the Arab population in 1948 and 1967 but which are still held by local residents, will ever again unlock the doors of those homes? Do they even exist? And if by some chance they do, does anyone really believe that the locks will still be the same? Is anything the same? Yes, what is the same is the continued sad unwillingness of the Palestinian Arab leadership to accept the fact that Israel is a success, that it is here to stay, and that we are here to stay. What is the same is that fact that had the Palestinian Arab leadership chosen to lead their people to cooperation with Israel instead of war, that both of us would have been better for it. Why is this not obvious? No country in the world except democratic Israel would allow its residents to effectively demonstrate publicly against the continued existence of the country and lament its founding in such a destructive manner. No country in the world except democratic Israel would permit members of its elected legislature to participate in such events. Should the pain of 22% of our countrymen be recognized in a respectful manner? Certainly. But that can only come about when the respect is mutual and the injury and death stops being part of the commemoration. Dr Jonas Salk, known for his discovery of a vaccine against Polio, is quoted as having said “Our greatest responsibility is to be good ancestors.” I wish that our political leadership, regardless of what side of the line they stand, would understand this. All of us would be better for it.