When I blogged about it here, asking for follow-up, G the LB sent me this almost immediately:
On Friday, members of the Canada Jewish Alliance Against the Occupation held a mock book-banishing ceremony in front of the Côte-St-Luc library where Kazemi's photos had been on display.Great stuff indeed. And for me, a little extra, as I'm always happy to see Jewish people speak up for what's right, instead of some narrowly perceived self-interest.
A member of the group, Lillian Robinson, used metal tongs to drop a book into a bright orange biohazard bag. It was one of several books about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict that she and the Jewish Alliance borrowed from the library to make a point about freedom of expression.
"A library, of all places, is a place where all opinions, different opinions, are aired," Robinson says.
She says Zahra Kazemi's photos of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories belong in the library. She says it's absurd that a complaint about those pictures convinced borough officials to take them down.
"What are they afraid of? They're afraid of a woman who died for free expression, for freedom of the press," Robinson says.
4 comments:
It is always heartening to see people speak out in contrary to narrowly perceived self interest as you say especially when it comes to racially charged issues.
Affirmative action is a good example. When whites and blacks (or "other disadvantaged" minorities) speak for and against affirmative action respectively, I tend to tune them out as they spew out regurgitated and tired old arguments in very preditable manners.
"You are white/black. Of course you are against/for affirmative action," I murmur to myself while letting loose a few yawns. But when a white person (who is not a politician trying to win the minority vote) speaks in favor, or a black person against, my ears perk up. Right or wrong, I do that.
So I will listen to Jewish people who speak against the occupation while tuning out the likes of Benjamin Netanyahu. Sadly though I have not run across any prominent Arabs who speak in favor of Israel's right to exist. They may be out there, but I just haven't seen them.
"In Germany, the Nazis first came for the communists, and I did not speak up, because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak up, because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak up, because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I did not speak up, because I was not a Catholic. Then they came for me... and by that time, there was no one to speak up for anyone"
- Martin Niemoeller, Pastor, German Evangelical (Lutheran) Church
Even though it's not strictly self-interest, I feel that way about your opposition to the Iraq war, David. Independent thinking - it's refreshing.
L-girl
We discussed Dr. MLK jr. here recently, and lamented how things change but not quite the way you'd like... well, a friend of mine at the provincial archives, who is sent a daily governmental newsletter of ongoing events, forwarded me something both uplifting and disappointing that posted in my own blog...
SENATE ISSUES APOLOGY FOR ITS HISTORY ON LYNCHING
Ah yes, I believe Crabletta blogged about the apology - and those who didn't sign it - here. I'll check out your post.
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