Of course a real comparison would be measured by how the soviets regularly pulverised West Berlin from the air and occasionally launch massively destructive ground attacks destroying Berlins basic infrastructure, and preventing all flights landing, and refusing to talk to whatever government the population elected. And refusing to allow most goods into the city. It is a good thing that Israel is the only democracy in the region, means anything other than the best equipped army running the show. Remember too, that the Berlin wall was 96 miles long, while the Palestinian wall is significantly larger stretching out over 400 miles. Anyway yesterday Palestinian youth destroyed a hole in Israels security wall with the Palestinian territories as a symbolic gesture to mark 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Like the Berlin Wall previously it snakes through Palestinian land, isolating people from their land, extended family and friends, and one day soon, this oppressive apartheid wall will one day fall. too Despite all obstacles the Palestinian peoples determination to be free remains as strong as ever. Their thirst for freedom grows, the walls that surround them, do not protect, but cruelly divide, they don't prevent a peoples existence, but only serve to incite resistance.
90% of victims of war are civilians , lest we forget to move forward from bloodshed and work for peace. If as much money was put into this objective as there is nto killing and its misery it would benefit the whole world. Those who benefit the most financially are those with investments in the war machine and land/resource grabbing. Today I feel reinforces the ideal of patriotism and militarism, in stark contrast to the original ' Armistice day' when the nations of the world hoped to be united in peace. The horrors and misery of World War 1 still need remembering, but not in a way that reinforces an ugly military agenda. Today politicians stand praying for peace while preparing for war...their hypocrisy abounds. The grisly facts and horrors of war in all our histories is worth more than all the false red poppy illusions that are being seen today. Sadly the red poppy today has been hijacked by arms companies, look how last week Lockheed Martin, the World's biggest arms company sponsored the Poppy Rocks Ball., and Thales joined Boris Johnson in a Big Red poppy Billboard at Westminster. Today I remember all those sadly lost, in two World Wars but also those that everyday risk their lives to build peace and prevent conflict, and time turn to one another as friends, united in our goals working together, so that the future potential of conflict could be resolved to the extent that all the current spending on arms and the war machine was no longer necessary.
When we talk of Israels protective edge operation in Gaza, we should not forget over 2130 humans bombed to death, the over 500 children or the 89 families exterminated. We speak of the living, and this is their life. Tens of thousands of refugees will be finding shelter from the cold, wind and the rain,in bombed United Nations schools and the remains of their destroyed homes. And Gaza remains beseiged, the biggest ghetto in the world awaiting the next round of oppression, knowing that any form of resistance will be labelled terrorist. Boycott Israel.
'Behind every mask there is more than just flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea..and ideas are bulletproof.'
-Alan Moore -'V for vendetta'
Solidarity with all those marching tonight, may you ignite the world with passion. Gorgeous moon tonight also, don't forget to look up as it lights the way. Together we can all dismantle the masters house
Still can't upload photos or video in libraries, but that is the least of our problems. At the moment in time we have a corrupt authoritarian government thrashing everything decent about this country, flogging of our public services, cutting our beloved welfare state- all of which we have paid for, killing 1000's through their cruel draconian policies, founded on social Darwinism and eugenics by stealth, and what are the nation and media babbling on about? How much Millibland gave a woman who was begging, and how he looked while doing it, the same as he usually does. Tories, labour, the bloody liberals, where is the difference. There whole damn country seems to be heading back to the workhouse times. A man immoral bunch that make me ashamed and angry to say the least Tens of thousands of desperate jobseekers will be forced to cancel Christmas too, due to benefit sanctions, job centres develop a scrooge like mentality at this time of the year, about 59,000 job seekers were sanctioned in December 2013. Gradually all are support and sustenance is being kicked away. Bah.
Assata Olugbala Shakur was born JoAnne Deborah Byron on July 16, 1947, in Flushings, Queens Jamaica, New York. a descendent of slaves. Adopting an African name, she took on Assata, meaning 'she who struggles,' Olugbala, meaning 'love for the people,' and Shakur, meaning 'the thankful. An inspiring individual she was the first woman to be placed on the FBI's most wanted Terrorist list, Shakur was a member of the Black Panther Party and the Black liberation Army..
In the early 1970', several false criminal accusations for murder, robbery and kidnapping were bought against Shakur. All except one were later acquitted or dismissed. In 1973, Shakur and two other friends were cornered by state troopers on the New Jersey Turnpike, and became involved in a shootout where she was severely wounded, apprehended and charged for the murder of Werner Foerster, a New Jersey State Trooper. Although Shakur protested her innocence, and subsequent medical and forencic evidence indeed proved it was not possible for her to have shot the state trooper, she was however convicted of the murder. She was incarcenated in several prisons throughout the 1970' until she managed a daring escape in 1979, and has managed to live in exile in Cuba since 1984.She is recognised by the Cuban Government as a revolutionary fugitive in exile, at once venerated by supporters, the Cuban Government continue to contribute to her living expenses, and is regarded as an icon by many others, as a living link to a revolutionary era.
The FBI's animalistic hunting of her resumed after nearly 40 years when it labelled her a terrorist, offering $2 million for her capture, still reminding the world, and becomming a symbol of America;s gaping racial divide, reminding us that the oppression of Black women by America is far from over and to many the world over she continues to remain an inspiration to all lovers of freedom, as a courageous fighter, liberator and hero, and is defended by many who do not want to see her returning to a prison cell.
She has since continued to dedicate her life to challenging injustice, advocating on behalf of those persecuted using her skills as a writer, artist and poet. In 1987 she published a powerful memorable book 'Assata Shakur - An Autobiography' where she outlines her beliefs, and the book contains many of her poems, two of which I include here. In this book she also writes from a perspective whose life continues to be on trial.
Long may Sister Assata Olubala Shaker retain her freedom and we carry on breaking down the chains.
" Nobody in the world, nobody in history has ever gotten their freedom by appealing to the moral sense of the people who were oppressing them."
- Assata Shakur
Affirmation - Assata Shakur
I believe in living
Ibelieve in the spectrum
of Beta days and Gamma people.
I believe in sunshine
windmills and waterfalls,
tricycles and rocking chairs.
And I believe that seeds grow into sprouts.
And sprouts grow into trees.
I believe in the magic of the hands.
And in the wisdom of the eyes.
I believe in rain and tears.
And in the blood of infinity.
I belive in life.
And I have seen the death parade
march through the torso of the earth,
sculpting mud bodies in its path.
I have seen the destruction of the daylight,
and seen bloodthirsty maggots
prayed to and saluted.
I have seen the kind become the blind
in one every lesson.
I have walked on cut glass.
I have eaten crow and blunder bread
and breathed the stench of indifference.
I have been locked by the lawless.
Handcuffed by the haters.
Gagged by the greedy.
And, If I know any thing at all,
it's that a wall is just a wall
and nothing more at all,
it can be broken down.
I believe in living
I believe in birth
I believe in the sweat of love
and in the fire of truth.
And I believe that a lost ship,
sneered by tired, seasick sailors,
can still be guided home
to port.
Love is Contraband in Hell - Assata Shaker
Love is contraband in Hell,
cause love is a acid
that eats away bars. But you, me, and tomorrow
holds hands and makes vows
that struggle will multiply.
The hacksaw has two blades.
The shotgun has two barrels.
We are pregnant with freedom.
We are a conspiracy.
It is our duty to fight for our freedom
It is our duty to win.
We must love each other and support each other.
We have nothing to lose but our chains.
Reprinted from :-
Assata An Autobiography (1987/2001)
Here is a link to a campaign that continues to support and defend her:-
