Wisdom, inspiration and truth from multi-cultural scholars on The War on Terrorism
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by Aldo Dellamaggiora/PoorNewsNetwork I watch the shiny cars and taxicabs roll through the San Francisco streets as the Saturday nightlife awakens. As the night begins a spark of fire ignites at the Women's Building. Featured speakers gather to discuss the war on terrorism. The discussion is lead by Omali Yeshitela, chairman of the African Peopleís Socialist Party (Uhuru Movement leader), Jess Ghannam from the Palestinian Right to Return Coalition, Kawal Ulanday of the Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines, Quetzaocelacuia from the Barrio Defense Committee, Russell Redner of the American Indian Movement, and Abdul Mobin Akhunzda from the Afghan Muslim Association. 'Tierra libertad', we say 'tierra libertad' reminding our gente and the whole world about our fundamental struggle for raza: the indigenous people of this land, the Mexicans, Salvadorians, Nicaraguans. We are the indigenous people of this land, we won't be free until we reclaim our land. Quetzaocelacuia begins the night reminding us about the 500-year struggle of raza. Quetzaocelacuia, as well as this reporter, believe that the word raza represents anyone of indigenous decent from North to South America. Raza people represent about 35 million in the United States, and contribute greatly to the economic wealth of this country. ìSince the U.S. government was formed out of the genocide of indigenous people, our political and law and enforcement sectors use Mexicans as scapegoats, stereotyping us into criminals, illegal aliens, nortenos, surrenos, Hispanic in order to divide the raza. The colonization of Indios and exploitation of Africans has developed the American economy. Indios and Africans were used by the government to extract natural resources, such as gold and silver, build the railroads for mass transportation, and harvest the agricultural fields so that the government could establish a strong economy for themselves.î Quetzaocelacuia continued to discuss the U.S. government's history of oppressive acts against the raza. Back in 1848 the U.S. had declared war on the Mexican Nation. The Mexican Nation came into existence due to European rule wanting to dominate indigenous people. This was a struggle of independence from European oppression. The U.S. government was also moving in to take territory from the Mexican nation. The Mexican government had a gun to its head, signing the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo on February 2nd, 1848 by which over three fifths of Mexican land was stolen by the American government. This included various southwestern states including California, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Arizona, and Wyoming. The Government took away the right for the Mexican people to have their own plot of land. This agreement was part of the treaty of Guadalupe. When the American government saw raza organizing in the fields, factories and railroads to debilitate their labor struggles, the U.S. government began to deport Mexicans and put them in federal prisons. Today police institutions are used to brutalize raza. The largest population in the California prison system is raza; the same can be said for a prison program called the SHU (Security Housing Units) that denies people the use of their five senses, breaking down inmates physically and mentally. The economic situation of the raza right here in California is dismal: the medium income is less then $25,000 a year, three fourths of the prison is composed of the raza, less then 1% of university and professional people are raza, the people of the raza are killed by U.S. police agencies everyday. That means that the U.S. government, with its laws and policies, are controlling our people economically, socially, and politically. We are a colonized people, and the U.S. government maintains us in a colonial state. The situation of the raza in the U.S. is an important backdrop in the discussion of the war on terrorism. Freedom Freedom NOW This chant was lead by Kawal Ulanday, a Filipino youth who delivered a very strong message for justice. According to Kawal, the Philippines have had a long history of military occupation. This militarization has resulted in the deaths of many innocent civilians, over ten of whom were killed by official orders. Troops are being deployed in the South of the Philippines, the Mindanao, and near Manila to go after a Muslim rebel group of 500 men. The people in the Philippines have not overlooked what has recently happened in places like Afghanistan, Palestine, Brazil, Oakland, Hunters Point, etc. ìWe are all up against the same enemy,î Kawal points out. According to Kawal, the reason why the Philippines is in economic and social crisis is because of the American intervention that has spread feudalism, imperialism, and capitalism. ìThere are a small number of betrayers that are in government dividing and conquering, and the majority of the people are side by side.î The people in the Philippines are proud about the Muslims in Mindanao because Spanish colonialism could not take them out. Kawal concluded with another chant. Keynote Speaker Omali Yeshitela explained, ìWe as American citizens have the responsibility to educate and speak about the war on terrorism. The people of Afghanistan are suffering genocide aggression administered by the U.S. government. After George W. Bush stole the election, he declared a world war that has no defined enemy, duration, definable borders, nor any war terms, which the congress has supported, except for Barbara Lee.î Omali continued, ìAfter America launched its attack on Afghanistan, mainstream media has told the public that a letter survived the fire at the World Trade Center proving that Osama Bin Laden was responsible for bombing the World Trade Centers, even though Osama Bin Laden is a U.S. creation." Omali is convinced that the airplane that flew over Pennsylvania was shot down by the U.S. government. "They have not explained how four airplanes could be off-course for forty minutes without any movement of U.S. air force. The U.S. government has bought all of the satellite imaging of Afghanistan; every piece of news has been filtered through the U.S. State Department and the Pentagon.î According to Omali, George W. Bush went into office with a War Cabinet after he stole the election. Colin Powell, the Secretary of State, was a General; Former Secretary of Defense, Richard Cheney, is now Vice President; Donald Rumsfield is also former Secretary of Defense; Condoleeza Rice was National Security Advisor; and last is the Christian fundamentalist right-winger, John D. Ashcroft, appointed as Attorney General. Omali discussed important events surrounding the the U.S. conflict with Afghanistan, "Diplomats around the world were concerned when Bush came into power for several reasons. President Bush wanted to change the balance of nuclear arms by establishing a Nuclear Defense Shield project that would be capable of defending against any arms threat from around the world, while simultaneously eliminating defensive strategies against U.S. aggression. On September 10, 2002, George Bush opposed protection for the planet from the toxic emissions coming from the industrial countries. From August 30 to September 7, 2002, worldwide officials meet in Durban, South Africa, and the majority stood with the Palestinian movement against their oppressors- the Bush Administration and Israel. After this on September 11, the world was told that a fundamentalist Muslim group attacked America. Thousands of innocent Afghani families, incapable of defending themselves, are being bombed over Osama Bin Laden, who may be dead. These are our courageous U.S. troops. The U.S. government bombs Afghanistan and then sends in the Northern Alliance. A series of more bombs follows. After the military Special Forces are sent to go into the caves to find Osama and his network, they bribe the Afghanis with money and food to go into the caves. That is what makes them special ops, just because they are carrying the money around to bribe somebody else to do the dirty work.î ìWe live in a frightening time where lofty moral terms can justify American acts of terror all over the world. Now that the terror has hit the U.S., people want to take a patriotic stance to protect the American way of life (consumerism), which has nothing to do with human dignity. Being a patriotic American means being able to unite with the oppressions, against the people of the world This ideology in patriotism is rare and maybe a reason why John Walker may be in jail. He could not find a meaningful movement in Marin County that would help him find a way to deal with the history of American exploitation.î ìGeorge Bush claims he wants peace but he will not stand in solidarity with oppressed people of the world. In fact, President Bush would rather subdue resistance against U.S. domestic and foreign policy anywhere around the world. Should the slave rise up and kill the slave master and destroy a system of slavery? Of course!î Omali expressed concern regarding the lack of people acknowledging the reality of Imperialist America and its terrorism. ì This is why we always feel like we are standing on shaky grounds, because it is shaky grounds.î This country was founded on the exploitation of Africans and Native Americans. This country has invaded Cuba, Haiti, Central America, Colombia, Somalia, Wounded Knee, Palestine, Rwanda, Iraq, Vietnam, Korea, and here they have invaded our Liberation Movements- the Black Panthers, the American Indian Movement, and many others. Omali advocated for organizing a broad coalition of people around the world exercising unity and respect for human rights. The Palestinian crisis canot be ignored because they are faced with aggressions backed by U.S. dollars and a mainstream media that twists information. ìUnder the guise of humanitarian aid, the U.S. went to Somalia in 1993. U.S. backed ruler Siad Barre was overthrown in the midst of a civil war. . Apparently the U.S. was interested in the oil that was bought by four oil companies in Somalia that extends into Sudan.î ìBush wanted a coalition government rather than one strong central government because four major oil companies had bought two thirds of Somalia from the previous leader who was head of state. So when former President George Bush ordered the military into Somalia, the people of Somalia shot down a helicopter killing eighteen U.S. troops. This resulted in an eighteen-hour blood bath where an estimated 7000 Somalis died.î Recently the Pentagon supplied troops, planes, and bases to Hollywood to make a movie called Black Hawk Down which is supposed to shape public opinion and help justify American troops returning to Somalia under the guise of fighting terrorism. The real intention, however, is to manipulate the government in order to get oil. American Somalis send from 200 to 400 million dollars annually to their country. President George W. Bush claims that this money has been funding terrorism in Somalia. Russell Redner of the American Indian Movement spoke next. ìIndigenous People are misrepresented amongst the different Freedom movements. This is due to the lack of the indigenous population. But there are Native American Movements still standing strong in the struggle for justice. We could not figure out a way to connect with the rest of the movements that are still active. Like the Black Panthers and the Brown Berets, all these movements were very strong, but we could not figure out a way to connect with these movements because we did not have the intelligence, connection, or the words. We did not know how to rap or to sing, we did not have all the stuff that you had to have to be an activist. But by the same token, they did not know how to sing and dance our Indian songs. The Native Americans hosted these movements on their land. There was never a strong effort to bridge those Movements of the Native Americans and the other Freedom movements." Russellís message is to not forget the Native brothers and sisters because we all need each other. The speaking continued on with Jess Ghannam with the Palestinian point of view. "Fifty-three years ago 90% of Palestine was farmed and owed by Palestinian Arabs. In 1948, the British and U.S. governments formed a Jewish colony on the claim that God gave the Jews that land. The government of Israel justified its occupation of Palestine by declaring a war of independence that was their propaganda used to cover up their colonization of Palestine. This occupation protected oil interests." Ariel Sharon is a war criminal. When the world came together to fight racism, the only two countries that decided to walk out were Israel and the United States. The liberation of Palestine scares the U.S., scares Israel, because we know when Palestine is liberated, the rest of the colonized world will be liberated. 900 Palestinians have been murdered or assassinated, 25% of these murders have been children. 18,000 Palestinians have been injured, and 8,000 of these were injured children. Israeli Defense forces have carried out these acts of brutality. American tax dollars pay for the weapons Israel uses. The Palestinian Right to Return Coalition represents the four and a half million Palestinian refugees scattered throughout the world that canít go home." Jess expressed gratitude and and felt "privileged to be amongst the other keynote speakers.î Abdul Acasa spoke as a representative of the Afghani Muslim Association. His views on freedom are that it is an obvious right of human existence. "This Freedom did not exist after September 11, where 50,000 women were raped in the city of Kabul. The war in Afghanistan is about oil, not the Taliban. The women in Afghanistan are not liberated, the women cannot come out of their houses today in Afghanistan. They are in the worst situation anybody could ever be- raping, killing, and destruction. Become an Ambassador of Truth, tell the people the truth. Tell the people that the oppressed have got to get together. Oil for blood." Abdul said that the war in Afghanistan is truly unjust. At the end of the teaching I got a chance to speak to Omali Yeshitela. Omali had advised me to continue with the truth and to expand my education. I stepped back out into the busy San Francisco nightlife thinking that even though it would be difficult to rise up from corruption and all its distractions, it would be a rewarding state of mind, fueling self-respect. |