A People's History

[Solly Mack]

Today I've been watching interviews with both Israeli and Lebanese families. Listening, you hear a lot of pain. You hear a lot of very scared people whose lives have been disrupted and changed forever. You hear people telling their story. Not the story of the 2 countries. Not the story from the governments. Not the story reported in the news. Not even the story history will write.

You hear real people sharing real experiences with very real emotions about all too real events that are shaping their futures.

Howard Zinn wrote a book based not on the government's view of history but on how events in history were seen through the eyes of the people. It was about the people - ordinary people.

Today I witnessed a people's history of the Middle East.

I wish everything fit into a neat little package. Think of how much easier life would be. I know what I'm saying doesn't address the vast complexities of the Middle East. But like Zinn's book, I know that ultimately, it's the people's history that will shape the future. Governments can lie and claim history to be whatever it wants it to be, but the people know the truth - it's in their hearts - and they will share their hearts with future generations.

I can't solve the world's problems. I'm not pretending I can. Yet I can't help but feel that if we first begin by seeing people as people and understanding that their individual stories matter and have meaning, then maybe, just maybe, we can achieve a better understanding...and maybe that better understanding will lead to cooperation, if not peace.

[insane_cratic_gal]

1. I'm currently reading Zinn's book

When you look through the perspective of the humanity, there are never any winners when war is being waged.

Zinn has certainly opened my eyes to the plight of those who suffer. If we all could summon compassion for our enemies instead of fear and hatred, the world would be a better place, would be a tolerant place.

I'm hopeful that one day we'll get it.

[Solly Mack]

2. Zinn's book is a real eye-opener, I agree

"When you look through the perspective of the humanity, there are never any winners when war is being waged."

So true

[Solly Mack]

3. wth kick

[bleedingheart]

4. Great book! Great Post!

[Solly Mack]

10. I agree. Great book!!!!

and thank you!

[genie_weenie]

5. It takes an extreme effort

to see your enemy as another human being with fears, desires, loves and pain. And it's taken some extremely moral people to behave in accordance with the main tenant of all religions.

"Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others."

http://www.religioustolerance.org/reciproc.htm

[Solly Mack]

6. Just listening to the people torn at my heart

So much grief. So much pain. I didn't see governments or religion or Israelis or Lebanese...I saw people...in pain and very scared.

[marmar]

7. I wish more people would listen to Howard Zinn...

as he wrote after 9/11:

"The television pictures were heart-rending, burning people leaping to their death from the hundredth floor. (... ) Afterwards we saw our politicians on television. I was shocked and paralyzed. The politicians spoke of retribution, revenge and punishment. We are at war, they said. I thought they learned nothing from the history of the twentieth century, from the hundred years of vengeance, war and revenge, absolutely nothing - the hundred years of terrorism and anti-terrorism, the hundred years of violence and counter-violence and the endless cycle of stupidity"

[Solly Mack]

8. my country's reaction to that day

brought me profound sorrow....helplessness......and outrage

[marmar]

9. Same here...

It's so different than how Spain reacted to the Madrid bombings. Very sad.

[Solly Mack]

13. and the type of response makes all the difference

reasoned response....insanity

[H2O Man]

11. Nominated.

Thank you for providing some common sense. And for putting this in the proper context. It is people that count. I was looking at a picture of two little children today. They were being displaced by the war. They appeared to be sisters. I did not see them as Arab or Israeli, as Muslim or Jew. I saw them as little girls, not so very different than my own. And I know that their parents love them, just as I love my daughters.

That is what this war is about.

[Solly Mack]

12. Hi, H2O Man

100 years from now a people's history will be written by a future Howard Zinn and people will exclaim of the past, "I never knew", "How did that happen?", "Why?", "How horrible" and other such comments...same things people say today.

And you just know people asked themselves the exact same things 100 years ago. 200 years ago. 300 years ago - and so on and so forth.

I guess it's easier to look back, after the madness has abated, and then ask "Why?", than it is to take a really good look at bad things as they are taking place....when there is a chance to stop them.

Too easy it seems.

I know it's not that simple but I sure am tired of the looking back only after it's too late...

[DYouth]

14. the closest of a People's History for middle east

great war for civilisation by robert fisk.

It's great and tells the story of people not power in the region over the last 30 years.

[Solly Mack]

15. I enjoy reading Fisk!

Thanks for bringing this up!!!

[DYouth]

16. It's required reading for any American who wants to even start to

talk about the Middle East. This way you understand who you're bombing, and maybe you won't be so quick to bomb them.

[Solly Mack]

18. When you see the people...really see the people

Exactly. Maybe the bombings won't take place.

Thank you, again!!

[yurbud]

17. people suffer because our gov't likes Israel as our 'bad cop' in ME

Like everything else, the Bushies exposed the uglier side of how our government works by being too obvious. Cheney did this when he said if we do not strike Iran, Israel may do it first.

That's like the nice guy in a cop show who says, "I want to help you out, but if you don't confess, my crazy partner is going to take a crack at you, and you might lose some teeth and a testicle..."