Jackals gnashing teeth
04.01.2003When did hate crimes become acceptable ways to oppose war? There's been a recent spate of anti-war vandalism (much of it w/ racist and anti-semitic tones) aimed at public memorials and monuments. The desecration of a memorial to British soldiers who died in France during the First World War is one recent example:
The words "Rosbifs [British] go home! Saddam Hussein will win and spill your blood" were painted in French over the base of the cemetery's main monument - an obelisk topped by a cross.
On one side was a swastika and the words "death to the Yankees".
Also daubed were the words "dig up your garbage, it is fouling our soil," and "Bush, Blair to the TPI (International Court of Justice)".
Some 11,000 British dead are buried at Etaples, which lies on the Channel coast around 24 kilometres south of Boulogne.
Say what you will about the war in Iraq. But there is no reason to desecrate a cemetery. The addition of swastikas only makes it worse. It emphasizes what this was: brute fascism.
In another incident in southern France, vandals burned a replica of the Statue of Liberty. Think of what that means, why they chose that particular monument as a target. These are not democrats or liberals of any kind I recognize.
They could've erected a counter-monument. They could've done a number of creative and insightful things. But these kind of people only know how to destroy, not how to create.
Are there good reasons to oppose the war? Yes. And I don't think it's unpatriotic to express them, even now. But they must be reasons. Not pathetic attempts to drape jackboot thuggery w/ a mystique of acceptable morality. Are these the same people who ask the rest of us to "give peace a chance?" or pretend that their opposition to a war w/ Iraq is based on some "moral high ground?"
I want to be explicitly clear here. I am speaking of a radical fringe w/in the anti-war camp, not the entire camp itself.
Having abandoned the tools of democratic dialogue and persuasion, they've taken up the weapon of brute force. If that's the case, then their logic is flawed. If brute force - if "any means necessary" - is acceptable as a means to political ends, then all bets are off. Their opposition to Bush's policy in Iraq becomes meaningless. Bush also has the right to use "any means necessary" to achieve his political ends.
Having failed to dissuade American and British leaders from their course of action, they've abandoned reason. In its place, they have exposed themselves for what they truly are: snarling jackals, gnashing their teeth in their own self-perpetuated hate.
These jackals are at the gates - and in our midst. They don't oppose war (some of them gleefully want scores of casualties). They don't prefer peace. They hate.
To the broader anti-war movement, I want to say this: Be very careful. There are wolves among your flock. And they are not your friends.
Posted by Miguel at 06:53 PM
Comments
This kind of action really only fans the flames of hatred. I’m starting to get very weary about traveling and the safety of my friends abroad. How can you deal with people who have abandoned reason? What’s next?
daveb
Posted by: daveb at April 1, 2003 08:16 PM
Yeah, I don't really know the response to that kind of behavior. I only know that it must be exposed, denounced, resisted.
Posted by: miguel at April 1, 2003 09:18 PM
Yes, these desecrations are stupid. If it weren't so serious, I would like to say: "I hate hate crimes."
I felt reminded of the cartoon on your site, Miguel, abt the hatemongers in both camps.
A french pro golfer was threatened recently in the US (forgot his name). Dirk Nowitzki faced "fans" calling him a nazi during road games.
Hm, if Germans were nazis still today they would participate in the war. Not sure on which side, but they would not remain neutral.
Anyway, some people applaude your actions for bad reasons, in both camps... the cartoon shows that nicely.
Posted by: Marco at April 2, 2003 09:16 AM
I suspect that if Nazi Germany were still around, it'd support Iraq. In large part because of Iraq's position on "the Jews" and also because Iraq is a fascist regime.
As to what drives the "hate crimes" in France (and other places). I think people should read Hana Arendt, especially for her description of what a "Philistine" is - a bourgeois who hates his class, opposes the enlightenment (esp reason), and puts force/emotion over rational discourse (a fascist doesn't "think", he "feels"). That kind of personality is the foundation of a Nazi regime.
Posted by: miguel at April 2, 2003 09:30 PM
I barely remember anything of Dr. ziring's class on Middle East Politics, but I remember something like Germany and Iraq being allied during the Second World War. So if that is true (as I said, my memory is not the best and may be deceiving me) then I think it would be obvious where a Nazi Germany would stand today.
I also think hate crimes are despictable. I really resent when people destroy memorials for whatever reasons, no matter if they are German, French, Jewish, British, American or Russian memorials.
Posted by: Melli at April 2, 2003 11:28 PM