Common Humanity
Press Action
Thursday, April 15, 2004
http://www.pressaction.com/news/weblog/full_article/spinoza04152004/
By Abu Spinoza
It is sad to see the faces of those Americans who died in Iraq. While most of us in the West will see the faces and read the names of U.S. citizens who died in our newspapers and on our television screens, it is less likely that we will see the faces or names of the Iraqis, the Afghans, and others who are also dying unnecessarily before their time. The names and faces of the victims of “our” actions are most often ignored, but in this day and age of the Internet and satellite TV it is not difficult to find images of these victims, even in the most remote parts of the world, if we make an effort to do so. They are all victims of the Empire and imperial arrogance, no less than our soldiers. We should mourn for them all. Just as American families feel for their children, relatives, friends, and loved ones, so do Iraqi and Afghan families.
There are victims on all sides, but the number of victims on the other side, the side that we bomb, exceeds by far the number of victims on “our” side. If the killing of innocent civilians is wrong, and indeed one should take that as a moral axiom, then the killing of all civilians should be wrong. The slaughter of children -Palestinian, Iraqi, Israeli, or any other nationality -is a particularly horrific crime. Just as Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein and Carlos the Jackal are terrorists and murderers, so are Tony Blair, Bush #2, Vladimir Putin, John Kerry, and Ariel Sharon.
The anti-war movement has a deep and lasting civilizing effect both in the West and the rest of the world. Its value lies not only in providing information but also allowing the natural human sympathy and moral sentiments to be expressed in solidarity with the victims of our violence. That’s why the ruling class fears the anti-war movement. When families of soldiers speak out, the ruling class takes notice. The anti-war movement needs to bring into its fold, on the basis of common and universal values, many others, including libertarians, isolationists, conservatives, ethnic and religious minorities, working class people, and other elements of society to create a powerful coalition of people dedicated to stopping the war and the growing threat against humanity.
It is our refusal to acknowledge the suffering of our victims that dehumanizes us. We have to understand that our victims will not accept the fate of subjugation and oppression and that they have every right to resist.
It is not difficult to imagine a world in which the violence can end. We can bring about the change. We can and must act now. Even small measures can make a big difference: it can save our own lives and the lives of our planned victims.
In the Russell-Einstein statement, written in the context of the Cold War, Bertrand Russell summed up the key message succinctly: “Remember your humanity, and forget the rest.” We should all remember our common humanity.
Abu Spinoza is a columnist for Press Action.