Monday, 20 September 2010

September 21 2010 - International Peace Day - Again

Today is September 21st, the United Nations International Day of Peace. It is a day that dreams of marking a global cease-fire to ensure that for at least 24-hours, some people around the world will cease to experience warfare and one day experience the peace that too many of us take for granted.

When this day was conceived there were a number of goals. The two primary goals were to mark places where peace has been achieved and to celebrate the success of the dynamics that created order out of chaos, and the other was to ask that those powers who continue to wage war put down their weapons for at least one day. In this way, the world can observe, despite being somewhat artificial, a single moment of peace around the globe. From its inception this day has marked some phenomenal movements across the continents and has found that despite the headlines and despite the bad news that too often makes up our perception of global affairs, there are some incredible people who celebrate peace in the smallest villages and the most unknown locations.

Idealism and naïveté are two concepts that are often confused with each other. Informed global citizens often read the news and see only bloodshed and warfare, and then look to those people who dream of peace and believe in human goodness and consider them naïve. This perception is, some may argue, natural when one considers the state of global affairs today, but good news does not always fit into the parameters of what is considered popular news. Good news, which consists of progress, hope and often leaps of faith, does not find its place on front pages of newspapers or even the news ticker on the bottom of any CNN broadcast. Good news is often news witnessed by people who are so elated with what they have witnessed, that they are content sharing it with only those with whom they have experienced it. Good news is not reported on to the same extent as bad news, and it is for this reason that cynics believe that peace-hoping individuals are perceived as naïve, because cynics do not see the good that some of these idealists have taken the effort to find.

Today the good news that I am referring to is peace. Throughout the centuries people have attempted to define peace in a variety of ways. Peace is the absence of war, the time when everyone stands around reloading, the ability to cope with trying times, peace is justice lived (Mahatma Gandhi), the way we arrive at goals (Martin Luther King Jr.), and a process of changing opinions (John F. Kennedy). Peace does not however require definition, it requires proliferation.

An idealist is an idealist because they have seen potential. They have seen potential in an idea, and they believe that this idea is strong enough to take hold. Those, like me, who are idealistic about peace, have seen the good news that is peace movements despite how small they may be. My particular area has been a peace building project in Kenya, one that seeks to eradicate tribalism and ensure that youths will play a leading role in the political future of Kenya, one that sees tribes coming together and celebrating their differences, not warring along archaic stereotypes propagated by their grandparents. Other likeminded individuals have seen other African peace projects succeed in places like Ghana or Tanzania, or have seen success in other regions of the world. A documentary recently made showing the process involved in creating the International Day of Peace called Peace One Day shows hundreds of peace movements celebrating on September 21 all over the world. When you see people, specifically youths, celebrating in regions once plagued by warfare and hardship one should, one must, be idealistic about the notion of peace, and should hope that the same trends make their way to those most reported-on war zones like the Middle East, Iraq, Afghanistan, Congo that make people cynical about the prospects of any sort of peace.

As an individual involved in the creation of a peace movement, I think about the notion of peace every day. My mind changes daily and my attempts to understand how to make peace change with global events and new ideas and concepts that I learn about. The one idea that remains constant to me about peace however is the fact that peace is most easily understood either as a state-of-mind or a state-of-heart. Despite how cliché it sounds to ask people to look deep down inside themselves before they begin to create peace, this initial step is monumental because it will determine whether a lasting peace is realistically attainable. Unfortunately one’s state of mind or heart is not clear cut and cannot be put down on paper, but a good initial understand of one’s thoughts or feelings at the outset of an attempt to forge a lasting peace will determine whether such a peace can and will last.

So many countries and international organizations have created days that urge people to take action. July 18 is Nelson Mandela Day in South Africa in which citizens are urged to spend time doing something good for someone else; December 10 is International Human Rights Day when people are urged to speak to their political representatives to ensure that human rights are observed in every corner of the world; there are days devoted to fighting cancer or HIV/AIDS and days when people are urged to do any other number of good deeds. Today, September 21, does not have to be a day when you have to go out and DO anything. It is peace day, which requires that peace and the ideal of peace is found within your own heart and mind. This is all I ask you to do today: think about peace, think about how you can personally affect peace, and think about how peace can be spread.

To be an idealist means to believe in an idea. The idea that I ask you to believe in today is peace: peace within our hearts and minds, and peace in our time. Today consider that peace is always possible, and we hope that though we may not be celebrating an international peace today, there is peace today in many areas that did not see peace last year on this day, and this is an accomplishment we can be proud of. Peace is possible. What it takes is will, self reflection, and the acknowledgements of all the good that occurs daily in this tumultuous world.

On this UN International Day of Peace I ask you to seek out some good news. I ask you to spend some time looking at websites dedicated to peace movements, and I ask you to learn about what people are doing to improve their own destinies. Believe in human goodness and the achievements of so many decades of those looking for goodness in this world. I ask you to consider what you believe to be peace, and I ask you today to try thinking like an idealist. Witnessing war may lead you to grow cynical about world affairs, but I guarantee that witnessing a successful peace movement can make you feel confident that it is possible almost anywhere.

I want you to think about the peace that we in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and other similar countries enjoy on a daily basis, and remember that all peace comes with a cost. Peace should not, it cannot, be taken for granted because once it is we instantly devalue the price that so many people worldwide pay every day when they take chances to ensure that they will one day enjoy the peace that we have today.

Monday, 31 May 2010

A week as a Zionist

This morning when I woke up and heard about what had happened with the flotilla off the coast of Gaza, I was initially actually quite upset at what Israel had done. Though this was only an initial reaction and I now understand why Israel did what it did, when I thought about it some more I was actually quite disappointed in myself that my first reaction was disappointment, not an automatic assumption that Israel had done the right thing.

Now, I still don't know how I feel.

I have read what Defense Minister Barak has said, and I understand that Israel was provoked that they did the right thing, and I also believe and know absolutely that the IDF is one of the most moral armies in the world and would only take lives when they feel it is a necessity. I also agree with the point that so called "peace activists" do not arrive carrying guns, knives, metal bars, and tools used to fight with. They were clearly looking to start something with Israel.

At the same time however, I understand the PR side, I understand that Israel could have probably just let it go, let it land in Gaza, and let whatever aid supplies there were aboard, if there were any, get to where they had to go. Of course there's always the possibility of there being weapons on board, but maybe that could have been dealt with in a more suitable way, and without any deaths.

Maybe Israel didn't have to do anything since, as we so proudly declare in all our advocacy sessions, we disengaged from Gaza 5 years ago, so we should act like we're disengaged. This means that Israel and Gaza are two separate entities. The blockade is entirely justified since they don't like us and we don't have to provide them with anything, and if some crazy left wing sailors want to deliver some supplies to the Gaza beach, we can let them do this. I also however understand the ridiculous-ness of this option since despite our claims that we have disengaged, Israel is being pressured to end the blockade of Gaza which means that they should be supplying Palestinians bent on its destruction, fuel and food. This is not part of our responsibility, but this is another talk to have.

My point is that I understand both sides, but my initial reaction disturbed me slightly.

This last week I heard from a number of great minds who have all made me think.

Last week I heard actually quite a depressing talk from Alon Pinkas, the former Consul General of Israel to New York, who painted a pretty bleak picture of the situation in the Middle East. His points included things like Iran is developing nuclear weapons to destroy Israel, the Israeli government is dysfunctional and does not know how to effectively rule without taking bribes, the demographic situation in the region is getting increasingly bleak with the small Jewish population in Israel and the rapidly increasing Palestinian population on its borders, etc. His speech started with the usual PR gems that we all use such as the Israeli agricultural techniques, making the desert bloom, Israel's hi-tech industry, blah blah blah. That was the set up, and the rest went down from there. It left me feeling upset as a passionate and active member of the younger generation, and also because I don't like when people end their talks without giving at least a glimpse of hope, or a message to the next generation.

His speech ended on a negative note. I went to him afterwards and asked him to give me something, anything, to keep me going. "Why should I stay motivated after the picture you have just drawn for us?" I asked. He said "Oh you know, the Jewish story, that sort of thing, gotta keep going to keep the Jewish nation going" and waved his hands in a yadda yadda yadda sort of way. This message didn't exactly cut it for me, and I asked if the current leaders of Israel cared for the youth, the next generation, and saw potential for advances in the future, and he sort of brushed me off with a "no" and then a body language "stop talking to me".

This left me annoyed. Not only did he claim to be a spokesperson for the Jewish State, but he essentially told me that there's not much hope - something I don't like thinking. Hope makes you move forward and make you excel and progress, and without hope, well...there's nothing. To be cliche and quote Andy Dufresne from the end of The Shawshank Redemption, "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies."

Fortunately, I got a little boost of hope from the Israeli Prime Minister, who I went to go hear speak at the annual Walk for Israel on May 30. Hearing Bibi speak was a great opportunity, and actually made me more excited than I thought I would be.

He also painted a bleak picture and spoke about what threatens Israel, but he spoke about the strength of the Diaspora, the strength of the IDF, and the long term historical presence of the Jewish population in Israel (ancient history is the best thing to woo me with). This charged me and took away some of the negativity that I had been feeling for a few days before that. It made me feel like I could make a difference again, and I looked around me in that audience and saw Zionists who were old and young, holding both Canadian and Israeli flags in their hands, and I felt a little more sure of what I cared about.

Bibi spoke of Israeli-Canadian unity, he brought with a soldier who was a Canadian who had recently made aliya to show how proud people were to fight with the IDF, and the response throughout the audience was sheer joy. The last time an Israeli Prime Minister addressed the Jewish community in Toronto was Menachem Begin in 1978, and based on the dedication, commitment, and passion of the Toronto Jewish community, we deserved a visit that was long overdue. Just seeing Bibi, hearing his comments, and witnessing my own natural elation and pride at hearing what he had to say, gave me a bit more faith in my own beliefs.

This morning as I said was the news of the flotilla raid, at which point my emotions took another dive, but I was extremely fortunate to be able to attend the Simon Wiesenthal Center event tonight (May 31) which heard from both Elie Wiesel and Salman Rushdie.

Having left this event only hours ago, I still feel an immense sense of pride with both Israel and the Jewish community. Hearing from these two greats, listening to their anecdotes, their experiences, and their advice, makes me feel like I spent far more than just two hours with them. They spoke of a world in trouble that needed repair. They spoke of darker times and their experiences with finding some sort of way out of the depths of that darkness, and how to cope when things just don't seem right.

Elie Wiesel of course spoke about his Holocaust experience, but he spoke about his feeling of hopelessness on the day that Rabin was assassinated and how he managed to overcome the immense grief that event brought him both as a Jew and a Zionist. Salman Rushdie spoke about the feeling of imminent death, of having a death warrant on his head, and of being able to test your own limits to overcome your fears, and to find out how strong you can truly become.

Elie Wiesel spoke of Judaism, and of God, and said that "Jews can be against God, or for God, but they cannot be without God". Salman Rushdie spoke of his conversations with notorious-atheist Christopher Hitchens about the novel 1984. He said that although the end of the book speaks of how totalitarianism can completely absorb the world, that this has never been the case in human history. He spoke of the potential of youths to overthrow tyrannical dictators, religious fundamentalism, and those negative factors that have the ability to draw people in, and said that giving into dictators "is just not what people do."

Tonight was hope.

Tonight was the ability to overcome what may temporarily push us off course and knock us off our feet. Though it is always difficult to see Israel behave in a way that you perhaps don't think it should, especially when you hold it to the "its not just any country" standard, you need things like tonight to remind you of the greatness of human perseverance and the fact that it is people like this who truly support the state of Israel. Not just the speakers, but the thousands of people in attendance at the event.

This last week has demonstrated to me precisely what it is like to be a Zionist and it could not have been more clear. To be a Zionist, to believe in the state of Israel, to believe that it is the haven for all persecuted Jews around the world, to believe that Israel is the accomplishment of 2000 years of dreaming for a native homeland where Jews can be safe, and the fulfillment of a dream that no other people in history have dreamed for so long, means that there are ups and there are downs. My idealism has always shaped me, and I have always looked at situations with hope and with the knowledge that things will work out in the end. Not that they CAN work out, but that they WILL work out. It is this knowledge and innate hope that I have that has enabled me to get through some pretty trying times in terms of politics, and that has ensured that I have not lost sight of why so many people have died and what we, in our generation, have the ability to save.

Zionism is about dynamics, it is about a shifting paradigm, one that may not look the same as the day before, but in the end has resulted in the true building of a dream that will ensure that Jewish people have something to be proud of. It is being a Zionist and yearning for our Jewish State to do good that makes us unique, and makes us understand what it is to be human.

I was upset last week with many of the things that Israel has been doing, and as a result I think that it is the time for some change. I think that people need to stop looking out for themselves and start looking out for others, and I think that Israel must continue to do that and go back to its fundamental tenets of saving not only fellow Jews, but humanity from the scourge of war that seems to never end. The most important thing however is to realize how empowered we are as the next generation. We have potential like young people before us have never had, and we must be heard, be able to express ourselves and ensure that the world that the older generation is in the midst of shaping is fit for us to soon take the reins.

Brian Mulroney, who was moderating tonights even with Rushdie and Wiesel, finished off the event with a question about what to tell the youth. Both Rushdie and Wiesel spoke of hope, God, and of never giving up. At a time like this it was not only exactly what I wanted to hear, but what I think many of the people in that room wanted to hear. They wanted to hear that there is hope, that there is a bright future, and that politics is dynamic. If we are not content with our present circumstances, we must make those changes without expecting to rely on others. This is where Zionism came from: the necessity to take control of our own future. It gave rise to a great state that has given the Jewish people immense pride over the last 62 years, and it is the role of the youth to ensure that Israel's future only emulates and exceeds the pride that it has already given so many.

Monday, 30 November 2009

November 29: Day of Solidarity with....the Palestinians

November 29 is a celebrated day in the history of Israel as it marks the date in 1947 when the UN voted and passed their partition plan, paving the way for the establishment of both Jewish and Arab states in the land of Palestine. The passage of this resolution (33 f0r, 13 against, 10 abstained), gave Israel the legitimacy to declare a state of their own only 6 months later and it is considered one of the most important dates in the modern history of the State of Israel.

Another important note about this date is that in 1897, Theodor Herzl hosted the First Zionist Congress in Basle, Switzerland. At the opening of the conference, he stated that he foresaw that within 50 years, a Jewish state would be established. 50 years after 1897: 1947. Herzl's dream realized.

This was an act of the UN, it was a legitimate political act, and it gave rise to the State of Israel. Why then has the UN decided that November 29th will be used as a day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, and a day in which to literally demonize Israel at the UN General Assembly?? November 29 was not a day of mass uprising in Palestine by the Jewish forces present there, it was not a coup against the British, and it does not mark a day of violence. It literally marks the day of passage of UN Resolution 181.

The very fact that the Palestinians do not have a state is because they rejected the UN Partition Plan of 1947 because they refused to accept the establishment of a Jewish State on any piece of land in Palestine. It therefore seems bizarre that the UN would then take this landmark decision of self determination, an important principle for state building at the UN, and turn it on its head and mourn the establishment of Israel. Yet again, the UN's actions with regard to Israel are entirely transparent, and call it double standard or what you will, this is clear discrimination against Israel.

What is not necessarily known is that on this day of Solidarity every year, the UN embarks on a 2 day marathon of Resolutions aimed to condemn Israel, and of the 20 annual resolutions drafted against Israel, each year on November 29, approximately 6 of them are approved. Last year, the President of the General Assembly, Miguel d'Escoto of Nicaragua, specifically called Israel an Apartheid state, and the UN traditionally puts up displays with regard to the Palestinian situation, and shows videos about the issue. Although Israel has naturally boycotted these events in the past, Gabriela Shalev, the current Israeli Ambassador to the UN, is expected to speak to the GA about how ridiculous it is that they memorialize the day that Israel was given a state as a day of mourning.

I'm trying hard to think of some words to describe what is going on. Like a number of issues I have already written about, this sort of defies reality. Unfortunately, this is the state of the international affairs. Not to sound too defeatist, but this is just the sort of thing that we just have to deal with, but do so with dignity. How the UN can spend a day condemning their own decision baffles logic, but I guess this is how it goes.

To be Pro-Palestinian does not mean that you have to be Anti-Israel. I am proud to say that I think I am pro-Both. I am a Zionist, but I also believe that the Palestinians have a right to self-determination, and I think that can only live in peace with Israel with a legitimate state of their own. Unfortunately, when the UN acts in this way, they are perpetuating this idea that you have to choose a side, Israel or Palestine, and it is clear based on their history and actions what side they have chosen. This does nothing to encourage progress, and only hinders any steps that are taken in moving forward. How easily the UN could have simply chosen another significant date on which to mark a day of solidarity with the Palestinians.

In this sense, it is important to stay strong in light of all the outside pressures that affect the situation, to not let the judgment of those on the outside of the conflict cloud the reason of those conducting affairs on the ground, and to ensure that we remain committed to a swift resolution to the conflict such that both sides emerge satisfied, safe, and at peace.

Saturday, 28 November 2009

Gilad Shalit and the Concept of Pidyom Shvuyim

Gilad Shalit.jpeg


At the current time in Israel, a debate is taking place over what to do with the life of Corporal Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier abducted by Hamas and its forces in Gaza on June 25, 2006. For almost 3 and a half years, Gilad has sat somewhere in Gaza awaiting his fate, either death at the hands of Hamas, or a rescue by the Israeli government. For almost all that time, and against all sorts of international human rights laws, no one has known Gilad's fate. For three years no one knew if he was alive or dead, and no signs of life were given until September 14, when Hamas handed over a video of Gilad, in exchange for 20 female Palestinian prisoners. The video showed that he was alive and in surprisingly good shape, and this gave extra energy to the movement to release him, and especially to his parents, Noam and Aviva Shalit.

The reason for sending thismessage out today is that it seems that Israel, Hamas, and the government of Egypt as a mediator, are almost on the brink of deciding on a deal with regard to releasing him. There are differing reports about what may be done, and there is much speculation from both sides. As it stands at the moment, the Hamas leadership in exile in Damascus is deliberating on an Israeli offer to release 450 soldiers in return for Gilad, and the next few days will be particularly telling with regard to Gilad's fate.

In Judaism, there is a concept called Pidyon Shevuyim with regard to the redemption of those held captive. This concept exemplifies the value that Judaism places on the preservation of human life, and our tradition of redeeming captives is an honoured one.


There is a debate about how relevant Pidyon Shevuyim is in a modern setting, and there are arguments for and against the lengths we must go to in order to insure the release of these soldiers. Those arguing that we must negotiate with terrorists and trade prisoners to negotiate the release of our brothers claim that the ultimate value in Judaism is human life, and that all Jewish rules are broken in the preservation of that life. However, those arguing against the idea of a prisoner trade, those who feel that we must not attempt to redeem our soldiers, believe that negotiating with terrorists and capitulating to their demands only gives them ammunition to abduct more soldiers from Israel. If their demands are met, then this unending cycle of kidnappings will continue unabated.


You must naturally form your own opinion regarding what must be done to save these soldiers. The State of Israel has protested these actions, and has sought diplomatic resolutions through international cooperation to respond to such immense and deliberate provocation. There is only so much that can be done, but ultimately, when the game of politics is through, we must believe in the power of humanity, and trust that G-d is protecting these unfortunate souls, and ensuring their safe return.


Monday, 21 September 2009

International Day of Peace, September 21

Though there are a number of ways that today is being marked around the world, few people are actually aware of the fact that today is the United Nations International Day of Peace.

Briefly, this is how the day came into being:

In 1981, a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly was sponsored by Costa Rica to have the third Tuesday in September recognized as an International Day of Peace dedicated to focusing on the ideals and themes of peace. In 2001, a new resolution was passed, sponsored by the United Kingdom, and prompted by the founder of Peace One Day Jeremy Gilley, to give the day a fixed date, and the date chosen was September 21. In 2005, Secretary General Kofi Annan called for a worldwide observance of a 24-hour ceasefire and a day of nonviolence to mark this special day. Every subsequent year as well, to mark this day, the Secretary General of the UN will ring the Peace Bell at UN headquarters in Manhattan, a bell made from coins donated from children from every continent. An inscription on the side reads “Long live absolute world peace.”


Ok, so that is a bit about today, and we can only hope that as today progresses, there are people around the world putting down their weapons at least for a day, to help affirm that there is a dream of peace in some places in the world. We are fortunate that we live at a time of instant communication and that we are able to actually tell combatants to lay down their arms on any certain day. What we can only hope for is their adherence to this young tradition.

I was in Kenya in May and was fortunate to be able to help found an organization there called the Youth Ambassadors for Peace. At the moment there are approximately 25 youths involved, and they are from three different tribes, the Kisiis, Kalejins, and Luos. These were three tribes heavily affected by the civil conflict that gripped Kenya at the beginning of 2008, and this project was the first time these tribes were brought together for a peace building project. Today they came together in a central village called Sondu to celebrate the UN’s International Day of Peace, and they spent time highlighting what is unique about each tribe, trying to increase awareness and tolerance in the various communities. I have recently heard that despite some rainy weather the day was quite successful, going late into the night, and they are extremely pleased with the progress they have made.

The point: anyone can make a difference. Often we are told to petition governments, write letters to politicians, picket outside of offices and organizations, and we expect to get them to pay attention and act. Regardless of how often this may or may not work, we must never forget the potential ability of a single person. All over the world there are groups of people who are desperate for peace. They have come together either through the efforts of a single person, or through a collective will, but they nevertheless have come together to improve the world in which they live. Today we must look not only to governments and corporations who certainly have the ability to change the world, but also to regular people, tribes in Africa, high school clubs throughout the West, grassroots movements in Europe, whose goal it is to create peace. Without these people, there is no need for peace, as they are the ones for whom we are trying to build a better world, and it is for this reason that today, International Peace Day, we must all be reminded that we are each, in our own individual way, able to make a distinct difference.

Monday, 20 April 2009

A Disgraceful Day- April 20, 2009

This afternoon I turned to the news and saw the scenes from the Anti-Racism Conference in Geneva, and saw the inevitable video of Iranian President Ahmadinejad take the stage to address those gathered for the conference. As he began to speak, his words entirely predictable, filled with venom and hatred for the West and for Israel, delegates from the European Union all stood up to leave, followed by applause from the balcony. 

This scene brought tears to my eyes and for a moment I sat there wondering why I had suddenly become so emotional. Was I was happy that these nations had stood up for the truth and for Israel? Did I think that European leaders were finally saying NO to anti-Israel sentiment? Was I saddened by the words of Ahmadinejad? Was I angry at the United Nations for letting this happen? 

I thought for a moment and then realized why I had suddenly become so emotional: I was overcome because I did not believe what I was seeing. This could not be real. The United Nations, the organization created from the rubble of World War Two, the organization meant to bring the world together, not heeding any warnings and not considering their actions whatsoever, went ahead and invited Ahmadinejad to be a keynote speaker at THE Anti-Racism Conference of the year. This revelation may sound quite naive, but deep down I am somewhat of an idealist, and I like to place my trust in mankind and hope that people make the right decisions. Today I was of course proven wrong, and it shattered me. 

A quick parallel story: In my 4th year at York University, the York Federation of Students (YFS) invited me, on behalf of Hillel, to participate in a "Stop the Hate" Campaign, which would focus on stopping hatred on campus. They wanted to focus each month on a different form of hatred (Islamophobia, Racism, Anti-Semitism, Xenophobia, etc.), and have a "launch" in the Student Centre so that each President from each group could stand up and say what their group would do to combat hatred on campus. I spoke about Anti-Semitism and Holocaust awareness, and shortly after I was approached by the President of the YFS,  who told me that the President of the Arab Student Collective would be speaking about Israel. I asked "will he be saying good things about Israel?" She said no. I asked "will he be saying how much he hates Israel (at a stop the hate campaign)?" and she said "probably." I told her about how ridiculous it would be to have him get up at a Stop the Hate campaign and rant about how awful he thinks Israel is. She agreed, and after some shuttle diplomacy on her behalf, she came back to me with "we don't want to censor him," to which I shrugged my shoulders and said "if he ruins this campaign from the beginning and fills this building with hatred, this campaign is over." The President of the Arab Student Collective naturally stood up and jumped into a rant about the devil is on campus (blatantly referring to Jewish students and Zionists on campus), and spoke for 5 minutes, his words filled with seething hatred. Following this entirely foreseeable event, the YFS leadership and I convened, at which point I expressed my utter outrage, they expressed their "shock" at what he said, and they issued a weak apology. The campaign naturally fell apart rather quickly after that. 

Compare this to today. Ban Ki Moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations, invited Ahmadinejad to address the opening of the conference on April 20 (April 20 is also the beginning of Yom Hashoa- Holocaust Memorial Day, and what would be Hitler's 120th birthday). After Ahmadinejad spoke and 23 delegations left the room, Ban Ki Moon issued this statement: "I deplore the use of this platform by the Iranian President to accuse, divide and even incite. This is the opposite of what this conference seeks to achieve." 

My words are lost on this statement. 

It is despicable, and to take a word from David Miliband, "reprehensible", that this occurred at the platform of today's conference, and Ban Ki Moon should be absolutely ashamed, in fact should resign, because of what he has allowed to occur. If those are his honest feelings, if he REALLY didn't think that the events of today would happen, then we are currently faced with the most oblivious Secretary General the United Nations has ever seen. Just like what happened at York, the leadership was suddenly "shocked" by what they saw unfold, and issued a weak apology. Just like the Stop the Hate Campaign at York quickly unfurled, I can only hope that the same will happen with this poor excuse for an international conference.

It bewilders me that such hatred can go unabated, and this was perhaps the source of my emotion. 

Many in the galleries applauded the delegates that left the room when Ahmadinejad spoke. The actions of these delegates were certainly commendable, but not enough. I believe the only delegate that left the room and then left the entire conference was the delegation from the Czech Republic. Every other delegation returned to their seats after Ahmadinejad spoke. If all those other leaders followed in the footsteps of the Czech Republic (to the airport) or followed the actions of countries like Canada, the United States, Italy, Israel, Poland, Australia, etc. and boycotted this farce of a conference from the beginning, THAT would have been impressive. As many have said, following the text of the draft about the Conference from the United Nations, and their invitation to allow Ahmadinejad to speak, this whole conference seemed surreal. 

I have always believed and maintained that people know better, that when it gets down to the grind, people will not REALLY do such stupid things, but I suppose welcome to 2009. When it comes to racism, especially when it comes to Israel, morality, rationality, logic, is all put aside. 

This is why these emotions continued throughout the day when I went to the Jerusalem Post website and saw the headline, "ISRAEL REMEMBERS 6 MILLION WHO PERISHED IN THE HOLOCAUST." Yom Hashoa, Holocaust Remembrance Day, is today as well. Coincidence? G-d, I hope so. Though with the way things are going, probably not. 

There are a few comments that I heard from Israeli leaders at this evening's ceremony that I want to share here.

Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau: "Yad Vashem decided to dedicate this year's ceremony to children in the Holocaust, so that Israel's children might appreciate what we have: A national home. A state. Freedom. Sovereignty. Pride. Backbone. We can and should kiss this country's ground, which enables to live a full life with a Jewish identity in our home,"

President Shimon Peres: "Anti-Semitism is not a Jewish disease, and its cure is incumbent upon those who perpetrate it. We have learned that our spiritual heritage is dependent on physical security. A people which lost a third of its members, a third of its children to the Holocaust, does not forget, and must not be caught off-guard."

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu: "We will not let the Holocaust deniers perpetrate another Holocaust on theJewish people. This is the highest responsibility of the State of Israel and of myself as prime minister. Israel is the shield and the hope of the Jewish People. Here we create for the glory of our people and all of mankind. The country's achievements in every field - culture and science, medicine and security - are groundbreaking. We are a nation small in number but of great fortitude."



Hate is not a form of speech to be protected. It is a form of speech that is lacking in value, is not productive, and has no place at a conference for the civilized world. My shock today came not from Ahmadinejad. The speech he used today was almost verbatim from the speech he used at the United Nations General Assembly in September. This is what he believes, this is what he says, so we should not be shocked everytime we hear him denounce Israel, Zionism, Jews, or question whether the Holocaust did indeed happen. 

Our shock and anger must be directed toward the United Nations, toward this world body that has lost control and has no idea how to tackle fundamental issues like hatred anymore. What occurred today was shocking, appalling, and this surprise must be turned into action. So many people have expressed outrage about what has happened, but what will be done? 

For world leaders to speak is good, but easy. Perhaps all those countries that boycotted this conference should hold their own conference on how to tackle racism. They should come together to teach the world that their values kept them away from this theatre of hatred, and will keep them united in preventing this hatred from being exploited on the world stage. Maybe they should create their own organization, the United Democratic Nations, that upholds values that you will find in a democracy, values that attempt to better the human condition, not worsen it. 

Ahmadinejad is a dangerous force in today's world, but the words he speaks are only given value by those who give him a platform. It is for this reason that today, with a heavy heart, I call on the United Nations to wake up, realize the wrong you have done, and try to accentuate the good in the world rather than perpetuate the bad. 

Monday, 2 March 2009

Our Responsibility for the Rehabilitation of Child Soldiers

300 000. Consider this number. Write it down, say it out loud, imagine its vastness, and place it in your heart. 300 000.

This is the approximate number of child soldiers that are currently used in the various conflicts of the modern world. This number covers the amount of children who are utilized in armed conflict across South America, Asia, and specifically Africa, and is a number so vast that it is almost difficult to comprehend. It is so difficult to comprehend because in your mind you do not just picture ranks of soldiers who have left their wives and children at home to go and fight in a just war. You are picturing ranks of children who have been abducted, intimidated, scared, orphaned, drugged, raped, dragged, and pressured into joining the ranks of corrupt militaries, militias and gangs, and the result of this involvement will scar all 300 000 of them for the rest of their lives. Consider these facts, and ask yourself: what can we do for these children? Should we bear responsibility for them once the dust settles and they are set free?

To answer these questions, we need only to consider the future, and contemplate a world once these former child soldiers have grown up without our help. These children, reared in the midst of warfare, some knowing only how to resort to violence, will grow up and become the leaders of a region that must not know any more bloodshed and death. The consequences of their worsening state are dire, and even though Africa or Asia may seem far away, we must take on a certain responsibility to rehabilitate these former warriors. It is for our own good and the good of the countries and continents these children inhabit.

Ruthie Ackerman, in her article "Scars and Stripes", details the life of former child soldiers who have been severely disabled as a result of their troubled past. There is much information detailing the plight of these former soldiers and why so little is being done to truly rehabilitate them. Money is always a factor, and some countries are simply unable to receive the aid they need in order to set up rehabilitation centers. Military programs often take priority over rehabilitation or civilian programs, and so money is not always spent effectively. People are starving on the streets and desperate to survive on whatever they can find that will give them subsistence. Children are equally susceptible to these needs, and so they turn primarily to institutions that simply give them a means to live, regardless of whether that life is worth living or not. In many cases, especially in war torn countries, these children turn to the military establishment.

Ishmael Beah is but one example of a child soldier from Sierra Leone. In his book A Long Way Gone, he details his experience as a child soldier, and wrote that in a time of war, after the murder of his parents and siblings, he turned to the military for help. The military inherently resumes full control over the destinies of children like Beah. They intimidate them, desensitize them to war, show them how to kill, train them to use AK47s, and heavily drug these children. One need only imagine the consequences of such actions. The children are trained to patrol the streets and territories of war-torn countries, shoot on sight, and if they disobey the commands of a superior, they themselves are killed. This becomes a child's world, and anything that exists outside of it is simply a hallucination or dream.

Suddenly, the conflict ends. There is no more fighting, and the children again must adapt, learning to survive, this time in an unfamiliar, civilized world. Little chance of survival is found on the streets at home and, as Ackerman so brutally details, former combatants look to the conflicts of neighboring countries. They know how to fight, and understand that they can be an asset to either side of the conflict. They also know that fighting, in a twisted sense, means survival, food, shelter and clothing, at least for the time being. So they move to the next conflict, in a new country, and descend into the horrors of war once again, this time seeking economic opportunity.

This is the life of a child soldier, and so naturally if there is no rescue, no rehabilitation, and no chance for them to enter civil society, they will become the warlords of the future. They will be fighters forever, trained with rogue techniques, and with little sense of what is ethical and moral. Furthermore, they will reflect upon their personal histories, and look to recruit other child soldiers as this life seemed to work for them, or at least enable them to get by. It is a cycle that must not be repeated, and can be stopped with our direct intervention. There are already organizations on the ground like UNICEF, who has accomplished an immense amount of work, and they must be given our support for what they are doing. They are, in essence, saving us.

You may think this is a bit over dramatic. How are our lives necessarily endangered by the fighting done by children thousands of miles away in a place that you have likely never heard of? The truth is that what happens in the world is our responsibility. It is our responsibility because we are fortunate to be living at a time when, true, there is more devastation and destruction that we could ever have imagined, but at the same time, our world is rapidly shrinking, and we have the ability to do more now than we have before. We can send money, we ourselves can volunteer, and we can do more to help save these children whose youth was stolen from them to simply aid in the horrific intentions of a warlord, politician, diamond merchant, or an entire state. Our mindset must not be whether or not we should be responsible for rehabilitating these youths. Our logic must be: we can, therefore we will, and we must.

At the Tate Modern Art Gallery in London, England, there is a display of African artwork. One vivid painting shows a child soldier, surrounded by the most beautiful flowers and scenery, in full military attire, with a pistol held by a hand behind him, an AK47 on his other side, and a phone on his belt. His hands are also held up, in a surrender position. Cheri Samba, the artist, has written at his feet, "I am for peace, that is why I like weapons." This is what they are taught, and it is clearly a lesson that must be altered for a peaceful future. This painting so clearly captures why the responsibility to help these children lies in our hands. Our abilities influence our actions, and we therefore have the power to help. Whether that means taking these children into our homes and show them a civil society, bring them to our countries and help them fit into institutions, or to just send money or volunteer at shelters and clinics that are established on their home soil, we must help. The nature of the deed may change, but the fact is unalterable that we must resume the responsibility of implementing such change.

The United Nations has spent much time considering the issue of child soldiers, and the rules are, when possible, enforced. In the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, it is clearly stated that rehabilitation is required for those children affected by participation in warfare, offered by the states from which the children emerge. These states unfortunately will not necessarily abide by these rules. They are either morally or economically depleted, and these children must therefore turn elsewhere. So, what responsibility does the world bear for rehabilitating child soldiers? We bear a huge responsibility so that we can knowingly reflect on the fact that we did not sit idly by while children are trained to hate instead of love, kill instead of nurture, and value war over peace.

300 000 is a number that can bring about peace in our time. When 300 000 children grow up and learn what is morally correct in a life separated from war, they have the potential to generate goodness. Let us, as a global community, bear full responsibility for this number, and strive to help every child with a misguided youth achieve their full potential to help create a peaceful international community.