Dear Syria: From One Refugee to Another

[polly7]

By Ramzy Baroud

January 29, 2015

Whenever the word ‘refugee’ is uttered, I think of my mother. When Zionist militias began their systematic onslaught and ‘cleansing’ of the Palestinian Arab population of historic Palestine in 1948, she, along with her family, ran away from the once peaceful village of Beit Daras.

Back then, Zarefah was six. Her father died in a refugee camp in a tent provided by the Quakers soon after he had been separated from his land. She collected scrap metal to survive.

My grandmother Mariam, would venture out to the ‘death zone’ that bordered the separated and newly established state of Israel from Gaza’s refugee camps to collect figs and oranges. She faced death every day. Her children were all refugees, living in shatat – the Diaspora.

My mother lived to be 42. Her life was tremendously difficult. She married a refugee, my dad, and together they brought seven refugees into this world – my brothers, my sister and myself. One died as a toddler, for there was no medicine in the refugee camp’s clinic.

Full article: https://zcomm.org/znetarticle/dear-syria-from-one-refugee-to-another/

[King_David]

1. Where's his pic ?

[polly7]

2. WHY?? nt.

[King_David]

3. It's just the 1st time I have seen a Ramzy Baroud article without his pic posted here in our group.

What's with the dramatic caps?

[polly7]

4. What's with the thread derailing for such a stupid thing?

Such compassion .............. how sick.

[Jefferson23]

6. His photo is mocked often by several, it's all they've got. n/t

[polly7]

7. I can't believe the pathetic responses to something most decent people would find

horribly sad. It's mind-boggling.

[King_David]

12. I derailed nothing

I asked a serious question and did not mock anything.

For some reason his pic is always posted with his articles.

You never knew this?

You should post this in the Middle East forum too because it's mainly about the Syrian refugee crisis albeit he's making some attempt at parallels with the Palestinians, I just don't see it though.

[polly7]

15. lmfao. nt.

[King_David]

17. Thanks

Appreciate it...No problem I never took it personally.

[polly7]

19. And I'll never take you seriously.

So thanks, it's good to know your agenda is all about ruining threads others might find interesting. Is it fun?? I thought this was an adult board?

[King_David]

24. I never ruined your thread

Even if you put me on ignore there's ither responses here.

IMHO this OP belongs in the Middle East forum but maybe apt here as it includes Palistinians in the parallel.

But I must agree with Oberliner, one only needs read the 1st paragraph to see what a steaming pile of bullshit the article is.

Par for the course for Ramzy Baroud.

See that is the critique this article deserved.

[love_me_some_pickles]

64. This?

[Jefferson23]

5. I would like to believe 2015 will be a better year, yet it does not look promising. n/t

http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/syria

[polly7]

8. No, it doesn't: - (

His poignant last line: "And until you return home to Syria, don’t let the refugee become who you are, as you are so much more".

[oberliner]

10. Wow this is a bigger load of BS than his usual garbage

How can anyone take an article seriously with that first paragraph?

Such obvious and cheap propaganda.

"When Palestinian Arabs began their systematic onslaught and 'cleansing' of the Jewish population of historic Palestine in 1948..."

No less true, though the year would probably by 1947 in that case.

Ramzy's writing style is similar to his counterparts on the other side writing about, say, the massacre of Jewish nurses and doctors in a medical convoy by Palestinian Arabs:

"The massacre of the Hadassah convoy and the expulsion of the Jews from the Old City of Jerusalem, continued a well established pattern in the land of Israel, that began even before there were Zionists, and reflected the relations between the Arab community and their Jewish subjects."

[polly7]

11. Pathetic. nt.

[oberliner]

13. Agreed

At least you didn't include the photo like his other fan usually does.

[polly7]

14. No, no ................... you. nt.

[oberliner]

18. Do you not think his writing style reads like propaganda?

It seems pretty obvious.

[polly7]

20. Nah ............ but yours sure does.

Make you feel good to derail every thread I post here with your garbage?

[oberliner]

25. Look closely at the first paragraph

If you flipped it around, and have the Israelis as the good guys and the Palestinians as the bad guys, I am sure you would not be able to take it seriously.

The whole article presents a very black and white picture and uses propaganda-style rhetoric all the way through.

I don't mean to derail anything, but I do think that this author is presenting an unbalanced view of reality, to say the least.

I would ask you to at least consider reviewing the article with that perspective in mind and see if you don't agree with my point even just slightly.

[polly7]

34. And I care what you think ............ why?

[oberliner]

65. A lot of folks enjoy being challenged

It helps them to sharpen their arguments.

[polly7]

66. Then I'd better care about what someone other than you says, eh? nt.

[King_David]

16. Yea it's his usual ....

(Ramzy Baroud )

[polly7]

21. Ick.

(King_David)

[polly7]

63. The 1948 Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine - Norman Finkelstein

https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-ts=1422579428&v=VD1terYXUwQ&x-yt-cl=85114404

[shira]

22. Ramzy Baroud is a big time Jew hater and Hamas supporter...

To some, that makes him even more respected.

[polly7]

23. Double ick. nt.

[shira]

26. Here are Baroud tweets hailing Hamas resistance from Gaza this past summer..

Meaning Hamas terror...

https://twitter.com/RamzyBaroud/status/496784935035101185

https://twitter.com/RamzyBaroud/status/504366433720344576

https://twitter.com/RamzyBaroud/status/502188219669417984

[polly7]

28. You know what Shira?

You try SO hard to discredit anything here that's said about Palestinian suffering and those who are still paying for the sins of the past. His experiences as a child alone, especially losing a mother at such a young age should invoke at least a tiny bit of empathy and compassion from most human beings, but you're so invested in hatred towards any and all who DARE speak of their experiences, you can't even allow yourself to see it.

So, save your propaganda.

I know exactly what to expect with every one of your posts - it's all white noise to me. Better use for your skills - digging up real reasons why these people should be so hated ......... the 'hate the messenger' stuff, even if he is a victim himself, is old and stale.

[shira]

30. Supporting Hamas terror attacks on Jews is beyond vile....

It crosses over into neo-Naziism.

Exposing that brand of neo-nazi hatred against Jews is decent, moral, and progressive.

It's certainly not hatred.

Baroud could be as pro-Palestinian as he wants, but when he crosses the line into support of Hamas then he should be exposed for the hater he is.

[polly7]

32. Supporting Israeli terror attacks against millions of Palestinians

over decades is beyond vile, it crosses over into human beings lacking what makes us human.

Exposing THAT character trait is decent, moral and progressive, and certainly not hatred - just the truth.

Those that ridicule the suffering of others, such as Baroud's own horrific experiences should be exposed for the vile haters they are.

[shira]

35. No one should support terror on either side....

It's juvenile to assert that b/c one side does it, that's okay for the other.

2 wrongs don't make a right.

========================

That said, it's been my experience that those who speak of Israeli terror tend not to believe that Israelis have any right to be protected from terror attacks by their government.

[polly7]

36. Yet you do it so well.

And, no-one defending Palestinian suffering ever said terror against anyone was ok. That's something you make up often, I've noticed. But, what else have you got.

Meh.

[shira]

38. You just said terror against people is NOT okay.

But Baroud supports the Hamas terror organization and their "resistance" against the Jews.

So he's not okay.

Right?

[polly7]

41. Baroud supports Palestinians free from oppression, imprisonment, land theft, murder,

torture, decimation, children living in fear and horror, hunger, etc. etc. etc.

As do I.

Get it? Good.

[shira]

43. You think it's okay giving a pass to folks who support terror attacks on people? n/t

[polly7]

46. You think genocide is ok? nt.

[shira]

48. Another evasion. Are you too embarassed to answer a simple question? n/t

[polly7]

49. I did.

And no, I'm not a bit embarrassed.

But I would embarrassed be to deny the suffering of millions, as you do.

[shira]

50. No, you evaded by asking another question in response to mine.

Still waiting.

If you actually answered it earlier, in which post is it?

[polly7]

52. I don't CARE about your derailing and nitpicking shit, get it?

I care about this topic. If you have nothing to add to it .......... please don't expect a thing from me. I've already said what I agree with him on, and what I think about people who try so desperately hard to hide the suffering of a people who did nothing to earn it - as well as every other refugee. If you have nothing to add to that ...... talk to yourself, I guess.

[shira]

54. When did calling out extremist haters & terror supporters become nitpicking shit?

I must've missed that progressive memo.

[polly7]

57. Human suffering. The topic of the thread.

Dear Syria: From One Refugee to Another

By Ramzy Baroud

January 29, 2015

Whenever the word ‘refugee’ is uttered, I think of my mother. When Zionist militias began their systematic onslaught and ‘cleansing’ of the Palestinian Arab population of historic Palestine in 1948, she, along with her family, ran away from the once peaceful village of Beit Daras.

Back then, Zarefah was six. Her father died in a refugee camp in a tent provided by the Quakers soon after he had been separated from his land. She collected scrap metal to survive.

My grandmother Mariam, would venture out to the ‘death zone’ that bordered the separated and newly established state of Israel from Gaza’s refugee camps to collect figs and oranges. She faced death every day. Her children were all refugees, living in shatat – the Diaspora.

My mother lived to be 42. Her life was tremendously difficult. She married a refugee, my dad, and together they brought seven refugees into this world – my brothers, my sister and myself. One died as a toddler, for there was no medicine in the refugee camp’s clinic.


Full article: https://zcomm.org/znetarticle/dear-syria-from-one-refugee-to-another/

[shira]

58. It's far easier to empathize & show compassion for someone who is NOT.....

.....a Jew hating supporter of terror like Baroud is.

You don't seem to get that for some odd reason.

[polly7]

61. I don't believe you're capable of it, for anyone really ......... he speaks of his life as a child.

I doubt very, very much he was the evil incarnate you make him out to be, watching his own mother struggle and die at 42. He's trying to give hope to other refugees - families and children going through the same - yet all you can do is pull out your hair and scream out your hate. Actually kind of sad for you.

[shira]

27. And here's Baroud praising rank antisemites like Greta Berlin & Gilad Atzmon....

Baroud endorsing Atzmon:

“Gilad Atzmon decided to open Pandora’s Box, and ignite a debate that has been frustratingly dormant for too long. His experiences are most authentic, views are hard-hitting, and, at times, provocative. It must be read and discussed.” Ramzy Baroud, Palestine Chronicle

Baroud supporting Greta Berlin:

Greta Berlin, our support and total solidarity with your noble efforts will not cease, but double. Thank you for all you have done for justice in Palestine. For the numerous hours you spent brainstorming ways to break the siege on Gaza, to dodge the Israeli navy, to act upon your beliefs in ways that some of us can only tweet about. You are an indefatigable warrior. I am sorry about the misguided attacks on you and your integrity. Please don't stop. Your courage will continue to inspire us. Much Love. Ramzy Baroud

[polly7]

29. See above. nt.

[shira]

31. Exposing rank anti-semites is decent, moral, and progressive. n/t

[polly7]

33. Exposing rank anti-Palestinians (human beings) is decent,

moral and progressive.

[shira]

37. Juvenile response. First, it would be nice to at least acknowledge....

....that Hamas is a ridiculously nasty terror group trying to kill Jews.

Therefore supporters of Hamas are bad people.

===============

Can you do that? Or will you just mirror my words again?

[polly7]

39. A perfect response to your juvenile claims.

Try harder to derail this thread with your bogus accusations .......... it's not working. It just shows what a complete lack of empathy and compassion does to a person. Not pretty.

[shira]

40. Then be precise. What's bogus about my accusations? n/t

[polly7]

42. I was VERY precise.

Your posts in response to this OP and one human beings experiences living under horror, watching his family suffer while throwing your typical hate-bombs shows EXACTLY what your agenda is, and it's beyond sad. Like I said, empathy and compassion are what separate us from animals .......... well, I'm wavering on that - I think we may be lower on the scale after reading responses like yours, and it's just plain, flat out ugly.

[shira]

44. You think it's okay giving a pass to folks who support rank anti-semites? n/t

[polly7]

45. You think it's ok giving a pass to genocide? nt.

[shira]

47. You're evading the question. Why? n/t

[polly7]

51. You're evading the suffering expressed in the OP with all your attempts to derail.

Why? 'Embarrassed?'

Syrian refugees well know what he's talking about here, just as every other person displaced by war and suffering, hunger, death.

Your evasion of the article's topic is telling, you want it kept quiet. Oh well ............ suck it up - the whole world is changing its opinion on Palestinian suffering, so you're kinda trying to shut the barn door after all the animals are out, but the refugee status and the hope he's trying to express to all refugees is encouraging. They can't be ignored forever.

[shira]

53. If you feel so strongly about Baroud, u shouldn't have a problem answering.

You wouldn't give any credence to a hateful Israeli author who wishes harm on Palestinians, no matter whether he portrayed himself as a victim.

So why would you expect anything different from me?

[polly7]

55. I expect nothing from you, believe me.

You interjected yourself into the thread to derail it - every single time, so why on earth would you think anyone owes you a thing? You're desperate for attention, maybe ask your buddies here to give it to you. I've given you enough. I really, honest to god, have nothing to say to people with 0 empathy and compassion. For me, it's like talking to a rock.

[shira]

56. Okay, so u believe folks should give empathy and compassion....

....to known haters & terror supporters.

Am I wrong?

[polly7]

59. You're always wrong with your accusations. Why even ask?

I don't see him as you do, tough luck. Is he lying about his own family?

Here, the topic of the thread once again - human suffering and hope for other refugees.


Dear Syria: From One Refugee to Another

By Ramzy Baroud

January 29, 2015

Whenever the word ‘refugee’ is uttered, I think of my mother. When Zionist militias began their systematic onslaught and ‘cleansing’ of the Palestinian Arab population of historic Palestine in 1948, she, along with her family, ran away from the once peaceful village of Beit Daras.

Back then, Zarefah was six. Her father died in a refugee camp in a tent provided by the Quakers soon after he had been separated from his land. She collected scrap metal to survive.

My grandmother Mariam, would venture out to the ‘death zone’ that bordered the separated and newly established state of Israel from Gaza’s refugee camps to collect figs and oranges. She faced death every day. Her children were all refugees, living in shatat – the Diaspora.

My mother lived to be 42. Her life was tremendously difficult. She married a refugee, my dad, and together they brought seven refugees into this world – my brothers, my sister and myself. One died as a toddler, for there was no medicine in the refugee camp’s clinic.


Full article: https://zcomm.org/znetarticle/dear-syria-from-one-refugee-to-another/

[shira]

60. So the problem is that despite the evidence....

....it's best to just deny Baroud's hate & support for terror. Pretend it's not there & carry on...

How progressive!

[polly7]

62. The problem is your hate for any Palestinian speaking out.

Not progressive at all ......... reminds me of the right-wingers denying the suffering caused by the Iraq invasion, the coups in LA, and on and on. The days are gone though that the 'winners' control the dialogue. Haven't you noticed? - the world is waking up. I know how hard that must be for you, probably the reason you try so hard to control and derail every thread started here talking about it.

Most of us no longer live in tents, but we are reminded of our refugee status every single day, by the Israeli occupation, by the Gaza siege and the internally-displaced Palestinians in Israel, by the Iraq war and the displacement of the already displaced Palestinians there, by the despicable living conditions of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, and throughout the Middle East.

But for us, Syria has been our greatest waja’ in years. Aside from the fact that most of Syria’s half a million Palestinian refugees are on the run again, living the pain of displacement and loss for the second, third, or even fourth time. Nine million Syrian refugees are now duplicating the Palestinian tragedy, charting the early course of the Palestinian Nakba, the catastrophe of 1948.

Watching the destitution of the Syrian refugees is like rewinding the past, in all of its awful details. And watching Arab states clamor to aid the refugees with ample words and little action feels as if we are living Arab betrayal all over again

I thought you'd enjoy seeing this. After all, refugees are horrible people and should be allowed no voice, no land to call home, no rights, nothing.