Reply #10: This is why we MUST try to reach people, not just in the [View All]

[Colorado Blue]

region but around the world, for example here, and who support the Palestinian cause.

It is SO important that people separate the cause of Palestinian nationhood, from these reactionary forces.

They really are NOT the same thing, but they've become identified almost inextricably with one another. And the people here on DU, with whom we speak all the time, need to see this and try, #1, to understand why we are freaked out by the violent forces, and #2, try to argue within their own (proPalestinian) community, for progressive forces.

It worries me, that people somehow have become attracted to violent, repressive, pseudo-religious forces. These are not really freedom fighters, are they, if they deprive people of their freedom and their lives? And this is not a new argument within the Palestinian community, either - it goes back decades.

By the same token, I'll bet a lot of people on the outside of the struggle have the same view, think the Arab cause in general is monolithic, reactionary and violent.

That POV is equally dangerous, resulting in people calling for the persecution of Muslims here, and for war on Arab people.