Skip to content or view screen version

From Latuff to Bryan Atinsky

Latuff | 26.02.2004 05:12 | Anti-racism | Repression | Social Struggles

Tribute to a brave man.

Bryan Atinsky
Bryan Atinsky


The man being cowardly kicked by an Israeli soldier is Bryan Atinsky, one of the founders of IMC Israel. Look at the sign in his hands: "freedom for both peoples". Bryan, among many Jewish peace activists, believe in freedom for both Israelis and Palestinians. That's why he was kicked by a IDF soldier and that's why he had his home raided by policemen and had his computer confiscated. All because Bryan believes in freedom of speech in Israel, the so-called "only democracy of Middle East".

Not the first time Bryan was harassed by Israeli authorities. He was not the first one and will be not the last. Jews in Israel contrary to Palestinian kids being shot to death by IDF soldiers, air raids in high populated Palestinian areas, house demolitions, settlements and the "security" wall are instantly labeled as "traitors", and often called "kapos" (Jewish guards of concentration camps) by those who see occupation of Palestinian territories as fair and morally justified.

I heard Bryan will leave IMC, and I don't blame him for this. He was threatened, as well as the Internet provider which was hosting IMC Israel. Probably he was threatened by the same scoundrel who managed to kill Yitzhak Rabin. If they can kill their own prime-minister, what about a peace activist? There are places in the world where peace activism is a risk for life. Israel is one of them. Some say it's a democracy, since Sharon was elected. Democracy then is your right to elect war criminals but not to criticize them.

Will really Bryan leave IMC and activism? I hope not, but I will understand if he do. I will understand but feel so much, because Bryan Atinsky along many Jewish activists from IMC Israel and other peace groups is the reason why Israel is not completely caught in the hands of religious nationalist freaks.

Thank you Bryan for all your dedication and efforts.
Thank you all Jewish activists in Israel and overseas.
To all of you, my sincere gratitude.

And Bryan...I am sorry.
:(

Latuff

Latuff
- e-mail: latuff@uninet.com.br

Comments

Hide the following 6 comments

A picture

26.02.2004 09:02

I wonder what caused the soldier to do this

I wonder what had happended just before the picture was taken, or ten minutes before

As ever one picture does not tell the whole story.

Dave


What happened Dave ..................

26.02.2004 09:33

...is known in most democracies as a demonstration. Seems the heavily armed soldier didn't like the fact that an Israeli would use such an offensive weapon (or what most people would see as a placard with words on it)

What would justify an armed soldier kicking an unarmed protestor in your world one wonders.

freethepeeps


unlikely...

26.02.2004 11:28

...seeing as the guy is serving life imprisonment.

Or perhaps it's just the usual non-sequitor.


>Probably he was threatened by the same scoundrel who managed to kill Yitzhak Rabin.<

ade


mmmm

26.02.2004 13:40

I see so you are able to state exactly the previous course of events just by looking at the picture are you ?

Tell me who is to the right of the man cowering on the floor and what is he doing ?

What happended five seconds before the picture was taken ?

What were the actions of people not seen in the picture ?

Got the point yet ?

Dave


Tell me

26.02.2004 23:34

Tell me, what causes an Israeli soldier armed with a gun to kick a peace activist.

What causes a soldier to shoot TOm Hurndall in the head with a sniper rifle

What causes a soldier to shoot an Israeli peace activist on a demonstration against the wall

WHat caused an Israeli soldier to kick a friend of mine, who was being held down, in the ribs during a demonstration

What causes soldiers to shoot hundreds of Palestinian children, more than the total number of civilians killed in suicide attacks

A loathing of the truth, a terrible self-inadequacy, a fear of being exposed as the killers they really are?

Hermes


its true - we can't be sure...

27.02.2004 02:22

Only in exceptional circumstances can a still photograph, particularly one showing frozen action, on its own tell us conclusively exactly what was going on. And one can fake almost anything in Photoshop.

But you see, thats not really the point.

Such a photo is just an illustration to underline an event which may be supported by eyewitness descriptions, or to underline a well established pattern of events.

My questions are :

1. Do Israeli defence forces regularly and routinely suppress peaceful demonstrations ?
2. Do they occasionally use violence in doing so, in circumstances in which they cannot honestly say that their own safety was under threat ?

From my own reading, television watching, surfing and meetings attendance, applying cautious rules to avoid being misled, I find that the weight of the evidence suggests overwhelmingly that:

The answer to both of the above questions is "yes".

If so - the picture illustrates a truth even if it does not provably portray it. Such proof would be hard to get.

freddie