"My Name is Rachel Corrie" - Democracy Now! Debate.

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/03/22/1435259

Full Headline:
"My Name is Rachel Corrie" - A Debate Over Why the Play is Not Opening in New York

Please see the full article, you can even watch with a click of a mouse.

There is also this:
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/03/22/1436203

Rachel Corrie's Parents React to New York Theater's Postponement of a Play Based on Their Late Daughter's Words

I want to link also to what Craig Corrie says on the show.
From Democracy Now!:
CRAIG CORRIE: I guess I would urge Mr. Nicola to go to the U.S. State Departments' website, and on there you can find the human rights reports for the last three years. There, Rachel is listed as a human rights observer. Her killing, of course, is a human rights violation and is listed in their report, but under an observer of human rights, and that's how our State Department and our government looks at Rachel.

He also points out, that despite allegations on the web and even by some in these forums, that the Nasarallah family (the home Rachel was protecting) was supporting terrorists. In fact, it is the US State Dept who worked with Israeli government and granted this family visas to tour the United States. There is no credible source that suggests that this family was supporting terrorists, was being paid by terrorists.


From the U.S. State Department
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2005/61690.htm
On March 16, 2003, an Israeli bulldozer clearing land in Rafah in the Gaza Strip crushed and killed Rachel Corrie, 23, a US citizen peace activist. Corrie was standing in front of the bulldozer and was wearing a reflective vest. Eyewitness demonstrators stated that they believe the driver knew Corrie was in front of the bulldozer as he proceeded forward. IDF investigations concluded that the operator was not negligent. US officials who have seen the IDF report found inconsistencies among the statements of those observing the incident. Some observers continue to raise questions concerning whether the investigation was thorough, credible, and transparent, and the Corrie family continued to pursue the case. In conjunction with the report of the IDF Judge Advocate General, the IDF implemented two remedial procedures for improved safety: the presence of more senior officers to oversee such operations and the designation of closed military zones with orders forbidding the presence of civilians in areas where IDF military operations are conducted.
_________
It should be noted, if it is not readily known, that there has been no independent investigation apart from the IDF investigation. Yet in this case, how could we accept the final word of the entity that caused the death, either by accident or otherwise?

Tonight, at historic Riverside Church in New York city (where Martin Luther King gave one of his best speeches "A time to break the silence"), there will be a very special event.
These are some of the people participating:
* Participating by video or statement Maya Angelou will read an email of Rachel’s by video,
* Patti Smith will perform “Peaceable Kingdom” dedicated to Rachel by video,
* Eve Ensler (Vagina Monologues).
* Vanessa Redgrave
* Mariam Said (wife of the late Dr. Edward Said)
* Najla Said
* Alice Walker
* Howard Zinn

For more info:
http://www.rachelswords.org/

I have no doubt that in a decade, while many people in the years and decades to come will remember the name Ariel Sharon, the great mass of people on this planet will have much more respect for Rachel Corrie's work and her short but meaningful life, along with the many who continue the nonviolent struggle for justice in Israel/Palestine.

As Delores Huerta (co-founder of the United Farm Workers) sent word last week to a gathering in memory of Rachel in Oakland:

In solidarity with the struggle for peace and justice,
Viva Rachel! Viva la paz! Viva Cesar Chavez!
Si, se puede.

:sarcasm:

no fancy icon for irony....

I didn't go into it any further at the time because it was very late and I was falling asleep at the keyboard, and my brain wasn't functioning well enough to go deeper anyway. But now I'm thinking clearer, so I'll explain.

I have been reading the posts on I/P for a couple of months now, and far too often I see attacks on fellow posters, one-line screeds that contribute nothing to the debate, and childish insults. If you ask me, "Ppfffffbbbbbtttttt!!!!!!!" is about as childish as it gets, made even worse by the fact that it is in response to a post discussing the death of a young woman. You may disagree with what she stood for, but I believe that such a response is beyond purile. Whatever your feelings on this issue, it is a very serious one that we should discuss as adults. I'll concede that my comment was brief and perhaps a little snide, but I don't think that invalidates my point that "Ppfffffbbbbbtttttt!!!!!!!" has no place in a discussion of serious issues, particularly when that issue is someone's death.

It's crass no matter who it's directed towards

that anyone would defend it.

I don't disagree with you.



(and I don't think you needed to bother to elaborate - you were clear the first time).

If anything, it's worse than being censored by outside agencies. James Nicola and Lynne Moffatt
condemn themselves by being unable to articulate a coherent and credible reason for cancelling
the production. It seems clear that pressure was brought to bear on them, whether by Jewish
organizations or by government agents - who knows?

It's had two seasons in London already, and it set for a third, so I hope somebody with a bit more
courage will put it on in New York.

Rachel lives.

they should know that they may have offended more people (including a great number of Jewish people) by postponing the show at the last minute than they ever would have by letting the show go on.

Nicola, if you hear his words on DN!, is really ignorant of the reality of the situation. And fearful (he seemed to believe that Corrie was a member of Hamas, because "it said so on the internet"... with that logic, he may believe that George Bush is a space alien, because it says so on the internet). He is like a great number of Americans, including many in power in DC.

This situation is changing, however.

The show will be put on in New York, (very unlikely at that theater, but to a bigger audience elsewhere) it will reach very many people.

If we survive the current insanity, and the Middle East, and the planet, survive--I have no doubt that people like Rachel Corrie will be seen as the true hero she is.

Too bad for the New York Theater Workshop that they won't be doing it. I hope someone is able to get it together before too long.


I posted Pinter's letter that was read here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=723285&mesg_id=723285