2008 Woodie Awards
Street theater of the absurd
Max Rosenthal
Issue date: 1/29/03 Section: Commentary
As students at Georgetown, it is reasonable to think that many of us are preparing to become serious players in world affairs. However, while the Georgetowners I saw on Saturday would probably seek this mantle, they clearly want nothing to do with the responsibilities that would accompany it. As should be evident, especially to SFS students, effective diplomacy is built on compromise, a principle the protesters I witnessed sadly ignored. Instead, those who supported Saturday's demonstration were willingly exploiting a divisive lie to garner support for their cause. Even if they believed such stories to be true, they are still guilty of staggering and purposeful ignorance of the facts. Rather than choosing to work for the consensus that so many claim is necessary to resolve conflict, they picked the most radical option available. Such conduct comes from the same mindset that breeds fanaticism and suicide bombings; it is certainly not that of future world leaders who hope for peace.
The demonstration was essentially a collection of wasted talent. Many of the demonstrators claimed the melodrama was "effective." Amusing and a touch pathetic it was, but effective it certainly was not. Handing out flyers to ten passers-by while giving drivers something to gawk at during stops at a red light hardly constitute making a serious impact on world opinion. Had those intelligent and hard-working students instead donated their time and efforts to working for an Arab lobby group or a similarly mainstream organization, some tangible and constructive good may have resulted. Instead, they chose to promote the false claims of extremists as the unvarnished truth, thus driving a bigger wedge between Jews and Arabs and making reconciliation both at Georgetown and abroad all the harder. They should know that doing this lends their cause no aid. It only discredits them and proves that, at least on this campus, the term "Young Arab Leadership" is nothing more than a pipe dream.
Until Saturday night, I cannot honestly say I lost sleep over the Palestinian plight. As a human being, I was certainly concerned, but as a pro-Israel Jew, it was in that detached, academic way, clouded by the politics of the Middle East. After this protest, however, I am genuinely worried for Palestine. If the reign of Yasser Arafat has proved one thing, it is that Palestinians need help in the form of a reasonable and uncorrupt leadership; one willing to drop the "It's All Their Fault" mentality and commit to peace. Don't hold your breath. If what I saw Saturday is any proof, help is not on the way.
Rosenthal is an assistant editor and a German and government freshman.
The demonstration was essentially a collection of wasted talent. Many of the demonstrators claimed the melodrama was "effective." Amusing and a touch pathetic it was, but effective it certainly was not. Handing out flyers to ten passers-by while giving drivers something to gawk at during stops at a red light hardly constitute making a serious impact on world opinion. Had those intelligent and hard-working students instead donated their time and efforts to working for an Arab lobby group or a similarly mainstream organization, some tangible and constructive good may have resulted. Instead, they chose to promote the false claims of extremists as the unvarnished truth, thus driving a bigger wedge between Jews and Arabs and making reconciliation both at Georgetown and abroad all the harder. They should know that doing this lends their cause no aid. It only discredits them and proves that, at least on this campus, the term "Young Arab Leadership" is nothing more than a pipe dream.
Until Saturday night, I cannot honestly say I lost sleep over the Palestinian plight. As a human being, I was certainly concerned, but as a pro-Israel Jew, it was in that detached, academic way, clouded by the politics of the Middle East. After this protest, however, I am genuinely worried for Palestine. If the reign of Yasser Arafat has proved one thing, it is that Palestinians need help in the form of a reasonable and uncorrupt leadership; one willing to drop the "It's All Their Fault" mentality and commit to peace. Don't hold your breath. If what I saw Saturday is any proof, help is not on the way.
Rosenthal is an assistant editor and a German and government freshman.