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  • Comparing Palestinian Unique Suffering with Holocaust Leads Nowhere

    Muslim WakeUp!, United Arab Emirates
    Jan 28 2005

    Remembering Auschwitz: Comparing Palestinians' Unique Suffering with
    Holocaust Leads Nowhere

    By Ayman S. Ashour

    The horrible genocide committed against the Jews by Nazi Germany,
    with the collaboration of other Europeans, during WWII was one of the
    worst events of the 20th century. To be sure, the last century had
    many other horrible episodes of genocide: the Gypsies, the Armenians,
    the Hmong, the Tutsis, and others. Horrors perpetrated by the likes
    of Stalin, Pol Pot, and the Chinese Cultural Revolution make the 20th
    century a very bloody one indeed.

    Meanwhile, some Muslims and other sympathizers of the Palestinian
    cause have taken to comparing the ongoing suffering of Palestinians
    to the Holocaust.

    The mass killing of millions of people from the very old to newborns
    with industrial efficiency for the sole purpose of exterminating a
    whole race is beyond words in its cruelty, criminality, abhorrence
    and indeed in its uniqueness. The road towards peace and
    reconciliation does not go through denial of the suffering of Jews;
    understanding the narratives of the "other" is a prerequisite for any
    real reconciliation. Those Muslims and other supporters of the
    Palestinians who deny or minimize the Holocaust do major disservice
    to the Palestinian cause and cause more Jews and Israelis to turn a
    blind eye to the suffering of the Palestinians.

    Indeed, Palestinian suffering is unique as well and should not be
    compared to anything else. The courage of ordinary Palestinians
    living under a brutal occupation, the non-violent Palestinians who
    suffer in the refugee camps generation after generation, the
    Palestinian families living in New Jersey or Michigan, leading their
    new lives but remembering ..still remembering, writing, demonstrating
    is unique. The ability of Palestine to remain a viable dream in the
    hearts of millions despite its very powerful foes is unique! For over
    a hundred years now, Zionism has enjoyed the backing of the world's
    most powerful powers; it has captured the imagination of the world's
    so-called liberals and progressives then moved on to capture the
    imagination and support of its conservatives and evangelicals.
    Throughout this time, the ordinary people of Palestine have continued
    to struggle, and the word Palestine is now again an accepted part of
    the vocabulary.

    In Tibet, the suffering, destruction and colonization were brutal,
    yet the world's liberals, intellectuals and celebrities spoke out
    against China and raced for a piece of the Dali Lama. The suffering
    of the Tibetans is recognized by the world. In certain respects, the
    eradication of their culture has been more complete than that of the
    Palestinians. In much of the world, Tibetans are seen as peaceful and
    spiritual, while Palestinians are portrayed as militant
    double-talking terrorists.. Whose suffering is greater? Which wound
    is more painful? When is a killing by one brutal occupier less
    painful than the killing by another brutal occupier? Comparisons and
    more senseless comparisons lead nowhere.

    For Palestinians, where else are there such overwhelming odds against
    a people, people who have sadly not been blessed with wise leaders
    but who have an abundance of courage and perseverance? The suffering
    of Palestinians should not be compared to the suffering of others,
    and in the process be belittled by those who support them.

    Let's not compare, all suffering is unique, and the suffering of the
    Palestinian people is no different. Let us today join the Germans,
    the Russians, the French and pray for the souls of the countless Jews
    who perished in the horrible ovens of Auschwitz - let's honor and
    respect their memory, and please, let us not compare!

    http://www.muslimwakeup.com/main/archives/2005/01/remembering_aus.php
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