In memory of Rachel Corrie. April 10,1979 - March 16,2003

[The Straight Story]

Rachel Corrie was a human rights worker who was crushed to death by an Israeli soldier driving a bulldozer in 2003. She was trying to prevent the bulldozer from destroying a Palestinian family's home. She was just 23 years old. Saturday, March 16 is the 10th anniversary of her death.

[niyad]

1. what a brave young woman

[hlthe2b]

2. Indeed....

[90-percent]

3. Honorable

She gave her life standing behind her beliefs and principals.

I fear we are nearing the point where some more will have to die to make a stand against the powers that have purchased our democracy.

A Century ago give or take a few decades, many people died taking a stand for unions and collective bargaining. Looks like we will have to fight this battle all over again to get democracy and a modest amount of fairness and justice back into our American Lives.

So many people I know openly admit the PTB want to turn us all into powerless corporate serfs without human rights.

The are getting medieval on our asses, so to speak.

Thank you and your family again for your sacrifice, Rachel.

-90% Jimmy

[Fantastic Anarchist]

29. Today, they call people like that "pancakes"

And get away with it.

It's sickening to its core.

[loudsue]

4. And people wonder why Israel has lost the affection of so many former supporters

When you have monsters in charge of a nation, people like Rachel are bulldozed. I wish the Israeli people could get rid of the rightwing conservative extremists that have infiltrated the holy land.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

10. Whatcha mean?? Gallup says America loves Israel.

And they also had(R)money winning the election.

[FairWinds]

5. The theatrical production . .

"My Name Is Rachel Corrie" is tremendously moving. Go see it.

[JohnyCanuck]

6. Rachel Corrie's parents urge supporters to take action, change US policy in Israel/Palestine

On the tenth anniversary of Rachel Corrie’s death her parents urge supporters to take action, change US policy in Israel/Palestine
by Adam Horowitz on March 16, 2013

Ten years ago today American activist Rachel Corrie was killed by an Israeli Caterpillar D9 bulldozer as she tried to protect a Palestinian home from demolition in Rafah, Gaza. Her death, and selfless act of heroism, has galvanized and inspired millions worldwide in the decade since her death.

For me her death will always be intertwined with the rush to war in Iraq. Coming at the height of the second intifada, it was a moment that helped shape me and draw connections between militarism and occupation, between resistance and solidarity. I never met Rachel but her life has influenced me profoundly. Here is a report from a protest I helped with at the time in the days just before the U.S. attacked Iraq. It's amazing to think that was ten years ago and of everything that has transpired since then. Although much has changed in that time, the situation Rachel was protesting when she was killed remains very much the same.

Throughout the last ten years Corrie's parents - Cindy and Craig - have been a bedrock for the Palestine solidarity movement in the U.S. They were somehow able to take their loss, their pain, and build a flourishing movement for justice and accountability, not just for Rachel but also for the people of Gaza. In August, on the eve of an Israeli court decision in the Corrie's civil lawsuit against the state of Israel, I wrote, "the persistence, strength and grace of the Corrie family has a power all its own, and has moved everyone who has had the chance to meet them." They have never exploited Rachel's death, or their own pain, but rather picked up Rachel's baton and took on her struggle as their own.

As the Corrie's surely will use this anniversary to grieve, they are also using it to say thank you and urge all those touched by Rachel to continue struggling. Yesterday her father Craig Corrie shared a request for President Obama as he heads to Israel/Palestine next week. Writing in The Hill Corrie says 'ten years on I want answers for my daughter Rachel Corrie":

http://mondoweiss.net/2013/03/anniversary-supporters-israelpalestine.html

[polly7]

7. K&R. She was a beautiful soul. nt.

[xtraxritical]

8. Bless her soul. K&R

[benld74]

9. Prayers

[Mnemosyne]

11. ...

[idwiyo]

12. K&R RIP

[Jackpine Radical]

13. Where are the usual commentators,

the ones who might reassure us that Rachel was a tool of the Palestinian terrorists?

Who might explain how her accidental death was the result of her being in front of a bulldozer, where the operator couldn't see her and where she had no business being?

[The Straight Story]

14. Well if those Palestinian's had just let people destroy their homes it would all be ok

After all, God gave other people that land according to a book those same people wrote. Of course a lot of people had to be murdered to secure said land from the people who were already there, but again - god made it the right thing to do.

And don't object, or you are anti-Semitic.

[iamthebandfanman]

15. youll find 'em on youtube

thankfully none here yet...
but I wont hold my breathe going by DUers these days...

[Logical]

16. Well we know no Israeli people have died at the hands of the Palestinians. n-t

[Jackpine Radical]

19. Well, I do think very few of them have been killed

by being driven over by Palestinian bulldozers intent on destroying Jewish houses in the lands the Palestinian Army conquered and occupied.

[Scootaloo]

25. The thread is better without them.

I think this is the first time I've ever seen a forum thread anywhere about Ms. corrie that wasn't inundated by hate and the wost comments. it's nice, and I'd rather it not be jinxed.

[MineralMan]

41. Calling out specific DUers is not really acceptable,

despite the fact that a jury voted 3-3 to leave your post.

[awoke_in_2003]

43. you are right...

I have corrected it.

[MineralMan]

44. Thank you.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

30. You, sir, do not have the understanding ...

... or the proper context for what transpired that day.

It would do you well to inform yourself before say what you did in your previous post.

The driver, who is still employed, saw her, and not only ran her over, but backed over her.

Take a quick minute, afterall, Rachel gave her life (right or wrong) to see if you may be mistaken. It's no big deal to you, afterall, you're not giving your life for your opinion.

Seriuosly, give it a try!

[Jackpine Radical]

38. I knew that at least one person would misunderstand my point.

Congratulations. You're the first.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

40. Well, I was pretty faschnikered last night.

Congratulations on pulling the wool over my eyes!

[Egalitarian Thug]

33. They're on another thread explaining how working on Wall Street is really a good thing.

And that OWS is useless, ineffective, and dead.

And that there really aren't too many animals being exterminated is shelters so it's fine to get yours from a breeder.

And that giving money to and supporting criminals masquerading as religion is just.

And that stealing money from the old, the sick, and the weak is absolutely necessary.

And...

[Kurska]

45. I may not agree with her political causes or the conclusions some reached about her death, but

Everyone should have the decency to avoid throwing crap in someone's memorial thread. It is called respect for the dead, of both sides.

I believe the reason you're not seeing this "debate" is that the other side has wisely chosen to stay away. I don't think this thread would be a good place to have it.

RIP, Rachel I know that you had people who loved, cared about and now miss you.

[ErikJ]

17. Any punishment for bulldozer driver?

[Hissyspit]

18. No.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Corrie

In 2005 Corrie's parents filed a civil lawsuit against the state of Israel. The lawsuit charged Israel with not conducting a full and credible investigation into the case and with responsibility for her death,[15] contending that she had either been intentionally killed or that the soldiers had acted with reckless neglect.[3] They sued for a symbolic one U.S. dollar in damages to make the point that their case was about justice for their daughter and the Palestinian cause she had been defending.[16]

In August 2012, an Israeli court rejected their suit[3] and upheld the results of Israel's 2003 military investigation, ruling that the Israeli government was not responsible for Corrie's death.[15] The ruling, the Israeli justice system, and the investigation it exonerated have been criticized.[17][18][19]

[Octafish]

20. ''In Defense of a Play'' -- a letter by Harold Pinter and Others

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/bloom/18

[AAO]

21. One of the saddest days I've had outside of a family member dying. And I still have anger.

[polly7]

22. It really was. I still feel sick thinking of that day.

The comments towards her and the others on a crime board I posted on at the time, I'll never understand. I honestly didn't realize people who'd seemed so normal could be that cruel.

[Alameda]

23. I can't believe it's already 10 years!

May her sweet soul rest in peace.

[napoleon_in_rags]

24. Man, this thread is hitting me.

Last edited Sun Mar 17, 2013, 02:05 PM - Edit history (1)

My partner had a car break down here in town, and got picked up hitch-hiking by her parents. She told me about the conversation: How even with all they went through, with all they saw, how dedicated to peace they were.

What strikes me is the timelessness of her. I was overwhelmed by a feeling when that happened, and now 10 years later that feeling is still there.

I remembered conservatives posting (photoshopped) pictures after the event of her face in a urinal, I remember meeting with business tards, them talking about how dumb she was to stand in front of a bulldozer... Me being a coward trying to inject some reason rather than speak out totally for what I felt. But 10 years later, those messages have vanished into the spam-shit pile of adjustable rate mortgages, cheap sex, Fox News, and the personal infallibility of George W Bush, and I wish I had said more. Yet regardless of any of the PR nonsense, her message shines on. It shines on in a way that I, now older and more cynical, realise is going to last a long, long, time. Much longer in fact that any of these cheap PR perception managements will. There are people that will really not like what I'm about to say, but I believe it is indeed a fact: In a small way, she now belongs to the ages. And that's a lot more than what 99.999% of people will accomplish with their lives.

Peace
Nir

[DreamGypsy]

26. And we, in the United States, should remember Nan Freeman ... Morning Glory ...

http://www.wusf.usf.edu/news/2012/01/26/how_one_teenage_student_in_fla._became_the_first_martyr_of_cesar_chavez_farm_workers

Forty years ago this week, a teenage freshmen at New College of Florida became the first of five martyrs of Cesar Chavez’ United Farm Workers.
...

One is Nan Freeman, an 18-year-old who was killed while picketing at a sugar mill in Palm Beach County.

At school, people called her "Morning Glory,” because they liked to say she made their mornings glorious.
...

On January 25, 1972 Nan Freeman was picketing with farm workers at the Talisman Sugar Plant in Belle Glade, the southern shore of Lake Okeechobee.
...

At 3:15 in the morning, a strike-breaker who may or may not have had experience driving the 70,000 pound trucks hauling sugar cane hit and killed Nan, while turning into the sugar mill.
...

The movement's leader, Cesar Chavez, wrote a eulogy for Freeman.
...

“Dear Mrs. & Mrs. Freeman, we are gathered here at our headquarters at La Paz to honor your daughter Nan, who lost her life while serving farm workers. There are no words to say what we have in our hearts. We would lighten your pain if we could. We can only express our solidarity and promise to remember Nan's immeasurable gift and to work harder to make our farm workers movement worthy of her love and her sacrifice."

la lucha continua no terminara facilmente

[Union Scribe]

32. +1

[midnight]

35. Imagine equal rights causes this much destruction in a country that brags about freedom...

[Fantastic Anarchist]

28. She's truly a hero ...

I wish everyone of us had her integrity.

I remember when that happened. The fuckstain still is on the job.

Pitiful ...

[liberal_at_heart]

31. she was very courageous

[midnight]

34. K&R

[ReRe]

36. K&R

I will never forget the day and the cruelty. A Guardian Angel crushed to death.

RIP, Sweet Rachel.

[countryjake]

37. Peace

Michael Heart's song always makes me cry, but that is an especially moving version of it. And knowing what Ms. Corrie stood for.

Ten long years...

[mountain grammy]

39. I'll always mourn the loss of Rachel Corrie, and so many like her who sacrificed

their lives defending the defenseless. Like the song says "this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you." We can only hope to have a fraction of their courage.

[otohara]

42. Earth Angel

[stranger81]

46. K&R (n/t)

[countryjake]

47. Rachel Corrie's letters home, written shortly before she was killed...

published by The Guardian, on Monday 17 March 2003:


Rachel's War

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/mar/18/usa.israel