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Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
Cynthia McKinney Blocked From Leaving the US
FROM: CYNTHIA MCKINNEY
Today, November 23rd, I was slated to give remarks in Damascus, Syria at
a Conference being held to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and, sadly, the 60th year that the
Palestinian people have been denied their Right of Return enshrined in
that Universal Declaration. But a funny thing happened to me while at
the Atlanta airport on my way to the Conference: I was not allowed to
exit the country.
I do believe that it was just a misunderstanding. But the insecurity
experienced on a daily basis by innocent Palestinians is not. Innocent
Palestinians are trapped in a violent, stateless twilight zone imposed on
them by an international order that favors a country reported to have
completed its nuclear triad as many as eight years ago, although Israel
has remained ambiguous on the subject. President Jimmy Carter informed
us that Israel had as many as 150 nuclear weapons, and Israel’s allies
are among the most militarily sophisticated on the planet. Military
engagement, then, is untenable. Therefore the exigency of diplomacy and
international law.
The Palestinians should at least be able to count on the protections of
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. What is happening to
Palestinians in Gaza right now, subjected to an Israeli-imposed blockade,
has drawn the attention of the United Nations Secretary General, Ban
Ki-moon, who noted that over half of the civilians in Gaza are children.
Even The Los Angeles Times criticized Israel’s lockdown of Gaza that is
keeping food, fuel, and medicine from civilians. Even so, Israel stood
fast by its decision to seal Gaza’s openings. But where are the voices
of concern coming from the corridors of power inside the United States?
Is the subject of Palestinian human rights taboo inside the United States
Government and its government-to-be? I hope not. Following is the
speech I would have given today had I been able to attend the Damascus
Conference.
