The Point

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Couching

Mohawk protesters staging blockade north of Deseronto, Ontario on April 20th.

Here's a thing: I've noticed, and maybe you've noticed too, that almost every time Tibet is talked about in the Western media, the word "peaceful" is thrown in there. A peaceful people. A peaceful kingdom. (In Chinese news, well, you'd hear about the "peaceful liberation" of the Beijing government's invasion in the 1950's, but that's another thing altogether.)

Now consider how rarely the word "occupation" comes up when the West Bank and Gaza are mentioned. And consider that Palestinian people, the consensus in the news here seems to be, are unwilling or unable to negotiate "peacefully" for their freedom. Is there a connection between the commitment to "peacefulness" we see in a people and the legitimacy we ascribe to their claims of oppression by the Israeli government?

Tyendenaga Mohawk activist and general shit-disturber Shawn Brant has been arrested here in Ontario again, CBC reports, for "charges of assault with a weapon, mischief under $5,000, breach of recognizance and possession of marijuana." He was helping erect a blockade in Deseronto to protest a developer's plans to build condos on the site using materials from a quarry on disputed land. I saw him speak at Trent this semester, and it made me wonder.

Why do we put candles in our window in solidarity for people we've framed as "peaceful" and scoff at the oppression of people whose fight for freedom has included people blowing up buses or shutting down railway lines? Does their choice of methods of resistance make their oppressors any more right?

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posted by Christopher at 6:04 p.m.

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