On heroes and preachers: A new Gaza resistance paradigm
By Ramzy Baroud
Ramzy Baroud is an internationally-syndicated columnist and the editor of PalestineChronicle.com.
His latest book is "My Father Was a Freedom Fighter: Gaza's Untold Story."
"Where is the Palestinian Gandhi? In Israeli prison, of course!" was the title of an article by Jo Ehrlich published in Mondoweiss.net on Dec. 21, 2009. That was almost exactly one year after Israel's concluded a major war against Gaza. The so-called Operation Cast Lead (Dec. 27, 2008 -- Jan. 18, 2009) was, till then, the deadliest Israeli attack against the impoverished strip for many years.
Ehrlich was not in the least being belittling by raising the question about the ‘Palestinian Gandhi’ but responding to the patronization of others. Right from the onset, he remarked: "Not that I'm in any way playing into the Palestinian Gandhi dialogue, I think it's actually pretty diversionary/racist. But sometimes you have to laugh in order not to cry."
Indeed, the question was and remains condescending, ignorant, patronizing and utterly racist. But the question was also pervasive, including among people who classify themselves as "pro-Palestinian activists."
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