Lessons from two displaced people
In reading some of the Iraqi blogs, I came across an entry on Kurdo’s World that both concerned and irritated me. Because some Kurds are upset that the repatriation into Kirkuk of Kurds has not been actively supported by the interim government (which would involve removing various other Arabs from Kirkuk), there is talk of a possible election boycott by Kurds over this. I say this to those who threaten this boycott; grow up! Until you have an elected government, such relocation decisions could be construed as arbitrary. With the thousands of casualties the U.S. took (as well as our coalition partners), I resent such whining at this point that demeans those sacrifices and only serves to encourage the terrorists and anti-democratic forces.
I personally believe repatriation should occur and- at least to some degree- will occur. But- in the unlikely case it doesn’t- I would hold up two examples that both started in the late 40s and took two completely different directions.
The first is the fate of the Palestinians. These people were wrongly displaced- as much as a Holocaust payment as anything else- and forced to live where they did not wish to. Now, nearly sixty years later, the majority of the Palestinians still live in squalor, hatred for their displacement still consuming their lives and culture. The second- which occurred at about the same time- was the fate of the Nationalist Chinese (my wife’s people). The were driven from their ancient homeland to Taiwan, carrying very little with them. While they have never given up on going home, they did not let that consume them; they got busy and built up a society and political entity that is the envy of many. Their dislike of those that forced them from their homes and their yearning to return has not diminished; they just got on with their lives despite it.
Hopefully, none of the 14,000 Kurds will have to face the decision and should do everything legal and nonviolent to come to a constructive end. However, if some do not manage to (and- because the world is NOT inherently fair, it is possible), I certainly recommend the Taiwan approach over the Palestinian any day. One send their children off to become engineers, the other straps explosives to them to blow up coffee shops and buses.
I personally believe repatriation should occur and- at least to some degree- will occur. But- in the unlikely case it doesn’t- I would hold up two examples that both started in the late 40s and took two completely different directions.
The first is the fate of the Palestinians. These people were wrongly displaced- as much as a Holocaust payment as anything else- and forced to live where they did not wish to. Now, nearly sixty years later, the majority of the Palestinians still live in squalor, hatred for their displacement still consuming their lives and culture. The second- which occurred at about the same time- was the fate of the Nationalist Chinese (my wife’s people). The were driven from their ancient homeland to Taiwan, carrying very little with them. While they have never given up on going home, they did not let that consume them; they got busy and built up a society and political entity that is the envy of many. Their dislike of those that forced them from their homes and their yearning to return has not diminished; they just got on with their lives despite it.
Hopefully, none of the 14,000 Kurds will have to face the decision and should do everything legal and nonviolent to come to a constructive end. However, if some do not manage to (and- because the world is NOT inherently fair, it is possible), I certainly recommend the Taiwan approach over the Palestinian any day. One send their children off to become engineers, the other straps explosives to them to blow up coffee shops and buses.
posted by Mike O | 1:23 AM
