| Yesterday, the parents of U.S. peace activist Rachel Corrie, who was murdered in Gaza by an Israeli bulldozer while protecting the demolition of a Palestinian home, marked the fifth anniversary of her death Thursday by dedicating a small West Bank memorial in her honor: Allen L Roland
On March 16, 2003 ~ An e-mailed report from the Palestine Monitor stated:
"Rachel Corey [sic], 23 years old from the state of Washington, was killed while she was trying to prevent Israeli army bulldozers from destroying a Palestinian home. Other foreigners who were with her said the driver of the bulldozer was aware that Rachel was there, and continued to destroy the house. Initially he dropped sand and other heavy debris on her, then the bulldozer pushed her to the ground where it proceeded to drive over her, fracturing both of her arms, legs and skull. She was transferred to hospital, where she later died. Another foreigner was also injured in the attack and has been hospitalized - at this stage his nationality is unknown." (16 March 2003)
Here is the updated poem I wrote about Rachel Corrie's act of heroism in 2003 which has not been forgotten by myself or countless Americans who continue to abhor the illegal occupation and treatment of the Palestinians by Israel.
On Thursday, about 150 Palestinians and foreigners attended the memorial, gathering in a street in the West Bank city of Nablus, led by Corrie's parents, Cindy and Craig. http://tinyurl.com/2ax78k
Rachel Corrie,
We have not forgotten you
I can still see you now
Standing unarmed
feet apart
in your orange fluorescent jacket
bullhorn to your lips
making
your stand
against oppression
It was five years ago
March 16, 2003
that you stood before
that 60-ton
Caterpillar bulldozer
trying to protect
the illegal demolition
of a Palestinian
home
The Israeli soldier
and his
commander
ran over you
crushing your
body and life
beneath the
tractors
awesome
weight
Run over by a Caterpillar
bulldozer
made in the
United States
and sent to
Israel as part
of its 4 billion
dollar annual aid
package
A bulldozer
destroying civilian
homes and violating
U.S law ~ which
prohibits the use of
military aid against
civilians
Your Death ignored
by the both the
Israel Army
who
self-aquitted itself
and the Bush
Administration
which turned its
head away
in cowardice
.
After one year
neither the FBI
or any U.S.- led
team had done
anything to
investigate your
death
Yet it took only
24 hours four years ago
for the
FBI to investigate
the deaths
of three
Americans
by a
Palestinian
suicide bomber
To the U.S,
the Palestinians are
terrorists
and you seemingly
became
one yourself
by your humanitarian
act of courage
But you are not a
terrorist
Rachel Corrie
You are a hero
and an
inspiration
to
all of us
All of us who
resist the bulldozer
of lies and deception
from the Cheney / Bush Administration
and like you
are standing
feet apart
bullhorn to our lips
making our
stand
against civil
and
political oppression
Thank you
Rachel Corrie,
Your body and
life may have
been crushed
but your indomitable
spirit
lives on.
At five years old, your dream
was to make a
difference ~ and
you did.
Allen L Roland
Allen L Roland is a practicing psychotherapist, author and lecturer who also shares a daily political and social commentary on his weblog and website allenroland.com He also guest hosts a monthly national radio show TRUTHTALK on www.conscioustalk.net
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