Segacs’s World I Know

I couldn’t have parodied it any worse than it actually was: Kofi Annan’s statement at the “offical” word of Arafat’s death:

“The Secretary-General was deeply moved to learn of the death of President Yasser Arafat. President Arafat was one of those few leaders who could be instantly recognized by people in any walk of life all around the world. For nearly four decades, he expressed and symbolized in his person the national aspirations of the Palestinian people,” spokesman Fred Eckhard said in a statement on Annan’s behalf.

The spokesman said Arafat would be remembered for leading the Palestinians in a “giant step” toward peace in signing the Oslo accords in 1993 and, “It is tragic that he did not live to see it fulfilled.”

“Now that he has gone, both Israelis and Palestinians, and the friends of both peoples throughout the world, must make even greater efforts to bring about the peaceful realization of the Palestinian right of self-determination,” the statement said.

The emphasis, of course, is mine.

I don’t know why it bothers me so much. Annan heads the United Nations, which in the past few decades has engaged in full-time Israel-bashing. Since 1947’s partition plan, the UN has done nothing for Israel but fight to try and destroy it – from passing hundreds of one-sided resolutions to refusing to recognize even basic Israeli rights to live or exist. The UN gave Arafat his legitimacy. The UN – through its corrupt agency, UNRWA, perpetuated the Palestinian refugee problem. The UN did everything possible to encourage Palestinian terorrism and give legitimacy to the PLO’s methods. The UN is the enemy here, not a neutral observer. What else could I have expected from Annan?

Today is Remembrance Day. Let us pause and remember those who fought and died to protect our country, our freedoms and our way of life. They didn’t even know us and yet they made the ultimate sacrifice for us.

Thank you.

I will not shed any tears for Arafat. He was a murderer, an innovator of nothing but terrorism, and a failure in his supposed “causes”. I’m sickened by how the world has accorded him status of a “national leader” when he’s really nothing more than a thug.

But I refuse to rejoice at the news of his death. I won’t cry but I won’t dance for joy either.

Of course, there’s a practical reason. Arafat’s death likely means civil war for the Palestinians. As the various factions fracture and try to outdo each other, I fear more Israeli deaths amidst the chaos – both of Zahal soldiers and of civilians. There is no reason to rejoice even the prospect of this.

But beyond that, I find it gruesome and morally reprehensible to rejoice at the death of anyone, even an enemy. Maybe even especially an enemy. That’s what gives us our humanity. That’s what gives us our respect for life and our love of life and our unwavering commitment to celebrating life, not death.

Arafat embraced death. He wanted to die a “martyr”. He sent scores of Palestinians out to murder Israelis with bombs strapped to their chests. In his arithmetic, every Israeli death was a Palestinian victory and every Palestinian death was a Palestinian victory.

When I see footage of Palestinians dancing in the streets after 9/11 or after a suicide bombing against Israelis, it makes my stomach turn. When I hear firing of guns in the air and cries of revenge at every funeral for a “martyr”, it makes me realize that there are those who view loving life as Israel’s weakness.

It’s not a weakness. It’s a strength. And that is why I will not share in the sentiment that is being expressed in some circles of happiness at the news of Arafat’s death.

But Israelis do not dance and rejoice at death. They dance and rejoice at life. They love life. They embrace life, living it to its fullest and then some. It’s a marked difference that’s obvious to even the casual observer.

I’m not sorry Arafat’s dead. But I refuse to celebrate death in even the smallest way. I prefer to celebrate life.

Update: In case you’re wondering, I don’t view participation in Meryl’s call to donate $25 to Magen David Adom as a celebration of death. To me, that’s the ultimate way to affirm the protection of life in the face of news of the death of a terrorist. If Arafat caused so many thousands of people to need ambulances, it is the support of people who care that will provide the ambulances to help them. Personally, I can’t think of anything more fitting.

Arafat is dead… and the fat lady is singing a song that probably resembles the theme song of “The Apprentice” – you know, “Money money money money, MONEY”

Update: Watching CTV‘s pre-prepared obituary on the 11 o’ clock news. I think I need an aspirin cause the whitewashing is giving me a headache. For some perspective, see the Canadian Jewish News‘s retrospective of the terrorist’s life of failures.

Update #2: CNN has it now. So does Reuters, BBC, Ha’aretz, and Associated Press. Prepare for more sickeningly whitewashed obits.

Update #3: The Suha Arafat soap opera plot sickens. Allison has reports of bribes offered to her to agree to pull the plug on her husband, and the supposed affair that she’s been having with her financial advisor. Israel Insider reports that her boyfriend, Pierre Rizk, was directly implicated in the massacre at the Sabra and Shatilla refugee camps in Lebanon in 1982. You know, the one that Ariel Sharon gets constantly blamed for, even though it was actually carried out by Maronite Phalangists – apparently including Rizk. Something tells me that the details are just starting to emerge on this one.

Here’s Lynn on speculation that Arafat’s death will bring an immediate opportunity for peace:

There seems to be a broad assumption among the pundits these days that the (acknowledged) passing of Arafat will open the door for peace.

[ . . . ]

Allow me to rain heavily on this parade. The poison that Arafat has implanted, at the behest and with the able assistance of every Arab government in the Middle East, will not dissipate with his last artificially induced breath. It’ll linger on for a long, long time. In fact, I’d say that one significance of the passing of Arafat may well be this: that when and only when his memory becomes a curse among his own people, when the palestinians cringe at hearing his name, when they spit on whatever grave he ends up in — only then will that door to peace begin to come ajar.

Imagine, just for a moment, a Germany in which Hitler remained a universal symbol of pride and honor after WWII. Would the Allies have been able to fashion a sustainable peace with such a Germany?

Yasser Arafat is really, truly dead now… or maybe not… or maybe yes:

Palestinians senior sources in Paris report Yasser Arafat is dead. Palestinian leader is said to have expired minutes after Palestinian PM Qureia visited him at Percy hospital in Paris.

Latest word is that Arafat will be buried in Ramallah. Palestinian delegation will fly home Tuesday night after reaching agreement with Suha Arafat’s lawyers. News conference cancelled.

Or then again, maybe not:

A Percy Hospital spokesman has refuted reports that Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat had died. The statement was made after a flurry of rumors began circulating about his death, which were then denied by Palestinian officials.

You know, this whole thing has caused an additional state of existence to come into creation. Before, there were two: dead or alive. Now there are three: dead, alive, or Arafat.

Speaking of Six Feet Under, the Arafat story keeps getting weirder and weirder. PA leaders are visiting the comatose leader, and speculation is they’ll pull the plug tomorrow or Wednesday. Meanwhile, Suha Arafat is lashing out at her husband’s cronies, accusing them of “trying to bury [Arafat] alive”. Could this be just a simple case of a heartbroken spouse unwilling to let go? Doubtful. A power struggle is a more likely explaination, and there’s widespread speculation that the roots are financial in nature. Arafat is not yet cold in his grave (which will probably be in Gaza) but the vultures are certainly circling.

The upcoming season will be the last for Six Feet Under, one of the few remaining quality shows on TV. Of course, it’s on HBO, which the CRTC has deemed too dangerous for our sensitive Canadian eyes. Still, I grew addicted when I had satellite and I’ll miss it.

It’s nice to see a show ending on a high note, rather than staying on too long and sinking into mediocrity.

After reversing its decision to allow Ehud Barak to speak on campus, Concordia is now trying to claim that they didn’t really change their minds:

Nov. 5, 2004 — Media coverage of a statement issued by Federation CJA yesterday may have caused misunderstanding about Concordia’s position regarding inviting Ehud Barak to speak at Concordia. Concordia’s position has not changed and the university’s primary concern remains the safety and security of our students, faculty, staff and our guests.

As Dr. Lowy outlined in his update to the community of Oct. 25 and subsequent opinion page pieces in the Toronto Star, The Gazette and Le Devoir:

“Concordia is presently reviewing its physical plant and general environment. Changes recommended by experts will be considered so that all speakers can then be welcomed on campus. And this will be done in a timely fashion with an eye towards implementing the necessary changes this academic year. Until then, we will continue to hold off campus under Concordia auspices any event considered not secure in our present facilities. Freedom of expression will continue to be supported as it always has been at Concordia.”

This has been Concordia’s position and remains Concordia’s position.

The university is examining possible locations from a security viewpoint with the intent of making the necessary modifications so an event of this kind can be held with the proper level of security, dignity and respect that such a visit demands.

In the light of the work that remains to be done, this will certainly not be possible in this calendar year. The university will try to make this possible before the end of the academic year.

This is spin 101: try to please everybody and offend nobody by saying contradictory things in the same statement.

The fact is, Concordia initially said no to the Barak speech, citing security concerns. Now they’re saying they hope they can host him in the current academic year on campus. Whether they admit it or not, that’s a reversal. And the right thing to do. But I wish they weren’t so cowardly about admitting it.