By Ralph Forbes
Few Americans today remember that “a date which will live in infamy” was a key slogan used by FDR to deceive Americans into marching blindly to war and death. Another infamous point in time is September 11, 2001—especially if you know the truth about it. Americans should also add March 16, 2003, to these shameful dates—the day President George W. Bush attacked Iraq and when an American-made Caterpillar bulldozer was used by the Israeli to murder a young American activist in Palestine.
On March 16, 2003, Bush and his neocon masters consummated their “cakewalk” over the bodies of innocent women and children for Israel. Meanwhile in Israel, the regime—drunk with madness because America was once again sacrificing blood and treasure for Zionist policies—was celebrating Purim by stealing more lands and bulldozing homes.
On that day, one Israeli-operated bulldozer was aiming to demolish the home of Samir Nasralla’s family, who was sharing their meager fare with a young American seeking peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Wanting to stop the injustice, wearing her bright orange fluorescent jacket, Rachel Corrie stood, atop a small hill, alone between the house and the oncoming bulldozer. She held off the demolition for three hours with nothing but her courage, a megaphone and a peaceful picket sign. Miss Corrie stared, unflinchingly into the eyes of the Israeli driver as he drove straight at her. The tiny American girl was crushed under 65 tons of armor-plated behemoth. The driver backed up over her broken body, gunned the engine, drowning out her screams of pain and then drove over Rachel again.
For the past 10 years Rachel’s parents have sought justice for her. With perverted logic, the Israeli judge excused the murderer. In the January 30 issue of AMERICAN FREE PRESS, readers were informed about their legal battle in the article titled “Parents Recount Battle with Israel: Father, mother of murdered peace activist speak out about decade-long fight for justice” by Pete Papaherakles.
Rachel was a courageous American. She did peacefully what the United States government claims it is doing with guns and bombs when it invades foreign lands. Rachel bravely stood up for the rights of people to be safe and secure in their own homes.
Ralph Forbes is a freelance writer based in Arkansas. He is also a member of AFP’s Southern Bureau. Contact him at [email protected].
