"…Israeli rabbis solemnly debate to this very day whether Moses demand to exterminate the Amalekites is a coded commandment to do away with the Palestinians" (Christopher Hitchens)
Not prepared to weep crocodile tears, not prepared to wallow in vicious hypocrisy, instead, Galway IPSC did an eight hour slog outside Lynch's castle, Shop st, yesterday, in an attempt to wean people away from the 'aul sins of indifference and apathy towards the plight of Palestine and, instead, do something ; from boycotting Israeli Blood Diamonds, spuds, herbs, plastic garden sheds/containers sold by the Grafton Group (Atlantic Homecare/Woodie's DIY stores) to expressing their outrage to TD's, mainstream media, etc, on the obscenity of an Irish company; Cement Roadstone Holdings, profiteering from the construction of the illegal West Bank Apartheid Wall.
Unfortunately, the Zionists and fellow travellers were out in strength, subjecting us and the SWP activists manning their nearby stall to the usual Pavlovian mindless taunts and accusations of "anti-Semitism," "supporting terrorism" etc.That was the nadir, the zenith of the day was experienced when members of the public intervened to blunt their attack, milk their venom and send them on their way, crest-fallen and later on, the solidarity of noted actor, James Cromwell (L.A. Confidential, Babe, Spider-Man 3) and empathy from members of the Gay Community as they passed in their Gay Pride march.
The courtly Cromwell stopped at out stall for some 10 minutes, chatting amiably to Palestinian/Irishwoman woman, Sarah, and her brother, soaking up where we were coming from and graciously accepting our gift of the powerful, new documentary on the Palestinian/Israeli conflict; Occupation 101 - he is in Galway for the Druid Theatre's production of O'Neill's "Long Day's Journey into Night" (Town Hall Theatre Wednesday 19 – Saturday 29 September, directed by Garry Hynes).
No crocodile tears by the Gays for Palestine, only tears of empathy in a communion of suffering and discrimination long endured by both.
Actor, James Cromwell (L.A. Confidential, Babe, Spider-Man 3)