People go on quite a bit about self-determination these days. Some decry the denial of self-determination to “the Palestinians.” Others insist that only “the Jewish people” can have the right to self-determination between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. Israel passed a law declaring that principle in 2018.
Unfortunately, I see too little thought behind the term self-determination. What is it? What self are we talking about? What is determination?
Originally appeared at TomDispatch.
Once upon a time, in another era, maybe even another universe, the head of a university refused to call on the police, the National Guard, or even federal troops in the face of student and other protests. Instead, he opened the doors of his school to the demonstrators.
I’m thinking of Kingman Brewster, who was the president of Yale University on May 1, 1970, as peaceful protests over racial justice and against the Vietnam War were taking place in New Haven, Connecticut. It was just days before, thanks to the killing of four demonstrators by the Ohio National Guard at Kent State University, anti-Vietnam War protests would — rather like the present Gaza ones — spread across hundreds of college campuses nationwide. Yale avoided the worst of it, when Brewster, among other things, said: “I am skeptical of the ability of Black revolutionaries to receive a fair trial anywhere in the United States. In large part, the atmosphere has been created by police actions and prosecutions against Panthers in many parts of the country. It is also one more inheritance from centuries of racial oppression.” I’m sure you won’t be surprised to learn that Republican Vice President Spiro Agnew promptly and publicly called for Brewster’s ouster, while the students united behind him.
On COI #591, Kyle Anzalone and Connor Freeman discuss the Israeli onslaught in Gaza.
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The Merchants of Death War Crimes Tribunal is holding accountable – through video testimony of witnesses – U.S. weapons manufacturers who produce and sell products which attack and kill not only combatants but non-combatants as well. Each week the Tribunal issues a new video segment offering evidence of guilt for the commission of War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity.
In this video episode, the Tribunal interviews author, expert, and managing editor of Covert Action Magazine Jeremy Kuzmarov to discuss warmongering and influence peddling by U.S. weapons manufacturers. This fascinating discussion delves into the inner workings of the Military Industrial Complex and its fomenting of Endless Wars.
On today’s Ron Paul Liberty Report:
As the Israeli military moves into Rafah, the former “safe haven” for displaced Palestinians from elsewhere in Gaza, against the expressed wishes of the Biden Administration, a new poll shows how much Biden’s Israel policy is hurting him with voters. Does he have any moves? Also today: WHO “pandemic treaty” rears its ugly head. Can these authoritarians be stopped?
Reprinted from The Ron Paul Institute for Peace & Prosperity.
On COI #590, Kyle Anzalone breaks down the latest news from the war in Gaza.
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