Was Just Thinking

[Sabella]

1.    Left to the US and Britain and some of her friends and supporters, South Africa would still be an Apartheid State, and the African National Congress (ANC), a terrorist organization.

2.    For us Africans, Armed Struggle and Popular Resistance are/were part of our history. This was the case in places like Algeria, Zimbabwe, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Mozambique, Madagascar, and Angola.

3.    We Africans hated being colonized and subjugated and demeaned and treated as though we were/are less than humans. Why should the Palestinians tolerate what we Africans abhor?

4.    The killing in Palestine goes on -- sanctioned in the West by some of the people, governments, and institutions that frowned on the killings in Ukraine. Even the so-called mainstream media have joined in, in “celebrating” the decimation and human suffering in Palestine. The hypocrisy!

5.    When you listen to CNN and MSNBC, you'll think only innocent Israelis have been killed. The deaths, destruction, and human suffering in Palestine are almost an afterthought...not worth reporting?

6.    In any case, “Your life and my life flow into each other as wave flows into wave, and unless there is peace and joy and freedom for you, there can be no real peace or joy or freedom for me.” - Frederick Buechner

Sabella Ogbobode Abidde

[Harrow, Kenneth]

Dear sabella, et al, 

I can agree only partially with you points.

You cite the indifference from the u.s.a. And the u.k. Toward apartheid in s africa. I belonged to a liberation group on my campus that opposed apartheid—for decades. It is more truthful to acknowledge that some in the u.s. or u.k. were pro-aaparheid; some were not. I’d say, most were not. The govt positions were vaguely anti-apartheid. Your statement is more misleading than truthful.

The truth in all your statements is that colonialism was an abomination, it took several forms, like apartheid, and that israel’s position toward the palestinians redounds with much of the abuses of colonialism.

You go on to affirm the right to resist colonialism, again a right supported by many of us here in the u.s. for instance the african literature association’s position in our founding statements calls for the liberation of african people everywhere (that was forged in the 1970s, when portuguese colonialism or apartheid still existed). We had allies throughout the u.s. who supported our position. But when you make your statement about resistance, and cite israel in the present context, it is as if the actions of the palestinians were not to be criticized. We who supported liberation in africa did not call for babies to be shot. Do you? Not for civilians to be attacked, for the elderly or people in wheelchairs to be taken hostage. 

You can tell me that the israelis brought this on, that they are only getting back when they deserve. But if you state that, you condone war crimes, and people in the liberation movement did not condone war crimes.

I’ll give one example. The film that embodied the struggle in algeria was pontecorvo’s The Battle of Algiers. In one scene a woman brings a bomb to an airport lounge, plants it, and leaves. In another, a woman brings a bomb to a club where young people are dancing.

The scene at the airport shows the bomb going off and a baby being present. This was not to offer propaganda that celebrated the action, but to pose to us, supporters of the struggle, the question of the limits of action we wanted to support. Otherwise the film wouldn’t have included shots of the baby, of the young people dancing, etc.

The attacks on soldiers, or guards, on armed fighters is legitimate for a people being oppressed; the attacks on unarmed, innocent civilians is not legitimate. Not only is it a war crime, it is a moral crime that tars our resistance.

Ken

Here is the statement put out a day or two ago by the head of amnesty international:

Dear Amnesty Member,

I, like you, have been watching in horror and dread as unspeakable violence escalates in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

This weekend’s attacks began with Hamas firing rockets and sending armed groups into southern Israel. Hundreds of Israeli civilians have been killed and thousands injured since Saturday by Palestinian armed groups. The Israeli military has confirmed that Israeli civilians — including children and the elderly — as well as soldiers, have been abducted by Palestinian armed groups and taken hostage.

The Israeli military’s retaliatory attacks on Gaza have targeted civilian infrastructure and have killed hundreds of Palestinians, including children, injured thousands, and displaced many more. The Israeli government has halted the supply of electricity and is blocking food and fuel from entry into Gaza, building on an unlawful sixteen year air, land, and sea blockade.

What’s worse, I fear this crisis has only just begun. We must stay vigilant.

Let’s be clear: deliberately targeting civilians; carrying out disproportionate attacks; and indiscriminate attacks that kill or injure civilians are war crimes.

We mourn this weekend’s violence and everything that has led to it.

As human rights activists, we must urgently call on all parties to protect civilians in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories — and on the international community to urgently take action to prevent further civilian bloodshed.

When a human rights violation — any type, anywhere, and by anyone — is being committed, it is our job to hold those responsible accountable. And I am counting on each of you to stand with us as a beacon in these moments.

Our teams will continue to monitor and report on this fluid and changing situation. We will report back to you with updates on our work, as well as opportunities to take action.

Stay safe and well, 

Paul O'Brien

Executive Director

Amnesty International USA

 

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From: usaafric...@googlegroups.com <usaafric...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Sabella <sab...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2023 5:27:23 AM
To: USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafric...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Was Just Thinking

 

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[Sabella Abidde]

Dear Ken,

Greetings and thanks for your response. When I said, “Left to the US and Britain and some of her friends and supporters, South Africa would still be an Apartheid State, and the African National Congress (ANC), a terrorist organization,” frankly, I was referring to official/government policies in many western capitals.

I couldn’t have meant otherwise because I am aware – and millions of Africans at home and abroad – were/are aware of the untold number of private citizens, groups, and forward-looking institutions that devoted their convenience, time, and other resources to the movement and the struggle to free South Africa and other African countries.

Africans didn’t do it alone. We couldn’t have. In many instances, we relied on our friends, sympathizers, and kindred spirits across many campuses, religious institutions, and civil societies. And indeed, many of our friends suffered a lot for being our friends. We have not forgotten them and never will.

Now, whether the “Israelis brought this on” is NOT for me to say. No, no, no! I can only say that across the world and through many centuries, the oppressed, the violated, and the subjugated -- once they become conscious of their condition -- usually act in ways that many of us may not agree with. Many such groups act in ways many people genuinely and rightfully find awful, reprehensible, and ungodly.

Finally, my thoughts, prayers, and condolences to the friends and family of the Israelis and Palestinians who were killed in this and previous conflicts. May the United Nations Security Council find the wisdom and the political will to bring about a tenable and lasting solution to a conflict that should have been resolved several decades ago.

Again, thanks for your response.

Regards,

Sabella

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Sabella Ogbobode Abidde, PhD
Professor, Department of History and Political Science
Alabama State University, Montgomery Alabama 36104
Office Phone: 334-604-8038

Cell Phone: 334-753-4026

Book Series Editor:

Africa-East Asia International Relations | Book series home (springer.com)

African Governance, Development, and Leadership (Lexington Books)

[Harrow, Kenneth]

Beautiful response sabella

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From: usaafric...@googlegroups.com <usaafric...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Sabella Abidde <sab...@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2023 3:49:59 AM
To: usaafric...@googlegroups.com <usaafric...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Was Just Thinking

 

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[Oluwatoyin Adepoju]

Magnificent piece from Sabella.

Toyin

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[Dompere, Kofi Kissi]

THANK YOU Sabella Ogbobode Abidde
MAY THE THEATER OF LIBERTY AND JUSTICE RULE THE THEATER OF OPPRESSION AND INJUSTICE.
KOFI

-----Original Message-----
From: Dompere, Kofi Kissi <kdom...@Howard.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2023 1:11 PM
To: Dompere, Kofi Kissi <kdom...@Howard.edu>
Subject: FW: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Was Just Thinking

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From: usaafric...@googlegroups.com <usaafric...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Sabella
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 7:27 PM
To: USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafric...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Was Just Thinking

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[Sabella Abidde]

Good greetings, Kofi. Thank you so very much for your comment. I appreciate it.

Cordially,

Sabella

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