Gaza: Stay Human

by Vittorio Arrigoni

John Kennedy once gave a famous speech in West Berlin 1963. Kennedy said, ‘Two thousand years ago the proudest boast was “civis Romanus sum”. Today, in the world of freedom, the proudest boast is “Ich bin ein Berliner”.’ He added that, There are many people in the world who really don’t understand, or say they don’t, what is the great issue between the free world and the Communist world. Let them come to Berlin. There are some who say that Communism is the wave of the future. Let them come to Berlin. And there are some who say in Europe and elsewhere we can work with the Communists. Let them come to Berlin. And there are even a few who say that it is true that Communism is an evil system, but it permits us to make economic progress. Lass’ sie nach Berlin kommen. Let them come to Berlin. As suggested by Italian blogger, Milena Spigaglia, paraphrasing Kennedy that speech could be rewritten thus to address the siege of Gaza today: There are many people in the world that cannot understand, or claim they don’t understand what the deal between Palestine and Israel is. Let them come to Gaza. Some say that Israel is the force of the future. Let them come to Gaza. Others claim, in Europe and elsewhere, that we are able to cooperate with the Israelis. Let them come to Gaza. And there are even some who say that it’s true, Israel is evil, but it allows for economic progress. Let them come to Gaza.