Mustapha ABAJI - AlJazeeraTalk - Morocco
 On the black day of March, 16, 2003, Rachel Corrie, a 23years-old peace activist which was volunteering with the International Solidarity Movement (I.SM) in Gaza strip. The civilised world was shocked by the brutality of savage the Israeli occupation soldiers. Ironically, Rachel Corrie was crushed by a caterpillar D9 armoured bulldozer paid for by the US government as part of its annual financial aid to Israel (2.55 billion Dollars as a military assistance per year)
At that time, the Israeli army realised, but too late, that it committed a serious mistake. That is to say, the whole American naive public opinion that was wholly manipulated by the US mainstream media would be now out of its lethargy. From that miserable day on, every single American tax payer would become aware of something called “the Israeli Occupation” of “ the Land of Ben laden ”
For certain ordinary Americans, this notorious “why those Arabians hate us ” would be no longer a tough answer to reply.
 In the eyes of the Palestinians, Rachel Corrie has been a martyr for their own just cause. Palestinians would never forget about this passionate, life-loving girl who was regarded as one of them. « She was a funny girl, who used to love eating Falafel and chatting with Palestinians » recalled Dr. Samir, with a tone fulled of bitterness.
Interestingly enough, for the Palestinians Rachel was not a saint. But she was a femal Jesus walking in their olive farms and ultimately her blessed blood was an new breath to the survival of their Intifada.
However, in the eyes of her assassinator, Rachel was fatal technical error in their war strategy, with the hope that international community would turn a blind eye on it at will. Seemingly, Israelis were mistaking. The white American blood is not like of those Arab Gentiles, for the US community was very upset. Rachel’s death was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Accordingly, gone is the myth of Israel’s legitimate right of self defence. Uncle Sam found it difficult to believe that a good maritan constituted a threat to the security of the Jewish state.
From Rachel Corrie’s early childhood, she dreamt to set off the injustice and starvation disseminating across the globe. Therefore, what are the factors that contributed to the formation of such an idealistic personality?
Rachel was raised in a middle class, liberal background. Following her trip to Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union. She decided to be an artist or a writer. Rachel Corrie mentioned five who are dead that she wished to have met: Salvador Dali, Carl Jung, M.Lhuter king, John Kennedy ad Empess Josephine. She also mentioned five people she would like to hang out with in eternity: E.E.Cumming, R.Like, Jesus, Gertrude Stein and Zelda Fitzgerald.
Since the first death anniversary of Corrie, she became and emblem of anti-war movement and emancipation. She inspires many artists and writers in the west. The British actor Alan Rickman directed a play composed from Corrie’s journals, letters and email http(www.rachelswords.org/rachels-emails/)while she was in Gaza. The play has toured many European and American stages. Besides, Michael Moore dedicated his 2003 book “Dudy where is my Country ” to Rachel Corrie, along with other Rock groups and singers who released numerous songs about her. Lately Rachel Corrie foundation was set up(www.rachelcorriefoundation.org) and the Evergreen university (where Rachel Corrie used to study) created Rachel Corrie Memorial Scholarship for US students to gain better understanding of the Middle East. (www.evergreen.edu/scholarships/scholarships/Corrie.htm)
Surprisingly, the Artistic and intellectual milieu in the Arab world will give a different shrug to its death anniversary, or rather it doesn’t interact positively with the event, to say the least. Why the Arab World is so ungrateful and rude?
Up to now, there in no single webpage about Rachel Corrie in Arabic. Worst of all, no award or Arab university scholarship or Foundation was created in memory of Rachel Corrie.
 The Arabs has been fed up of bearing their heads in the sand, I refer here to the ongoing 2008 Paris International Book Fair ( P.I.B.K), which celebrates this year the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Hebrew state. In all likelihood, Arabs could have made the difference if they didn’t opt for the easiest solution. i.e. boycotting the Paris Book Fair. Why the Arab intellectuals don’t try to carry out the politically marketing the 5th death anniversary of Rachel Corrie that coincides with the Paris book fair. It could be a good opportunity that should be seized for denouncing on the ground the brutality of the Israeli occupation forces. I mean through exposing biographies on Rachel Corrie’s militantancy, through collecting their journals that was written in Gaza or even through poetry books and poetic recitation praising Corrie’s heroism and courage.
Sadly, it seems that the Arab intellectuals made definitely their mind to miss their appointment with history and to give up their first cause once again. However, I am quiet sure that Arab history will recollect Rachel Corrie more than Egypt’s late president Anwar Essadat .Both persons were fighting for different causes and ironically Israel was responsible in way or an other in their murder’s cause .One was regarded as a martyr for Arab’s first cause, the other was regarded as traitor who was ready to agree with the devil at the expense of the first cause of the Arab world.
Rachel Corrie’ ex -fiancée Colin Reese said in the documentary “ Death of an Idealist ” The person that I knew had been summed up as a bullet point…Everything that Rachel was, every brilliant idea she had, every art project she did, it doesn’t matter, because she has become her death ” Reese committed suicide one year after the death of his life love ..Rachel Corrie(1979-2003).
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Yes, good people are everywhere, even among enemies, and enemies are even among us, are our brothers but our enemies too...Goodness will never fade from Earth!