by Diane V. McLoughlin, Mar. 29, 2010
main website: http://www.mcloughlinpost.com
Re: NYT's 'Moscow Attack a Test for Putin and His Record Against Terror';
Clifford J. Levy, Mar. 29, 2010
Scanning several pages of comments, along with the comments chosen to be highlighted by the editor, I am completely dismayed. Not one writer has taken the time to even quickly consult an encyclopedia to familiarize themselves with the history of Chechnya to ascertain for themselves whether or not the people of Chechnya are, or have ever been oppressed.
And, of course, the answer is that the history of Chechnya is rife with oppression and wars waged against them to gain control of the region, the people and their - what? Three guesses, you know the answer - their natural resources.
These people have SUFFERED and they continue to suffer. In the Second World War the ENTIRE population - I mean it boggles the mind - was forced out of their homes and shipped to Siberia by Stalin. A quarter of the population of Chechnya was destroyed.
Chechnya has always been ethnically distinct and it has always wanted independent autonomy to what? To be left the hell alone. Russia says no.
Why does Russia say no? Why have there been two wars by the giant bear Russia against the nothing-sized Chechnya? Two main reasons: Other regions might get it in their heads that maybe they could gain their independence, too - remember celebrating a little something called Independence Day? What for?
The second reason is that Russia does not want to relinquish control over Chechnya because, according to Wikipedia, Chechnya is a 'major hub in the oil infrastructure of the Federation'.
From all of the major human rights organizations we find that life for Chechnyans under Russian control is abhorrent. It is brutal. It is pitiless.
Now, it is time for Americans to wake up. Particularly after 9/11, Americans somehow decreed to themselves that the tough task of parsing out the causes and the effects of conflict was off the table. Any and all attacks on established powers was thrown under the rubric of 'terrorism' - but not, importantly, including the causes and effects of state terrorism, because that would bring the discussion uncomfortably close to having to examine what we have been doing to others ourselves; thus, leaving yourselves foundering around in the darkness of ignorance, fear, and with absolutely no effective means of making anything more just or right in this messed up world.
Remember the 'w's + 1/h' of reporting?: Who, what, where, when, how and why.
Ask yourselves, when was the last time that you found any major news publication in the entire U.S. including in their journalist reports - answers to the question,'why?'
Comment No. 268 Recommend/thumbs up at NYT
(*A note: The overwhelming majority of the hundreds of comments following the NYT article regarding yesterday's bombing of the Moscow subway support Russia. Early reports suggest it was committed by two 'Black Widow' Chechnyan women who blew up themselves and tens of Moscow civilians. They negate any possible motive, however misguided, the women may have had. The term 'black widow' to describe such violent actors refers to the suggestion that they are widows whose husbands were killed by the Russians or their proxies.)
Way back in 1965 I got introduced by my father-in-law who ran a pharmacy in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, to the eldest son of the Leader of the Chechen Rebellion during the first half of the 20th Century, the one which resulted in the punishment meted out to them by Stalin, as reported in this op-ed piece. He resembled Moses in Hollywood's, "Ten Commandments". He had been given 'refugee status' and right of residence in the City of Prophet Mohammed. His voice was soothing and I soon found myself meeting with this noble personality at the pharmacy. He knew little English and little Arabic which he was learning at the Islamic University in Madinah. His descriptions of the atrocities committed by the Russians and the story of his miraculous escape from Chechenya, defying the Soviet Army and Border Guards, are still fresh in my memory. A few decades later, the Chechens rose up in arms to achieve 'real independence from Russian Federation. The stories of fresh Russian terror and atrocities began to seep out. It was then that I could conjure what exactly such terror and atrocities meant. They had already been described to me 1965-1996 in all its gorish details. Just like when the powers-that-be had not moved a finger against the Nazis during 1933 to 1941, the same powers-that-be have been silent on Chechenya from 1935 to 2010. What does it require to make them move? I am asking. I have no answers!
ReplyDeleteHi, moderator of the site here. In case the commenter checks and wonders why his comment isn't here, I wish I knew. I vetted it and published it but it isn't showing up for some reason. Sorry about that. Happened with another post too. Will try to figure out the problem. Thanks for leaving a comment (or trying to.)
ReplyDeleteDiane
Salamah wrote (and Blogger did not post it successfully so I have taken the liberty to paste it in):
ReplyDeleteWay back in 1965 I got introduced by my father-in-law who ran a pharmacy in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, to the eldest son of the Leader of the Chechen Rebellion during the first half of the 20th Century, the one which resulted in the punishment meted out to them by Stalin, as reported in this op-ed piece. He resembled Moses in Hollywood's, "Ten Commandments". He had been given 'refugee status' and right of residence in the City of Prophet Mohammed. His voice was soothing and I soon found myself meeting with this noble personality at the pharmacy. He knew little English and little Arabic which he was learning at the Islamic University in Madinah. His descriptions of the atrocities committed by the Russians and the story of his miraculous escape from Chechenya, defying the Soviet Army and Border Guards, are still fresh in my memory. A few decades later, the Chechens rose up in arms to achieve 'real independence from Russian Federation. The stories of fresh Russian terror and atrocities began to seep out. It was then that I could conjure what exactly such terror and atrocities meant. They had already been described to me 1965-1996 in all its gorish details. Just like when the powers-that-be had not moved a finger against the Nazis during 1933 to 1941, the same powers-that-be have been silent on Chechenya from 1935 to 2010. What does it require to make them move? I am asking. I have no answers!