Posted by Justin Jeffre

In the US of Amnesia most people don’t understand our world because they don’t know much about history. When Americans ask ‘why do they hate us’ in regards to anti-American sentiment around the world, it’s important that people know it’s not because of our ever decreasing “freedoms”, it’s because of our Imperial foreign policy. Here’s an article from the BBC that gives some background. 

Unfortunately, other than Jimmy Carter-and a few dissidents you won’t hear from in the corporate media-there is no discussion or questioning of our relationship with Israel (which includes billions of dollars a year in military aid). President Carter has been making waves lately by talking to Hamas and with his book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid”.

Some leading intellectuals like Noam Chomsky and Norman Finkelstein give some interesting perspective on the issue which plays a critical role in our foreign policy in the Middle East, but this is a debate you never really hear in the US. Part of the reason is because of the biased coverage from the so called “liberal” media. Another reason is the powerful pro-Israeli lobby, AIPAC.

The six day Arab-Israeli War in 1967 reshaped the Middle East and the Palestinians living in Gaza and the West Bank have lived under Israeli military occupation ever since. US support for this occupation, the backing of dicatorships and coups throughout the region, the sanctions and current occupation in Iraq all have inflamed anti-American sentiment.

One of the most disappointing reasons that we don’t hear any real discussion on this issue is because there is no debate in the electoral process. The major corporate-party candidates protectively imitate each other and take important issues off of the table.

(Barrack Obama reversed his pro-Palestinian position. And more Independent candidates like Ron Paul, Dennis Kucinich and Ralph Nader are often shut out of the televised debates and marginalized by the corporate controlled media.)

Democracy is about debate and healthy competition. Our country could use at lot more of both, especially when you consider that 80% of Americans aren’t happy with the direction of our country.

It’s important to remember that the most important part of the electoral process is to have a deep discussion about the direction of our country and its role in the world. So while it’s OK to support or not support whatever candidates you choose, we should never try to stifle debate and prevent others from speaking or exercising their rights by running for office. This issue alone is why our country needs more voices and more choices. We need a debate from A to Z instead of just A to B when it comes to US foreign policy and our role as the world’s only superpower.

Thank you for reading (and printing from) The Cincinnati Beacon.