Israel's Kent State Moment

I was a wee bit too young to really understand the significance of Kent State. Years later, being coached in debate by mentors who were present during the crisis, I developed an awareness of how that moment crystallized a national conscience concerning the Vietnam War, and the place of public protest on Universities throughout the United States. In a civilized nation, one of the hallmarks of our freedom is the ability to protest: to speak out against tyranny without fear of persecution. Until Kent State. Until the day National Guardsmen opened fire on student protesters, and we reeled at the sight of a girl mourning a fallen classmate.

Today was Israel's Kent State moment. Today was the day that the world reeled from the violence, the brutality, the mad dog determination of the State of Israel to suppress opposition to its policies. Today was the day that an overwhelming force met a small and yielding object and overwhelmed the physical resistance, but unleashed a metaphysical backlash. Today is Israel's Kent State: when the world looks on in horror and anguish at needless, senseless brutality.

Today - the world changed.

This post is dedicated to those who died today at the hands of Israel's piracy, and to the lives who will be saved because the world now sees Israel for the "lunatic state" it is.