Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Philosophy Wire: Activism, dying, knowing…

_62520941_62518476_thumb[1]Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2012-08-28]: An Israeli court has ruled that the state of Israel was not at fault for the death of US activist Rachel Corrie, who was killed in the Gaza Strip by an Israeli army bulldozer in 2003. Ms Corrie's family had brought a civil claim for negligence against the Israeli ministry of defence. The judge said the 23-year-old's death was a "regrettable accident" and that the state was not responsible. She had been trying to stop Palestinian homes being pulled down in Gaza. Judge Oded Gershon, presiding at the court in the town of Haifa, said Ms Corrie had been protecting terrorists in a designated combat zone. He said the bulldozer driver had not seen her, adding the soldiers had done their utmost to keep people away from the site. "She [Corrie] did not distance herself from the area, as any thinking person would have done". Rachel Corrie's parents, Cindy and Craig, looked dejected after the verdict was read out. Friends and supporters in court offered hugs and handshakes. But nine years after their daughter was killed, they have failed in their attempt to get the Israeli army to take responsibility for Rachel's death. Speaking after the ruling, the family's lawyer was quick to say they would appeal against the decision in Israel's supreme court. For Cindy and Craig Corrie, that will prolong what must have already been an exhausting and expensive process. Their legal fight is believed to have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. They regarded their daughter as a peace activist, passionately behind the Palestinian cause and trying to protect civilians. On Tuesday, they listened to a judge tell them the activists she was working with were acting as human shields for terrorists. He ruled the state of Israel did not have to pay any damages [source: BBC News].

They go to war but without expecting that they might die.
These are the modern “activists”…

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