who invited the islamist?)( work in progress )

I really do not know what to comment on what’s going on in Gaza, with out sounding so helpless and pointlessly angry and with out repeating statements and positions that have already been said. Yes of course free Gaza, and yes of course against occupation.. Some how I feel these statements as enthusiastic they are and energetic have became null, in terms of what do they really mean.

Gaza’s siege, crises in Lebanon, occupation in Iraq, dictatorship in Syria and Jordan, the hegemony of royal tribes on the gulf region and the unbelievable climate change with in this region makes me wonder where do one began to resist. Where do we start and not become individual “activists”, but not also an activist with in a frame that the battle on structure takes over the work and with out being blinded by the myths of having common enemies and common battles.

Yesterday, I went to participate in a direct action in front of the Egyptian embassy, it was organized by some activists that have roots in both “ humanitarian aid “ of July war and Naher Al Bared crises. I have been calm and forgiving with these people because they are active and I do respect them for that. Yet my problem with them is that they do it under “romantic” political slogans, with credulity about working with Islamits - they do not want to be accused of being Islam phobic- they justify it in saying that there is a common enemy, and then they are in a common battle fighting imperialism, Arab regimes, and Zionism (occupation of Palestine). We stood facing the police that was ready for a battle, holding flyers and posters. We were few, nearly 18 person.

But then the Islamic Brotherhood showed up, and to my surprise with full gear, speakers, flags, and men with beard.. And a little, boy that was dressed as suicide bomber. That was my queue to get out of there. Not happy with religious chanting. Not happy of standing shoulder to shoulder to a group that is always trying to control. Disappointed and leaving, a friend that shared that disappointment said: “may be we are born in the worng time”. May be we are.

The same friend, who saw the demonstrators, said that some objected but it did not take out the fact that the organizer invited them.

if ever both leftist, anarchists and liberal activist that are coordinating and working so closely with islamist ever win ( because it is a battle), what would happen, would they then do a second round and see who gets second and first place ? I do not think so.

Then what, some how I do agree with this friend, that yes, this is a wrong time if I had to work with islamists that are thirsty to power and control, where this difference in ideology is undermined just because we have a common adversary that is of course imperialism and, then our list extends more, to capitalism, antagonism ect.. We want to reach different ends and that mean we can not have the same ground. If we stand against the Iranian regime, and the US government stand against it, does that mean according to “having common enemy theory” that we are with the US government at their attempt to usurp the Iranian regime. I do not think so.

This is exists also in the Lebanese politics. The enormous split that can be symbolized in imperialism represented in the 14^th of March interests. And the islamist represented in the 8^th of march approach, I would not assume that the 8^th of march have an islamist interest, because the coalition that forms the 8^th of march is made of diverse political power that they market as a representation of a national interest. Then, it is made of political powers that are not islamist (Free patriotic movement, and Marada Current, Amal movement etc.) together with Hezbollah. This is a the same maneuver, having common enemies and believing in transient coalitions. That has never led anywhere, not in Egypt, not in Iran.

Why do we always assume that islamists are national or want to work for nationalist interests, is it because they overly accuse the other all the time in the lack of having national loyalties. Or is it because the US war on terrorism, was cleverly used by islamits, it is a war on Islam, and who would fight on the behalf of Islam then Islamists them selves. It is a tricky business to know how to separate between battles and ends.