Wednesday, June 10, 2009

The right to read

This speaks for itself, so I'm just going to let it. Be sure to go to the website to learn more details, and when you do, click on the red link to the Right To Read books wish list to help out if you possibly can.
Education is a right. Yet throughout history, societies have used access to education as a weapon of oppression. We refuse to let Israel blockade our students' thirst for knowledge. We welcome working with Free Gaza and others to break this siege against our people's greatest resource.
--Dr. Haidar Eid, professor at Al-Aqsa University
In partnership with Al-Aqsa University, the Free Gaza movement is launching its "RIGHT TO READ" campaign which will use the FG boats to deliver textbooks and other educational supplies to universities throughout the occupied Gaza Strip.

This is not a charitable endeavor. Rather it is an act of solidarity and resistance to Israel's chokehold on Gaza and attempt to deny Palestinians education. According to UNWRA, Israel's blockade prevents ink, paper and other learning materials from entering Gaza.
This is not a cause the liberal "human rights advocates" in the U.S. are rallying around, surprise, surprise. For one example, I just went to the PEN website and searched the words "Gaza" and "Palestine." Nothing.

It's up to us. Let's do what we can to uphold our Palestinian sisters' and brothers' right to read.