In a recent opinion editorial published by The Daily Signal, Elizabeth Gillanders, an American of Palestinian heritage, expressed her dismay at the sight of the defaced Columbus Memorial Fountain and the aftermath of the July 24 "pro-Palestinian" protests in Washington, D.C.
The protests were organized in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to a joint meeting of Congress.
Gillanders wrote, "Vandals had defaced the Columbus Memorial Fountain with spray paint, writing the words 'Hamas is coming' in big red letters." She also noted the discarded signs, trash, and a burnt shopping cart left behind by the protesters. Most distressing to her was the sight of three bare flag poles, stripped of their American flags, which had been burned by the protesters.
Despite her Palestinian heritage, Gillanders does not align herself with the protesters. She wrote, "As an American of Palestinian heritage, some expect me to cheer on these people. They expect me to condemn the U.S., hate Israel, and support Hamas, a terrorist organization dedicated to wiping out the Jewish state. But these expectations dont represent me, nor my family."
Gillanders' family emigrated from the Middle East to America, where they found prosperity. Her grandparents taught her to appreciate the opportunities America provided, a lesson she carries with her today. She wrote, "America brought my family prosperity. My grandparents taught my mother to 'kiss the ground you walk on' because they knew what a blessing America is."
She criticized the protesters for their support of Hamas, a group she described as a terrorist organization that operates with a strategy of human sacrifice. She pointed out that Hamas violates the Geneva Conventions by hiding behind their own people, dressing like noncombatants, and using hospitals and ambulances for military operations.
Gillanders contrasted this with the actions of the Israel Defense Forces, who she said have given civilians in Gaza opportunities to evacuate and warned of impending attacks. She wrote, "No other nation goes this far to protect enemy civilians."
She concluded her piece by challenging the notion that all Arabs share the same viewpoint on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She wrote, "I believe its important to point out that, contrary to popular belief, not all Arabs think the same. Some of us do see this conflict differently. And our thoughts and beliefs should not be snuffed out because they go against the 'narrative.'"
Login