The tragic events in Gaza Strip echoed in the soccer fields in Ghana, which hosts the 2008 African Cup of Nations tournament, when Egyptian player Mohamed Aboutrika wore a tee shirt reading “sympathize with Gaza” in arabic and English. Aboutrika flashed the shirt after he scored his first goal in veiw of cameras and millions of spectators throughout the world which prompted the referee to slap him with yellow warning card for violating the FIFA rules which prohibit religious and political slogans during the games, although this phrase is more humanitarian than political.
Shawqi Gharib, the assistant coach of the Egyptian soccer team said that the organizing committee informed all teams that they shouldn”t wear any shirts bearing any political slogans.
I understand the whole thing about keeping sports away from ‘politics’ and sports being a way to bring people together rather than keep them apart. However, I cannot understand how Abu Trieka’s simple gesture in support of Gazzans who are under an inhumane seige and unbearable conditions, how that is considered a political action. His shirt didn’t refer to any political party…it didn’t even mention Palestine (for those people who don’t believe it exists!!!). It was just a very simple act of solidarity with fellow human beings.
Plus, what is happening in Gaza (especially before the ‘prison break’) is so extreme in nature, that I think it deserves not just the attention of the whole world but their action as well. Life cannot, should not, go on as normal.
I’ve said this many times but I’ll say it once again. I do not mean to belittle any other nation’s suffering by focusing on the plight of Palestinians. A tragedy is a tradegy no matter how many people involved. However, I really do feel the Palestinian cause deserves international attention and recognition because it is that of an occupied people living under cruel conditions who are made to look like savages while their oppressor is supported and rewarded by the ‘civilized’ world.
Blog reader said
You can wonder why hollywood actors wouldnt want to touch palestine with a barge pole, not that they too might run into sponsership trouble- think they’ll just stick to africa, oh no wait they just discovered Sudan.
Blog reader said
I guess there is angelina jolie who’s already been labeled as a ‘terrorist sympathizer’, anti- semitic by the idiots
thisdevilsworkday said
Excuse my western ignorance, but who is that refuses to recognise Palestine and why? I know I could research it myself but then what would the point of blogs be?
Thanks for commenting at my site too, I think I’m going to like reading your blog.
http://thisdevilsworkday.wordpress.com/
inpursuitofjustice said
Thanks for stopping by!
The short answer to your question: Israel and the US.
I am not sure how much you know about the conflict in Palestine, but you might want to start here:
http://qumsiyeh.org/palestine101/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV_T551jw88
The links on the sidebar of this blog have a lot more info and article on the issue also, but the above two provide an overview of the conflict as well as on the misconception/lies propogated by the mainstream western media.
Feel free to come back with more questions!
Januarius123 said
Today I read that Israel made google remove the picture of abu trika. It is so sickening to see US and Israeli can oppress anythingc people, government, world organization, and media.
inpursuitofjustice said
Really? Interesting? Where did you read that? Can they do that?
kimo said
try searching in google images and you will see
inpursuitofjustice said
Apparently, this is a ‘myth’:
http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/debunking-a-misconception-plus-a-reminder-of-how-search-engines-work/
Amanda said
Hi, I thought I’d pass along a link, especially for my fellow Americans who believe the nonsense our government supplies them with about Israel and Palestine. I’m not sure where you can find the whole video at but watch some of the segments if you get the time. http://www.occupation101.com It’s a very eye opening and thought provoking documentary on the truth of what the Palestinians face.
Amanda said
And I’m a goon. Just opened up one of the links from above and it appears the whole documentary is posted. Thanks now I know where to find it again.
inpursuitofjustice said
No problem Amanda, thanks for stopping by!
Anonymous said
http://www.myspace.com/palestine
Sunni Sunni said
Because America armed and trained israel and not to mention all of the rich jews involved in US politics and business. The truth is it is simply a shirt calling for peace.