What I learned about living in an occupied territory

Published on January 30, 2009 By Leauki In War on Terror

I was born and grew up under foreign occupation. We even had the blockade, the siege, and a wall around our densely-populated area, everything you need for a full-blown occupation.

Here is what I learned:

1. If you don’t fire rockets at the surrounding country, they probably won’t shoot at you a lot. (I figured this out by not firing rockets at that country.)

2. If you don’t attack occupation forces, they probably won’t fight you. (I figured this out by not attacking members of the occupying armies. Sometimes I didn’t even throw rocks. Actually, I never threw rocks at them.)

3. If you manage to get a visa for the surrounding country, try entering it without a bomb belt around your waist, even if the country is likely to have lots of schools filled with children you could easily blow up. (One way to make sure that didn’t happen was VERY strict border controls enforced by the surrounding country. Another way to make sure that didn’t happen was not wearing bomb belts.)

If anybody has any questions about how to live in an occupied territory surrounded by a hostile country, feel free to ask me.

Comments (Page 2)

TheBigOne

on Feb 01, 2009

I just stated facts, I didn't blame anyone for it (and I don't think there is anyone to blame at all) and you are just projecting things on me.

Secondly, calling Mexico very very poor is a incredible overexaggeration, they have a GDP per capita of nearly 10000 $ that is more than some of the new members of the EU. (I also don't see what a topic about an occupied territory has anything to do with Mexico). Extreme problem to US security is also kind of fearmongering, its a rather short border (compared with EUs outer borders) you have and its even the sole outer border with a poor country the USA has and you have very big oceans between you and Africa and Asia, don't tell me the USA can't handle that.

Seriously why are you so aggressive towards me, did I write something untrue, did I insult someone? The discussion climate some people cause here is really very rough.

ThinkAloud

on Feb 01, 2009

What about the rape?

I have heard stories about the Russian military doing that a lot, and few stories about American soldiers

Having been stationed in Japan on and off for nearly 18 years, I know of only 3 instances of Rape by members of the military against Japanese civilians.

I'm curious now....What is a sex camp?

What does all this have to do with the article's subject matter?

is that a way to avoid the real issue?

Is that the great diversion or what?

Its hardly comparable to the situation in Gaza,

you can say that again ....

Leauki

on Feb 01, 2009

you can say that again ....

Yes, that was my point.

It was totally different.

However, if we, the people of West-Berlin had fired rockets into East-Germany on a daily basis, and celebrated whenever we hit a school or kindergarden, and we were known for trying to smuggle bombs into East-Germany whenever we were allowed to cross the border (and if the strict border controls existed BECAUSE of our attempts to do that); THEN West-Berlin would have been very much like Gaza. The Russians wouldn't have seen the good-natured fun of it all, I am sure.

In that case the only difference between Gaza and West-Berlin would have been that our enemy wouldn't have provided us with healthcare and electricity. The communists are very much unlike Jews.

taltamir

on Feb 01, 2009

the_Peoples_Party

comment 15

Big One,
First, you make it seem like it was Israel's fault some how that the PA are so poor. How is it solely their fault? Just so you know the WALL was not always there. I know that may come to shock to you as well. Also Gaza was some very good land. When the Israelies handed Gaza to the PA, it was still irrigation in there and it was a prime place for grapes, olives, and farm land. Now, its been totally rav up, before even all the fighting.
Second, is it the U.S's fault that Mexico is very very poor and now could become an extreme problem to the U.S's secruity?
Granted, I will say that both the U.S. and Israel could have done some more. At the same time the other side needs to be willing to TRY TO MAKE AN EFFORT. Why does everyone always put the whole load on Israel to aid the PA? As in that they should be the ones completely helping that PA and that they should be the ones taking care of them.
When I lived over there, NONE of the Arab countries EVER assisted the PA with humanitarianly. Yes, they assisted them in other ways, but NEVER humanitarianly.

its the assumption that everyone who is poor is poor because they are oppressed, and everyone who is rich is rich because he is oppressing someone. I have actually heard rediculous tales that israel was built on the backs of palastinian slaves, which is why they are poor and israel isn't.

taltamir

on Feb 01, 2009

leuki, you grew up in an occupied territory? which one?

Leauki

on Feb 01, 2009

Leauki, you grew up in an occupied territory? which one?

West-Berlin.

fussyvet

on Feb 02, 2009

This was very interesting. Thanks. Still, I think "Gaza" has more complex history and problems than West-Berlin. But, I did understand what you wanted to mean.

taltamir

on Feb 03, 2009

fussyvet

reply 22

This was very interesting. Thanks. Still, I think "Gaza" has more complex history and problems than West-Berlin. But, I did understand what you wanted to mean.

you are kidding me right? more complex history and problems? Have you been asleep during all those history lessons about world war one and two? there are not nearly as many players or issues in gaza. Heck germany was split between the allies and the russians after they lost.

TheBigOne

on Feb 03, 2009

I still fail to see how West-Berlin was occupied (okay they were de jure but not de facto) and especially how they were occupied by russians as you make it sound. If they were occupied they were occupied by France, UK and USA not by Russia and actually West-Berlin has been a island of freedom surrounded by a occupied country. Comparing West-Berlin to Kaesong (this special capitalist zone in north korea) would be a better comparison and even that would be very far stretched.

And Taltamir how exactly did West-Berlin (West-Berlin is a term established after the war was over) have nearly as big troubles as Gaza had? They certainly had a lot less trouble than the people in the GDR who certainly had a lot less trouble then the people in the SU.

As Citizen of West-Berlin you could travel everywhere without too big problems after 1971, you lived in a rich democracy, unlike the rest of the republic there even was no conscription (people even moved to west-berlin for exactly that reason).

Yah sure there were was this wall with german soldiers on it and you had to fear that they start another blockade but that it is no way comparable to Gaza. And if a war between Russia and USA started you'd died a few minuten earlier then the others in a nuclear apocalypse.

taltamir

on Feb 04, 2009

Maybe the people in gaza strip would have less trouble if their religion did not require them to kill infidels.

That is definitely a problem that the germans didn't have after world war 2

Leauki

on Feb 04, 2009

(I didn't say anything about Russians occupying West-Berlin.)

Comparing West-Berlin to Gaza makes sense. The people of Gaza had the choice, they could have made Gaza a "special capitalist zone" if they had wanted to.

The reason we had less trouble was that we didn't create trouble for ourselves and voted for a government that kept us out of trouble. That was also a choice the Gazans had.

As a citizen of Gaza you could also travel everywhere, except after your government started a war. Gaza could have been a rich democracy, that was their choice. And whether or not there is conscription in Gaza also depends on the government of Gaza.

So what if Gaza has Jewish soldiers on its wall? What difference does that make? German soldiers shoot back when attacked just like Jewish soldiers do. How is that not comparable?

West-Berlin, like Gaza, had to fear a blockade. The difference is that Gaza knew that a blockade was not going to happen unless Gaza attacks Israel. West-Berlin had no such guarantee.

The "special capitalist zone" you mentioned is a usable model for Gaza. But they voted for war.

And they got it.

taltamir

on Feb 04, 2009

oh, and btw... Let me remind you that I said that post WW2 germany was MORE COMPLICATED than gaza. Not that that west berliners suffered more. Obviously they suffered less... due to their own actions.

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