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January 1, 2012
Some questions for Gingrich
Abdulateef Al-Mulhim
If he believes Palestinians were ‘invented’, would he explain whether they were invented before or after July 4, 1776?
The first two words in the American Constitution are...We the people. There is no British or Arab American, only an American. People melted in America. And we have to admit that America changed the face of the world with its massive achievements. Now, the whole world is watching American politicians and analyzing what they say. But, what Newt Gingrich said about the Palestinians was a first. Because it simply denied the existence of a group of people. So, did Gingrich say what he said for political reasons or did he believe the Palestinians are invented and simply fell out from the sky? Because if he believes they were invented, then, were they invented before or after July 4, 1776, the birth date of America? Also, on that date there was nothing on the map that said, Australia. And before 1947 there was no country called Pakistan or Bangladesh. And just 20 years ago there were people called Czechoslovakians. Now, it is either Czech or Slovak. But they are still the same people. It is the map of the world that is always changing.
Civilizations rise and civilizations disappear. Where did the Sioux Indians go? Well, they were replaced by people like the great grandfather of Gingrich who just emigrated from Germany to the land of the free.
And once upon a time there was a place called Greater Syria. Later on it became more than one country. We all know that Newt Gingrich is a very intelligent politician. And I consider him a survivor. But, I don't think he will be able to be the commander in chief of the most powerful country in the world. I think American voters and other presidential candidates know him very well. They know his strength and his weaknesses.
Americans are more religious than what most people outside the US think. Family values are very important, and Americans admire a stable first family. The Americans are also very tolerant and they respect all faiths and nationalities. However, in America don't break the tax law. The IRS is America's red line. So, would the American voters select a presidential candidate who broke the tax law, with an unstable marriage, who talks about infidelity, and accuses a group of people of being invented? Is it possible that a presidential candidate could do all those things and still be elected to the Oval Office?
To my knowledge, Newt Gingrich has done all of the above. He was married three times. And he was having an affair in 1990 with a congressional staffer when he was married. And during the term of Gingrich as speaker of the House, there were 84 ethical charges against him. One related to a violation of the tax law. And lately, Gingrich talked about infidelity in the state of Iowa, but can he say the same to an American audience from the Bible belt in the southern states? And what is more, on Dec.11, he violated a common sense law, in which he denied the existence of a group of people called the Palestinians. So, how can an American politician degrade and deny the existence of a whole race of people? Does he not know how many Americans are of Palestinian origin?
History sometimes surprises you with its turn of events. America used to be a group of poor immigrants and a weak country in comparison with France, Spain and Britain. So, would America be different if it weren't for President Thomas Jefferson's discomfort with the French and Spanish presence on the western front of the new America? The larger side of America was bought in a deal called the Louisiana Purchase. So, who are the people in the Louisiana territories? Are they French, Spanish, Americans or Native Americans? And just before 1959, the people living in Alaska and Hawaii were not called American but were known as Tlingiti people. And as for Hawaii, can Gingrich even pronounce the Hawaiian Islands' names, such as Ni'ihau or Kaho'olawe? Who knows!
Abdulateef Al-Mulhim is Commodore (Retd.) of Royal Saudi Navy.
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