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Kitty Genovese- Google images
Back in the 60's an incident took place in New York City which rightly or wrongly defined the perception of New York and New Yorkers, to the rest of the country and to many New Yorkers themselves.
It happened in 1964 at 3 a.m. A 28 year old woman named Catherine "Kitty" Genovese was returning home from her job as the manager of a bar when she was attacked and stabbed. Her cries and screams were heard by 38 people in nearby apartments and no one did a thing, not even call the police. Her attacker left her bleeding in front of her apartment, then returned a few minutes later and finished the job while she lay screaming for help. Detectives later surmised after catching her killer and getting a confession, that had someone called the police during the first attack she would have been saved.
When detectives went door to door days later as part of the investigation, they asked the people who had heard her screams why they had done nothing, not even call the police. And they all said the same thing. The didn't want to get involved. News of her killing and the lack of response by her neightbors shocked not just New York but the whole country, and the "I dont want to get involved" syndrome defined New York for years.
What it was about Obama's statement that he thought it best "not to meddle" in the events taking place in Iran that made me think of Kitty Genovese I don't know. But a few days later it did. Maybe it was the screams of the people on the cell phone videos I was watching as they were being beaten or shot on the streets, or their courage standing up to armed police, but watching the demonstrations take place,and seeing the Basij and their batons I thought of Obama's tepid statements, and then flashed on the story of Kitty Genovese and the New Yorkers in 1964 who "didn't want to get involved".
Two days ago, the Iranian revolt had its own symbol in the form of a murdered woman. Her name was Neda, a girl murdered by a government sponsored thug who, according to some accounts shot her from 200 yards away from the roof of a nearby building. This wasn't law enforcement or quelling a violent uprising. This was cold blooded murder. The difference though is that the world has responded to Neda and the plight of the demonstratros while Obama, like Kitty Genovese's neighbors, hasn't.
We've been hearing the constant drone of all the incomprehensibly idiotic reasons given by those supporting Obama's stance, as to why "not meddling:" is the best approach, most recently from the New York Magazine reporter Joe Klein who I'm sure remembers Kitty Genovese. Klein was on CNN parroting the same silly, actually idiotic, talking point that we've been hearing from others, that if Obama spoke out more forcefully the Iranian regime would blame the United States for the unrest and crack down harder on the demonstrators.
First of all, since when does a terrorist government need an excuse to crack down on its own people? And if they did blame the United States because Obama took a hard line against the violence and in support of honest elections and the safety of the demonstrators, who is going to believe the U.S. is behind the problems in Iran? Joe Klein? Or are the apologists saying that they know we are not behind it but the rest of the world is too stupid to get it?
Paul Begala, a good man with a good heart also defended Obama on CNN with the same hollow argument. He pointed out that the Iranian government has come out and condemned Great Britain for Gordon Brown's own statements of condemnation against the violence and support of the demonstrators and this proves Obama did the right thing. Oh really? Is it now a badge of honor not to be condemned by Iran's terrorist regime? And what if we were?
Besides, all Obama would have to do is make a public statement ( we all know Obama knows how to to that) that the safety of the demonstrators are the responsibility of the Iranian government and that nothing he (Obama) says can be used as an excuse for violence against their own people. He can remind the Iranian government that they are responsible for the problems in Iran and no one else, which preempts any attempts on their part to shift the blame to the US or anyone else, which no one would believe anyway.
At the very least Obama should be pressuring the Iranian government to bring Neda's killer to justice.The Iranian government knows who murdered Neda. The killer was part of the Basij, or the Revolutionary Guard or the Iranian police. There are people in these organizations who know who killed her. Obama should demand that her murderer be brought to justice and in that way Iran can demonstrate it is a country of law. If Iran didnt, it would undermine their position with their own people even further.
Kitty Genovese became a rallying cry for New Yorkers to change their ways, to start caring a little more about their neighbors instead of burying their heads in their newspapers and thinking "its not my problem". And today New York is a very different place. It is a place where you can count on people to come the aid of others anytime anywhere.
Neda has also become a rallying cry for the people in Iran and around the world, who want to see the Iranian people get out from under a repressive regime that stuffs ballot boxes and rigs elections and beats and murders its own people, chants "Death to America" and wants a nuclear weapon so it can wipe Israel off the face of the earth. But so far, like the New Yorkers in Queens in 1964, President Obama doesn't want to get involved. Let's hope he changes.
Comments
Powerful- this incident occurred a year before I was born but I remember it as a kid, back on the east coast- it was talked about for years-
You made some excellent points- especially why we are so worried to be denounced by a terrorist regime- which they already have and continue on a daily basis-
I guess Obama really is a narcissist (that is not news to me- but perhaps to some)- that his actions alone will sway the Iranian government-
My final question- how can you tolerate watching CNN? And don't tell me you have tuned into ABC too?
Very good analogy and analysis of Obama's tepid if not cowardly response. A quarter of a century ago we had a President who was not afraid to stand up and call the Soviet Union, a much more powerful nation than Iran, an 'evil empire'. Our current wimpy president not only emboldens the Iranian regime with his timidity, but his actions also weaken the U.S. standing in the world and the safety of our allies.
Someone told me that the day after 911, they saw a news release about people fighting in line while waiting for a new donut shop to open. Numb, dumb society.
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