Rachel Corrie

1979-2003

Rachel Corrie was a 23 year old from Olympia, Washington who was killed by an Israeli bulldozer in 2003 while protesting in a closed military zone in Gaza. Rachel was one of the thousands of protesters from the ISM and other groups which regularly operate in closed military zones to prevent the IDF from bulldozing Palestinian homes. Rachel's death has been used as propoganda by many of Israel's opponents, and at the same she has been smeared as an "anti-semite" and terrorist advocate by pro-Israel groups. Her death has inspired many plays including one called "My name is Rachel Corrie" which was a success in London, but ended

up being canceled in New York.  Detroit City issued a resolution honoring Rachel Corrie. Caterpillar was sued by Rachel's parents following her death. Many asked congress to hold Israel accountable for the death of an American. However no such actions were taken when another American, Daniel Wultz, was killed by a Palestinian suicide bomber. Many also point out that Rachel was a very un-patriotic American, and this can easily be seen by looking at her writings (which are not just anti-Bush, but just plain anti-American) and by looking at the picture of her burning the American flag in Gaza (picture shown below). Israel claims that the death was an accident and that the driver didn't see her, however this claim is refuted by those who point out that Rachel was wearing a dark orange suit when she was hit, and it was very unlikely that the driver couldn't see her. Others point out that of the thousands and thousands of ISM demonstrators which protest the IDF in closed military zones, Rachel is one of the only three which have ever been killed or injured. Thats why it is not clear why Israel would single out Corrie out of the other thousands of demonstrators which do the same thing as Rachel every day. Even the people that were with Corrie at the time were extremely shocked that the bulldozer hit her, because they had never seen any protesters get hurt by Israel before. There is also conflicting information on wheather Rachel died immideietly after being hit by the bulldozer or wheather she died at the Palestinian hospital. Despite Rachel's extremist anti-Israel views, and her relentlessly being called an "anti-semite" by her critics, there is no record of Rachel ever saying anything anti-Jewish. Below are some articles related to Rachel Corrie's death:

Rachel Corrie's Website www.rachelcorrie.com this website was put together by Rachel Corrie's parents, Craig and Cindy, shortly after Rachel's death. The site contains many articles and commentaries reguarding Rachel's death, many writings from Rachel, as well as pleas to join her "cause" 4 Minute Interview With Rachel Corrie Brief interview with Rachel discussing her views and why she has chosen to be a "pro-Palestinian" activist.

Rachel Corrie after she was hit by an IDF bulldozer

Who Killed Rachel Corrie ? This article casts doubt on the official story of Rachel's death. There are many conflicting reports of wheather Rachel was killed by the bulldozer or if she died at the hospital. This article also points out the pure shock of the other protesters which witnessed Rachel's death and casts doubt on wheather the bulldozer hit her on purpose. Only one thing is certain about the circumstances surrounding the death of International Solidarity Movement (ISM) protestor Rachel Corrie: she died in Rafah, on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip. But is Israel responsible for her death, or do the doctors at the Arab hospital where she was taken still alive after the accident bear any responsibility? What about the ISM that organizes protests in a closed military zone? How she died, exactly where she passed her last moments and who should take the blame for Rachel Corrie’s death are the questions that demand answers. The congressional inquiry called for by Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA) will have to sort it all out, but the inconsistencies in the eyewitness testimonies raise doubts about the simplistic conclusions already being drawn. There wasn’t enough action for Corrie. According to a fellow Evergreen State College student, Joseph Smith, 21, who was at the site, Corrie dropped her bullhorn and sat down in front of one of the bulldozers.  She fully expected that the driver would stop just in front of her. “We were horribly surprised,” Smith told me by phone from Rafah the day after the incident. “They had been careful not to hurt us.  They’d always stopped before,” he said.

Rachel Corrie Inspires Another Play A play is organized in London to tell the story of Rachel Corrie. The play portrays rachel as a "peace activist" and an innocent victim of the Israeli army. The play makes no condemnation of Palestinian terrorism and makes no attempt to show the other side of the issue. The play ended up being cancelled in New York. The Skies are Weeping, a classical music piece inspired by the American protester, will have its world premiere Tuesday night at the Hackney Empire theater, just three days after another production, My Name is Rachel Corrie, concludes its second run at the city's prestigious Royal Court Theatre. A protest registered

Rachel Corrie Burning an American flag in Gaza City

with the Metropolitan Police will take place outside the premiere, with pro-Israel activists highlighting  the "other Rachels," Israeli girls and women who died in suicide bombings during the second intifada. The best known Rachel in the conflict, Corrie died trying to prevent a house demolition in the southern Gaza Strip, an incident that let loose a flood of controversy and made the her the most famous female casualty of the last five years of fighting. Critics have portrayed her as foolishly naive or as a supporter of Palestinian terrorism, but the two artistic works portray the blonde college student in the opposite light, as a selfless and innocent martyr for peace. .... Fink didn't dispute the cantata's singular emphasis on Corrie, but said balance wasn't a concern for her. "I think they [protest participants] are trying to twist what the concert is about," she said. "They keep talking about 'other Rachels.' There are a lot of Palestinians not named Rachel who've died in this ... I see the Israelis as indirect victims of the occupation. I don't think they have anything to protest about." Asked about the value of a concert dedicated to an Israeli, Fink continued, "I wouldn't want to join, it wouldn't be important to me. I don't want to add to people's perception that they are the main victims. They are victims, but they are victims of the occupation and the Sharon government, indirectly.".

Hold the Palestinians Accountable For the Death of Daniel Wultz In May 2006, American Daniel Wultz died from injuries obtained by a Palestinian suicide bomber. This article points out the double standard in reactions of Rachel's death and Daniel's death. When American  Rachel Corrie was killed after Israeli forces ran over her with a bulldozer there was a huge uproar against Israel over the death of an American. The Olympian, her home town paper, refered to Rachel as a 'martyr'. The Detroit City Council issued a resolution honoring Rachel. Caterpillar was promptly sued for allowing Israel to use its bulldozers in the territories. But now another American has died in that region. American Daniel Wultz, shown on the

American Daniel Wultz, killed by a Palestinian suicide bomber

left, died from injuries he obtained after a Palestinian suicide bomber deliberately blew himself up at a civilian location with the intent of harming civilians. Unlike Corrie's death, no one is demanding that the Palestinians be held accountable for the death of this American. While many in Wultz's community are mourning his death, on one is calling him a 'martyr'. No one is making a play to honor his life. No one is attempting to sue the company that gave the bomber his bombs. No city councils are issuing resolutions honoring this American. No websites or advocacy groups are shouting slogans "we will never forget Daniel Wultz". And no one is calling for a government investigation into his death. One has to wonder why there is such a double standard. The death of an American is a death of an American. The Rachel Corrie Cards This is a clever rebuking "Rachel Corrie cards" created by the ISM to exploit Rachel's death done by the popular pro-Israel blog, Israpundit. The International Solidarity Movement is using an intelligent propaganda distribution system that deserves examination and possibly imitation. The Palestine Solidarity Movement is now distributing Rachel Corrie cards for people to distribute in their communities.

Because we feel Rachel Corrie’s story and message are so important, we have created “Rachel Corrie Cards” for people to distribute in their communities. We’re asking a small donation toward the printing costs, but will ship the cards to anyone who can help get them out to the public, with or without a donation. It will take all of us doing all we can to tell people the facts.     Text on Front of Card:     Rachel, we won’t forget you.     Rachel Corrie (1979-2003)     Rachel was killed when an Israeli soldier bulldozed her. She was trying to protect a family’s home in the Gaza Strip.     Text on Back of Card:     “Let me know if you have any ideas about what I should do with the rest of my life.”     - Rachel Corrie’s last email to her dad

We can envision a card that says the following;

Text on Front of Card: Rachel, we won’t forget you. Rachel Corrie (1979-2003) Rachel was killed when the International Solidarity Movement encouraged her to stand in front of a bulldozer and then watched and took pictures while it ran over her. (Add a Web site with detailed information, e.g. http://www.omdurman.org/ISM or http://www.StopTheISM.com) Text on Back of Card: Two ISM leaders and a Hamas terrorist said openly that it is useful to get “internationals” like Rachel hurt or killed to make propaganda. When you are more useful to your friends dead than alive, it is time to find new friends quickly.

Rachel Corrie's Parents Abducted, Then Released in Gaza In an ironic twist Rachel Corrie's parents ended up being abducted by Palestinian gunmen during a visit to the Gaza strip in January 2006. The anarchy in Gaza took a farcical turn yesterday when it emerged that Palestinian gangs had almost kidnapped the parents of Rachel Corrie. Her parents, Craig and Cindie, were at the home of a friend in Rafah when it was stormed on Tuesday night by gunmen seeking to take them hostage. They were freed when their host, a local pharmacist called Samir Nasrallah, explained who they were. Mr Nasrallah said the gunmen wanted to kidnap the couple as bargaining chips to secure the release of a militia leader, Alaa al-Hams, arrested on suspicion of ordering the kidnap of the British human rights activist Kate Burton and her parents last week. Why People Like Rachel Corrie Hate Israel This commentary takes a look at Rachel and others like Rachel's reasons for being pro-Palestinian activists and why they have such anti-Israel views. Rachel Corrie, the Olympia, Wash., college student killed trying to protect a Palestinian house – a house, remember, not even a human being – against an Israeli bulldozer, will probably not merit a footnote in history books. That's too bad, because her life and death, the way she has been portrayed in some media, and the reactions of her college are powerful examples of an America with many morally confused individuals. ...... Anyone with a heart must extend the deepest condolences to Rachel Corrie's parents. But anyone with a conscience must regard Rachel Corrie's activities with contempt. One hopes that it is not asking too much of people to entertain simultaneously two conflicting emotions – grief for the parents and contempt for the daughter. ...... Rachel Corrie chose to side with a society that breeds some of the cruelest murderers of innocent people in the world. Rachel Corrie gave her life trying to protect people whose declared aim is to annihilate another country. In the name of saving children's lives, Rachel Corrie chose to defend a society that teaches its young children to blow themselves up and which deliberately targets children for death. And Rachel Corrie went to America's enemies to burn her country's flag. ..... We are told repeatedly that Rachel was idealistic – as if that matters. Virtually every person who commits great evil – the Nazi, the communist, the Islamic terrorist – is idealistic. Idealism is morally neutral. It is good only when directed to good ends. But in young people, idealism is at least as likely to lead to bad as to good because few young people are wise – and idealism without wisdom is very dangerous. We are told ad nauseam that Rachel Corrie was a "peace activist." So let it be said once and for all that most of these people are moral frauds. Why? Because "peace activists" routinely protest only against peaceful countries. Has there been one Evergreen State or other "peace activist" in Sudan during its Islamic government's slaughter and enslavement of millions of blacks? Are there any "peace activists" in Tibet to protect its unique culture from being eradicated by the Communist Chinese? Did you notice any "peace activists" trying to save the millions of North Koreans dying at the hands of their lunatic government? Of course not. Rachel Corrie and other "peace activists" only target peace-loving Israel and America. Why do they do so? Here is one answer. The world is filled with evil, and young idealists like Rachel Corrie don't like it. Which is lovely. But they don't confront real evil because they know they will get hurt. That's one reason there are no "peace activists" or "human shields" confronting Islamic terror, North Korean totalitarianism, or Chinese Communist despotism. So, what's an idealist to do if she refuses to confront real evil but wants to feel good about herself? Ironically, confront those who fight real evil. That's why Rachel Corrie and the millions marching to protect Saddam Hussein's Iraq have never uttered a peep against Palestinian terror, Iraqi totalitarianism or North Korean gulags. Instead, they focus their animosity at the countries that confront these evils – the United States and Israel.