Imperialism didn’t die in the twentieth century, and its bloody hand is still shaping global politics, said prominent British anti-war activist and author Tariq Ali at Convocation Hall on Tuesday.
In a far-reaching speech about the implications of the Sept. 11 attacks and subsequent bombing of Afghanistan, Ali urged students to join the burgeoning peace movement. He argued that political solutions are needed to stem the tide of terrorism, not bombs and bullets.
“What really strikes me as being completely hypocritical is that the same people who are extremely upset by the deaths of thousands of people in NYC (and understandably upset—they have every right to be—I’m upset) are unmoved by the innocent deaths of civilians in Afghanistan. That’s what I can’t understand,” he said.
“People think they are being ignored. They think that a western life is worth more than any other life in the world,” said Ali. This double standard fuels the discontent caused by Washington’s post-cold war abandonment of many middle eastern allies, Ali said.
Student Administrative Council VP education Lindsay Tabah said she hopes students will heed Ali’s call.
“Our mandate goes beyond campus activity,” she said. “U of T is a microcosm in itself, so it is important to respond to local as well as universal issues at hand.”
