Williams Anne - Freedom fighters

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2013 Canary Press eBooks Limited

This 2013 edition published by Canary Press eBooks Limited

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ISBN: 978-1-907795-72-5

Cover & internal design: Anthony Prudente

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Contents

Introduction

Introduction

One mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter

The subject of freedom fighters will always be a controversial one, as the saying above points out. Freedom fighters are generally the leaders of revolutions, which can be social, political or both. However, there is a fine line between what one person considers a freedom fighter and the other a terrorist.

The term freedom fighter is commonly understood to imply the good guy or hero, while the word terrorist conjures up the image of the bad guy or villain. Whichever label we put on these revolutionaries they are still both fighting for their cause in what they feel is the best possible way. The best way to differentiate between the freedom fighter and the terrorist is that the terrorist uses terror tactics, killing indiscriminately, to gain the maximum impact. The freedom fighter, on the other hand, is a person who fights for liberty and freedom from oppression. Of course, that is not to say that the freedom fighter will never use terror tactics if they feel that is the best way to gain liberty for his or her people and country.

One definition of a freedom fighter given by an English dictionary is a person who takes part in an armed rebellion against the constituted authority (especially in the hope of improving conditions). This book aims to give details of people who fought for their beliefs and country and to provide an understanding of the struggles of people such as Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Gandhi, Che Guevara and many many others.

As the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, the achievements of George Washington must give him a place in history as one of the famous freedom fighters. He fought hard and long to free American colonists from British oppression and exploitation. With the aid of his ill-trained troops, Washington embarked upon a war that was to last six, tough years. It was his faith in the cause and his devotion to the ideals it typified that made him the symbol of the United States the spirit of the Revolution.

Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged.

The above is a quote that many people would agree with, and one man who would certainly have the same opinion is Osama bin Laden. However, these are not the words of Osama bin Laden. They were spoken by Ronald Reagan, president of the United States of America from 19811989. Reagan was a man who felt strongly that anyone opposing the Soviets were freedom fighters. It is widely acknowledged that he authorized the CIA to covertly support the Mujahideen (including bin Laden) in the jihad against the unholy empire, in other words the U.S.S.R. It is well known that the Contras received financial and military support clandestinely from the United States when Ronald Reagans administration was in charge. It was determined to overthrow the Sandinista National Liberation Front in Nicaragua because of its Marxist views.

Mohandas Gandhi (18691948) was a major political and spiritual leader of India and the Indian independence movement. He believed strongly in the ahimsa (total nonviolence), which eventually led to Indias independence. He said:

Nonviolence is the law of the human race and is infinitely greater than and superior to brute force.

Gandhi was also the inspiration for civil rights and freedom across much of the world. Martin Luther King, Jr was another well-known Civil Rights leader who was famous for practising Gandhis views on nonviolence. He believed that the black community should unite with the white community and live in harmony, a difficult dream to fulfil when African Americans were being persecuted on a daily basis.

Many people have fought for freedom from slavery and these freedom fighters have struck blow after blow against the institution, rallying for Black unity, freedom, rights and power. John Brown fought hard for his beliefs, and yet he remains one of historys most controversial and perhaps misunderstood figures. In the 1850s he instigated a righteous crusade against slavery that was based on his religious beliefs, but it was all carried out with appalling violence. In the end Brown was hanged as a terrorist, an execution that started a chain of events culminating in the Civil War. In contrast, the epic poem written by Stephen Vincent portrays a far more heroic figure, as the first line shows:

John Browns body lies a-mouldering in the grave, but his soul goes marching on. Glory, glory, halleluiah.

Nelson Mandela is another true freedom fighter. He fought hard and long in his struggle against apartheid. For his beliefs, Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years, and yet in less than five years after his release he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He will be long remembered for his self-sacrifice in his effort to free South Africa from the evils of apartheid.

These are just a few examples of infamous freedom fighters who fought hard for their cause, but somewhere along the way were branded terrorists.

PART ONE: ANCIENT FREEDOM FIGHTERS

Moses

The story of Moses and Exodus is possibly one of the most important events in the history of the Jews and has become an important symbol for freedom fighters throughout the world. He was a great prophet, leader, teacher and freedom fighter in the true sense of the word. The Bible clearly sees Moses as the founder of the Jewish nation and the leader who freed them from slavery in Egypt. Moses also shielded the Jews from the wrath of God and mediated with God on their behalf.

Moses was probably born in the late 14th century BC to the slaves Amram and his wife, Jochebed. He was born in the Nile Delta in Egypt where, even under heartless slavery, the Israelites had grown to a great multitude. His birth was during a time of great unrest, when the current Egyptian pharaoh had ordered the drowning of all male children born to the Hebrew slaves. The Egyptians were nervous due to the rapid increase in the Jewish population and, afraid that they may take over the country, the pharaoh announced:

There are too many of them, what if they rise up against us.

He immediately ordered that all Hebrew baby boys be killed at birth as he was frightened that they would grow up hating the Egyptians and try to take over the country.