As I drink my evening ceylon tea, I decided to reflect on Martin Luther King Day.
A few different people within the pages i read and on facebook posted this today in honor of MLK day:
"I see Israel as one of the great outposts of democracy in the world, and a marvelous example of what can be done, how desert land can be transformed into an oasis of brotherhood and democracy. Peace for Israel means security and that security must be a reality." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Now, while you should know I respect MLK and find his death nothing but atrocious, I have serious problems with posting this as your honoring quote. here's why.
1) Israel isn't a "desert land" the only part of it that is a desert - the negev - is STILL a desert. Note, it is also noted as the Land of MILK AND HONEY. that didn't happen after 1948. but thats besides the point.
2) MLK died in 1968, 1 year after occupation of Palestine by Israel was complete. Palestine was misadvertised as a land without a people for a people without a land - oh but wait - there were people there!
3) MLK was anti-war, anti-hate, anti-discrimination. I don't think the security he meant entailed checkpoints to get anywhere and depriving villages and children of food because they've been called a threat. I don't think his security meant bulldozing homes to plant trees, taking away people's homes and livelihood and then calling them terrorists for fighting for equality. I don't think his security included one of the most brutal, cruel, and evil torture agenda's in the world. I just don't think that was what he meant - and if he did... how can I believe in his dream at all?
I wonder how he would have felt if he saw the segregation in Israel today. Israel is a very real representation of what Martin Luther King, Jr. was against in the south. No, arab's aren't enslaved, but they are imprisoned in their own country as secondary and tertiary citizens - restricted in their movement and in their way of life. I wonder what MLK would say if he saw the 42 years that have passed since his death and if he would still call Israel an "oasis of brotherhood and democracy". Or maybe we should base it more on the more famous lines Dr. King is known for:
"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character"
According to these, I highly doubt Martin Luther King, Jr. is sitting in those clouds above us looking down and smiling at Israel. I doubt he's proud of their "security" and thinking they're an oasis of democracy and brotherhood. Rather, he's probably crying. hopefully he is anyways because I have a dream too - and its similar to what we all recognize MLK to represent. Its about equality and peace and love and milk and honey.
