Joining 132 others, two self-described progressive congressmembers, James McGovern (D-MA) and Alan Grayson (D-FL) lambasted the American Studies Association for having the audacity to join Palestinians in the boycott of institutions that are complicit in the military occupation of Palestinian land.
While these congressmembers are opposing boycotts, a nonviolent tactic used by the civil rights movement and advocated by Dr. Martin Luther King JR., and again used against the South African regime in the 1980’s, these congressmembers instead have and will support increasing and massive military aid to Israel, even though Israel systematically violates the rights of Palestinians. The weapons provided by Congress will be used to help the Israeli military “single-out” Palestinians for home demolitions, farm destruction, to violently and willfully break up their non-violent protests. It is McGovern, Grayson and the rest of Congress that provide the means to keep the people of Gaza in a planned state of grinding poverty, a people always on the brink of starvation. It is their vote that provides the means for Israel to build without hesitation and in open mockery to the stated position of President Obama, more and more illegal settlement housing.
Why is it that these so-called self-described progressives oppose nonviolent and legal consequences for an apartheid regime? Why are they instead by their actions supporting violent suppression of protest, and the forced ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people to ever smaller parts of historic Palestine? At what point will they take action for justice? Instead, they come to the aid of oppressive institutions that are finally being held accountable for complicity in the occupation.
They plea for “patience” while the status quo is killing any hope for peace. When is the time that they will recognize “the urgency of the moment and sense the need for powerful ‘action’”, as Martin Luther King wrote just over 50 years ago. Now is not the time to plea for peace that is void of any justice. That is not peace, that is mere attempts at pacification, and it will never lead to real peace.
It is true that Mr. Grayson and Mr. McGovern are not alone. In fact in congress there is not one that advocates for even a reduction of military aid to Israel, despite its refusal to abide by international law, despite the pleas of human rights groups and peace groups around the country and the world.
King reminded us that “we are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history there is such a thing as being too late.” It is not too late however, not yet. A growing grassroots and worldwide movement for justice and peace in the Holy Land will overwhelm those that stand supporting the status quo. We hope that Mr. McGovern and Mr. Grayson and others will join that movement, or at least have the wisdom to step aside.
PRo-israel lobby is racist against ‘goys’ in the middle east. Thats the problem.
Jim Crow and apartheid in Palestine is alright with Grayson and McGovern. How proud their constituents must be! Wrong side of history: a shame and a sham.
RE: “Joining 132 others, two self-described progressive congressmembers, James McGovern (D-MA) and Alan Grayson (D-FL) lambasted the American Studies Association for having the audacity to join Palestinians in the boycott of institutions that are complicit in the military occupation of Palestinian land… They plea for ‘patience’ while the status quo is killing any hope for peace. When is the time that they will recognize “the urgency of the moment and sense the need for powerful ‘action’ . . . “ ~ Jim Harris
REGARDING “THE FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW” FROM THE “I HAVE A DREAM” SPEECH (on August 28, 1963), SEE THESE EXCERPTS FROM THE EARLIER “Letter From Birmingham Jail”, By Rev. M.L.K. Jr., April 16, 1963
SOURCE – http://abacus.bates.edu/admin/offices/dos/mlk/letter.html
“It is true that Mr. Grayson and Mr. McGovern are not alone. In fact in congress there is not one that advocates for even a reduction of military aid to Israel, despite its refusal to abide by international law, despite the pleas of human rights groups and peace groups around the country and the world.
King reminded us that “we are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history there is such a thing as being too late.” It is not too late however, not yet. A growing grassroots and worldwide movement for justice and peace in the Holy Land will overwhelm those that stand supporting the status quo. We hope that Mr. McGovern and Mr. Grayson and others will join that movement, or at least have the wisdom to step aside.”
A description of so called progressive Dems standing in the way of justice for the Palestinians. We all know this has been going on for decades. So called progressive Dems being humanitarians when it comes to domestic issues but being right wing radicals when it comes the Israeli Palestinian conflict. They are being exposed.
They are terrified of the BDS movement because awareness is rising and their is no escaping the inevitability of a fair two state solution based on the 67 border or a one state solution that completely exposes the apartheid state of Israel. There is no going back and they know it.
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Today on the Boulder Colorado Mall a coalition of young high school students led the MLK ceremony. Music, speakers, poets talking about discrimination against immigrants, gays, blacks. I took my “Stop U.S. funding of Israeli aggression” Six different students came up and wanted to talk about the issue. I mostly listened and asked a few questions. Along with encouraging them to come to this site and If Americans Knew. One young woman’s mother had grown up in Israel. I asked her what her mother thought. She responded “my mother thinks there is too much Israeli aggression but that both sides are equally wrong” We talked about this. I asked her how she would feel if I came and took her families house and land and sent her family on their way at gun point. She was stunned. I calmly asked her what she would do? How she would feel? Would she want to retaliate and was I more at fault than her family for violently taking control of her families home? She got it. We talked more about false equivalency arguments. That “both sides are equally wrong” is a twisted and inaccurate claim.
Had several women my age walk up (one a Boulder high school teacher who was Jewish) and say “this is not the place for this” (the sign I had) She also said the “students and I have worked very hard on this event” I responded “this is a great event and I noticed your students were passing out stickers of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s quote that said ” Injustice anywhere is a threat to injustice everywhere” I shared that I thought my sign was perfect for the event and asked her if she stood by that quote. She responded with “well that situation is different” “No” I replied “it is not” She went on about “how no one had wanted the Jews during WWII” then something about “well the Bible says” all of the standard arguments. I then asked her “are these issues any excuse for the way the Palestinians have been discriminated against and oppressed for decades” She walked away quite pissed.
Lots of great conversations about the I/P issue, racism, discrimination and oppression with younger people today on the Boulder Mall. Hope they will be coming to Mondoweiss to learn more and discuss the issues
What did MLK actually do?
Is it time for the Palestinians themselves to actually act under MLK’s guidance, that is, do what he actually did? http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/08/29/1011562/-Most-of-you-have-no-idea-what-Martin-Luther-King-actually-did?detail=email
Or is it too much to expect, considering how timid the protest is here in USA, post ML, as to protesting Israel and US enablement of it’s jim/crow/apartheid system?