On King and abuse of his memory

[Raineyb]

I'm not going to write a dissertation on King, I'm not that type of scholar and I'm sure there are people who have done it better. However, someone did something today that frosted me no end. They quoted King in a thread discussing Helen Thomas. The previous poster had gone on about how in their not so humble opinion that not supporting Israel was about not wanting it to exist. The quote was thus:

"When people attack Zionists, they are talking about Jews."


Of course King was assassinated in 68. That was 42 years ago. I don't think that considering the behavior of Israel in my lifetime (Not yet 40 years) that King would necessarily have said the same of Zionism today. Israel is a country where when the rest of the world had rather frosty relations with Apartheid South Africa, its relations with the country was much warmer. The way Arab Israelis are treated is not in line with a society where all people are equal (An Arab Israeli who was on the flotilla was shouted down in parliament, is receiving death threats and the larger body is looking to strip her of her "privileges" oh and Interior Minister wants to strip her of her citizenship) The idea that one can be so stripped because you displeased the group of higher status is the opposite of a true democracy. Would King support such a state? Would he support Israel against the Palestinians when Israel with its superior fire power (provided by the U.S.) is illegally blockading the Gaza Strip, causing malnutrition and food insecurity? I don't think so. But people sure are invested in thinking that King would be on their side quote him freely while supporting war, apartheid, and illegal occupation.

Did these people read a history book, did those who are old enough to have heard him speak not hear what he was saying? Do they really think that King's vision is consistent with a state that has Jewish only roads, forces Palestinians to wait in line to cross even to the point where people in ambulances have died because they can't get past the border, and have even blocked wheelchairs from being brought in because they have metal in them. Do they really think this is something King would support? I don't think so.

The story of the Arab Israeli MP can be found here I can't take credit for it I saw it on a story I had clicked on from the front page earlier.

A lot of people love to quote King in order to justify all kinds of shit. But I don't think they actually paid any attention to what the man stood for. They like to quote him because it makes them sound enlightened. I'm not saying that I know for sure whether or not King would support the state of Israel as it is today. However, it seems to me rather unlikely that he would and I would certainly refrain from using quotes that are over 45 years old to make my point about the state of Zionism and Israel today. I don't think it's too much for others to do the same. Especially when they're trying to rally support in the face of yet another illegal action taken by Israel that the U.S. blocked in the UN. Again.

[Fire1]

1. Yes, I'm old enough to have heard him speak and even in my

youth, found his message profound. But, it should not surprise you at all that his words are used for convenience and to rationalize every cause. As you pointed out, it validates their cause or point of view! Funny, how people have forgotten the infamous words of another great leader. Malcolm X.

[Raineyb]

2. It doesn't surprise me that much. It pisses me off especially when one

such abuser than proceeds to try to rip me a new one for daring to disagree. Quoting someone from nearly 50 years ago in modern day context as though the person who said the words would not have adjusted to events over the past 42 years had he lived is an abuse I needed to vent about. I do need a break.