By Malik Washington, Destination Freedom Media Group
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“Certainly, my father was against antisemitism as am I. He also believed militarism (along with racism and poverty) to be among the interconnected Triple Evils. I am certain he would call for Israel’s bombing of Palestinians to cease, for hostages to be released and for us to work for true peace, which includes justice.” He said, “Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love. We have much to correct.”
~Rev. Dr. Bernice King, an excerpt from her post made on X (formerly Twitter) October 31, 2023
This day – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I celebrate the release of some of the hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023. I mourn the lost lives of over 46,000 Palestinian human beings. My people! It is important for me as a journalist to point out that incoming Trump Administration played a pivotal role in bringing about this ceasefire deal. We also want to acknowledge that at the center of these negotiations was the Biden White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, Brett McGurk. It is my sincere hope that the ceasefire lasts so that the healing and the rebuilding of Gaza can begin.
The first phase of the hostage release will last 42 days. During this phase, Hamas is to release 33 hostages; 3 hostages every 7 days. Also during this first phase, Israel is to release 1,700 Palestinian prisoners, including 1,167 Gaza residents. Also all Gaza women and children under 19 years of age will be released during this first phase. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-hamas-ceasefire-hostage-release-gaza-war takes-effect/
The reality is this; There are extremists on both sides of this conflict. My question to those factions, both Palestinian and Israeli, is: “Will you give peace a chance?” The lesson in all of this is that diplomacy works. Perhaps in 2025 President Trump will bolster the ranks of his diplomatic corps in the State Department, which would be a departure from his previous actions in the White House.
I have watched this war closely, and I have chosen my words carefully when I have written anything about the conflict. My friend and mentor, Professor Victor Wallis, Ph.D., reminded me a couple weeks ago that anything I write which raises awareness about the Palestinian struggle is a radical act within the context of this geo-political environment. At the time, Professor Wallis and I were discussing the deaths of Palestinian babies as a result of hypothermia. Temperatures have been really cold in Gaza this season, and living in a tent does not provide much protection from the elements. If not for any other reason, both sides of this conflict should agree to continue the ceasefire in order to preserve and protect the lives of the babies.
I find it fitting to end this piece with a lengthy quote from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This is an excerpt of a speech that he gave on February 4, 1968 entitled: “The Drum Major Instinct.”
“God didn’t call America to do what she’s doing in the world now. God didn’t call America to engage in a senseless, unjust war as the war in Vietnam. And we are criminals in that war. We committed more war crimes almost than any nation in the world, and I’m going to continue to say it. And we won’t stop it because of our pride and our arrogance as a nation, but God has a way of even putting nations in their place. The God that I worship has a way of saying, ‘Don’t play with me.’ He has a way of saying, as the God of the Old Testament used to say to the Hebrews, ‘Don’t play with me, Israel. Don’t play with me, Babylon. Be still and know that I’m God. And if you don’t stop your reckless course, I’ll rise up and break the backbone of your power.’ And that can happen to America. Every now and then I go back and read Gibbons’ Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. And when I come and look at America, I say to myself, the parallels are frightening.”
As always, we encourage our readers to listen to a song by John Lennon entitled, “Give Peace a Chance.”
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Malik Washington is a freelance journalist and Director at Destination: Freedom and Destination Freedom Media Group. For over twelve years, Malik has been a published journalist and news reporter focusing on criminal justice issues, conditions of confinement in jails and prisons, as well as hot-button political issues. You can reach him via email or you can write him directly.
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Malik can be reached at [email protected] or write him directly at: Keith Washington #711060, San Francisco County Jail #3, 1 Moreland Drive – Pod 1B-Cell 20, San Bruno, California 94066
