Today I got some very exciting news.  I won first prize in the Americans for Democratic Action “What would Martin Do?” essay contest.   I’m really thrilled for two reasons.  First, the prize money is going to help to fund costs related to finishing Tuwani: The Graphic Novel.  But second, I would really love to see the ideas in this essay gain a wider audience.  It’s below, if you’d like to take a look.

Beyond Iraq:

Martin and the Revolution in Values

If Martin Luther King, Jr. could visit our country this January, he would see a nation much changed and yet the same. Imagine King catching a bus in downtown Montgomery. Perhaps he would select a seat in the front, next to someone tired from a long day’s work for little pay. Through the bus window, he might see dilapidated schools and foreclosed homes. If he were to open up a newspaper, he would read of another war with no end in sight. If King returned to this country of sweet promise and bitter disappointment, he would once again take up the struggle of the poor. King would organize against the interlocking evils of racism, militarism, and poverty.  And he would invite us to join him.

In the 43 years since King’s death, we have not fulfilled his dream of equality. Poverty is rising. Health care is out of reach for too many Americans while our military budget grows. Ours is a political landscape that King understood all too well.

In his speech Beyond Vietnam, King decried the way the war on poverty was abandoned for the war on communism. Today we still choose fighter jets over unemployment benefits.  The soldiers who fight and die in our army are still overwhelming our nation’s poor. If he were here today, King would say again, “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.”

King cried out for the poor of Vietnam recounting American’s role in their history. “We have destroyed their two most cherished institutions: the family and the village,” he said. “We have supported the enemies of the peasants of Saigon.” Today, King would similarly mourn the poor people killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. He would point out that we once supported the Taliban, the mujaheddin, and Saddam Hussein – over the protests of Iraqis and Afghanis. We remain the enemy of the poor in Iraq and Afghanistan and everywhere our government supports the rights of corporations over the rights of poor people.

King wrote, “I am convinced that if we are to get on the right side of the world revolution, we as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values…When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.” But that world revolution is still alive today and brings hope even to our country.

In Iraq, Afghanistan, America, and around the world, millions of poor people are building a nonviolent movement for a peaceful, just future.  We should not need to Dr. King to entreat us to join the right side of the world revolution. The poor are calling us to join them. Just as King heeded their call, may we see their cause as ours.

Thanks to your support, the At-Tuwani Women’s Cooperative tour was a tremendous success!  Over 7 days, Keifah and her husband spoke with approximately 600 people in seven cities and raised over 1,000 euros for the Women’s Cooperative.  Keifah also built connections with members of the Italian peace organization Pax Cristi and several women’s organizations. We are excited to see what new opportunities these relationships bring to At-Tuwani.

Keifah spoke about the development of the At-Tuwani women’s cooperative and its work to support women and children and resist the Israeli military occupation of Palestine.  She described how the women’s cooperative started with 7 women and faced the objections of men in the village. Now, the women’s cooperative has 38 members and supports women’s education and organizes a summer camp.  “We want our children to know that life isn’t just filled with violence, that there are good things in life too.”  Keifah also spoke about how women were able to build the clinic in the day time and face down the Israeli military  in the village’s struggle to get electricity.  She also invited people to become involved in their work – to work together for a world free from oppression.

Keifah’s husband spoke about his experiences as a prisoner inside Israeli jails.  He spoke about how easily Palestinians can be arrested for nothing more than grazing their sheep and his experience of violence in jail.  Nasser also echoed Keifah’s call to work for peace.  He spoke about how the prophets of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all had the same message of peace.  It was extremely moving to listen to Keifah and her husband’s stories of resistance and hope.

We want to thank everyone how made this tour trip possible!



This blog is, in case you couldn’t tell, under construction.   Things are still a little messy, but I hope that you will come back and visit again when all of my “i” are dotted and my hash tags closed.

Well, my bags are packed.   This Saturday, I’ll be leaving for Italy for the At-Tuwani Women’s Cooperative 2010 Speaking Tour.  I’ll be getting in a couple of days before the tour begins so that I can recover from jet-lag – and hang out with my dear friends and hosts at Humanity Together.  This is my first big project with Humanity Together and I’m very excited.  Keifah, Al Addera and her husband will be traveling around Italy speaking about the situation in Tuwani. We’ll be traveling for over a week together.  Keifah will be speaking at the Pax Crisiti conference as well as with several other groups.  More updates to follow!