Why Aleppo Matters II
“We need a Martin Luther King Jr.”
It was a
sunny day in Damascus two years ago and a CNN reporter happened to be
interviewing people in Syria about the ongoing civil war. By that time, the war was already in its
third year with no end in sight.
A woman sat pensively in a café alternately
looking out in the distance and back at the journalist: “We need a Martin Luther King Jr. That’s what Syria needs.”
She had a
wistful look as she said it, as if she thought it was just a dream, a dream
that she may never live to see.
I think
about this lady often and I wonder whether she is still in Damascus. I wonder
if she and her family had been able to flee to safety. I wonder where that
“safety “ is when I know that thousands of refugees are stranded at borders in
Europe. I wonder about her and I wonder about those
250,000 plus people of Aleppo who endure daily bombing raids of their homes and
hospitals; who have been cut off from food and humanitarian aid.
As I
wonder about these things, I am moved again by her call for a Martin Luther
King Jr.. All these years of teaching
Martin Luther King Jr.’s activism and his writings in the classroom and I
continue to be amazed at his accomplishment and the accomplishment of all those
who struggled non violently for civil rights in the 50’s, 60’s and beyond. They faced fire hoses, jail terms, dogs,
police batons and bombs … with methods of non-violence. They sought no retribution even when
shortly after the beginning of the Montgomery Bus boycott, King’s house was bombed with his wife and ten
week old baby inside. When taunted with
vicious words and names, he appealed to the blacks of Montgomery not to respond
likewise.
‘If
you have weapons, take them home. He who lives by the sword will perish by the
sword. Remember that is what Jesus said. We are not advocating violence. We
want to love our enemies. I want you to love our enemies. Be good to them. This
is what we must live by. We must meet hate with love.’”
They were to keep walking. They were to keep taking rides with the few
blacks who owned cars. They were to keep
making their case with a dignity that could not be shaken.
It’s easy
to have a false memory about those days. It’s easy to think that King and
company were always heralded as they are now.
The fact is that when Martin Luther King Jr. won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, the city
fathers and Atlanta’s elite were hesitant to attend a congratulatory dinner in
his honor. The leadership at Coca Cola
had to step in and convince them that it would be an embarrassment to Atlanta
if they did not attend.
All this
was necessary because King and the other activists were labeled radicals and
outsiders. They were called
troublemakers just for demanding justice and equality. Yet time has been largely kind to these
latter day heroes. King now has a holiday and his name is on countless streets
and buildings. Now we acknowledge
them as heroes but do we really consider the accomplishment of the civil rights
movement as great if not greater than so many other American accomplishments?
Do we see their efforts for
democracy, equality and justice as one of our greatest exports?
As we enumerate our great exports
– the computer, the internet, Hollywood and countless brands and services, does
the civil rights movement make the list?
I believe
500 years from now, Americans will be remembered as much for these efforts from
a interracial band of peacemakers as
they will be remembered for computer technology or modern medicine.
That’s
what comes to mind when I think of the words of the woman of Damascus.
Somewhere somehow in the midst of the constant bombing and the chaos, someone
was reaching out for peace – a particularly American peace—that they need now.
But where
is THAT kind of peacemaking?
Where is it to be found now when they most need it and when we need it
too since recent events have proven that the civil rights movement is not over. Not by a longshot. When the number of black men in college has finally
exceeded those in jail ( and that is good news), we know the civil rights
movement is not over.
Notwithstanding
the very real progress that has been made since the landmark legislation of the Civil Rights Act
of 1964, one in
three black men can expect to go to prison in their lifetime and people of color have more encounters with
the police and the criminal justice system than their counterparts. Drug offenses which constitute the bulk of
court cases and jail sentences nationwide are disproportionately meted out to
people of color even though Federal studies consistently show that all races (
Black, Latino, White, Asian etc.) use drugs at roughly the same rate. ( The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander )
A recent Saturday Night Live skit in which the black
commentator and white commentator talk about Americans, drugs and stop and
frisk programs captured this well. Upshot
of the skit: Blacks and whites use drugs equally but whites do “better” drugs.
Funny, sad and probably true and makes you wonder
why our jails don’t reflect that picture.
Yes,
we still
need a King just as Syria needs a King.
But the
thing is…while we are waiting for one man or one woman, we may have to stand up
and do our little part.
Martin
Luther King Jr., after all, was always about empowering others – those he led
and those who were influenced by him.
His interpretation of the Christian gospel meant that it was others
first then himself. It’s likely the reason when he received the Noble Peace
Prize, he donated all his prize money to the movement.
It was a
life of sacrifice. It makes you wonder how and if we could make a little sacrifice for the struggles of
today on the streets of Charlotte, Dallas, Tulsa, Chicago, New York City,
Ferguson, Waller County, Texas, Baltimore, North Charleston SC, San Diego,
Kingston…
And the
streets of Damascus and Aleppo.
After the
last piece, some readers asked : So what should we do?
Well, some
of us are protesting non violently. All to the good. As for the rest of us, I
got to thinking that we could start by doing what we do best. If you draw, draw something inspired by these tragedies
and share it. If you write, write something that may move someone to action. If
you are a leader, consider and advocate for some of those bipartisan proposals
for establishing an international safe zone in Syria and lead with wisdom. If you are preacher, preach the good news
and preach about the injustices around you.
If you are a teacher, teach your students about what’s happening here
and abroad and why it matters.
Or if you
have the gift of hospitality, have a get together. I remember during the Haiti
earthquake crisis of 2010, my friend, N. R., used her birthday as a fundraiser. Her small band played beautiful music and
guests were told: “Don’t bring me a gift, I have enough. Come learn about the crisis and write a check for $10 towards
this local charity called
Archangel Airborne. They are doing great work in Haiti transporting goods and
services at a much needed time.” It was
a beautiful evening and a wonderful way to be a part of something bigger than
ourselves.
It was a wonderful way to be like King .
So maybe
the next time someone says, ‘We need another Martin Luther King Jr.,” we may not have to look away or look very
far.
