Nonconventional Thinker: Middle East Machinations: Hazards of Hypocrisy

A World Declaration of Liberation

"There are three things in the world that deserve no mercy, hypocrisy, fraud, and tyranny." -- Frederick William Robertson

"Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed." -- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Almost half a century ago, a monumental struggle by an oppressed minority culminated - after beatings, killings and widespread retribution, in the formal recognition of their right to equal coexistence with their oppressors. Roughly a generation after those momentous changes came the collapse of apartheid as an outcast regime came to terms with the realization that one race could not subject another in perpetuity. Indeed, so far had humanity progressed in the intervening period that, merely 40 years after the assassination of the leader of the civil rights movement, a member of the same race freed from historical oppression was elected to the most powerful position in the world. But Martin Luther King Jr.'s pride at that achievement would, were he alive today, have certainly turned to grave disapproval at the abject capitulation of one who - but for the brave determination of a few - would never have seen the inside of that particular 'house' - other than as a domestic servant.

As the 21st century enters its 2nd decade, most right-thinking inhabitants of our planet continue to look with revulsion upon another apartheid regime - one that not only rains brutality on both old and young alike, but 'thumbs its nose' at the rest of humanity as it brazenly steals the remaining lands from its subjugated neighbor, all the while laying false claim to a divine right for the ongoing theft. Today the outside world looks on utterly amazed at the blatant hypocrisy of a leader of this ungodly regime who boldly warns against unilateral actions by the subjugated people to get their long-awaited state before it is all stolen from under them. This from a country that, having occupied a mere 5% of the land area managed to obtain a one-sided declaration from a corrupt administrator allocating them the larger half of the disputed lands. Dissatisfied with this allocation, they unilaterally rejected the UN partition plan, moving to occupy 78% of the lands and unilaterally declaring themselves a State. Still not satisfied with their ill-gotten gains, they commenced unilaterally constructing settlements on their neighbor's rapidly shrinking lands in defiance of international law. Unilateral action actually seems to have worked out quite well for them and may be the only language they understand, as they now occupy about 90% of the total land space - shown by the map progression LAND IN DISPUTE.

The late Martin Luther King 'rolls in his grave' at the capitulation of one who is able to hold office today only as a result of earlier struggles for fair and equal treatment, as he sacrifices his espoused principles at the altar of not offending a powerful lobby that could torpedo his prospects at reelection. Wiser heads look on with interest to see, not only whether the countries of the world will now do the right thing by approving the establishment of a new, independent state, but even more importantly whether a mighty nation can finally muster the courage to declare its own independence from a tiny upstart that has held sway over it for so long. Failure to achieve independence for the 2nd time will prove to be a millstone around its neck as it tries to stay afloat in a stormy sea of Arab discontent. The resolution will also expose the hypocrisy of those who espouse a belief in self-determination yet fail to support the independence declaration, while clarifying for the wider community whether theft and brutality will be rewarded. If history is a reliable guide then greed, arrogance and overreaching will lead as it always has, to catastrophic consequences for the aggressor who, ironically, claims to have itself faced persecution not so very long ago at the hands of an earlier, now-defunct regime. As the video shows, feelings are already strong and growing stronger against this longstanding injustice.

“Tafasta meruba, lo tafasta”

is a Hebrew saying that means,

“If you get too greedy, you end up with nothing".