The Hope
Blog by Abed Manasra
1/16/2024
“It is not enough to say ‘We must not wage war.’ It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it. We must concentrate not merely on the negative expulsion of war, but the positive affirmation of peace.”
– Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Anti-War Conference, Los Angeles, California, February 25, 1967
“True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.”
– Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Stride Toward Freedom, 1958
“This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.”
– Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Yesterday marked the anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr. one of the most significant leaders in modern history, who called for an end to racial discrimination and denounced sectarian violence and terrorism. He was the dreamer whose dream quickly turned into reality. Perhaps he did not witness his dream fully realized in his lifetime, but he persisted, knowing that results come later. Impact is not confined to the moment, and harvest does not happen at the time of sowing. However, determination, dream, perseverance, and hope are the tools we need to create everything we desire.
I’m not here to recount Martin Luther King’s history, well-known to everyone, but to draw inspiration and hope from a dream that became a reality. So let’s dream together, to see tulips bloom from under the rubble, jasmine covering the destruction, spreading its fragrance above the smell of gunpowder. Let’s believe that the sun will rise on a new day, playing its rays on children passionately playing in the gardens. Peace is not a fantasy or a word we mention when we conceal our misdeeds; it’s a reality that colors hatred. Peace is our only hope and an unwavering path if we seek a way to life.
Do not give hope to those who want to kill it, and do not give power to those who misuse it. Do not support the weak with sick hearts or the mighty tyrant, for goodness deserves to prevail. Let us remember that God created this universe with love and peace, guiding us to the path of peace. Cling to hope, for hope alone helps us move forward, to build a world free from extremism and hatred. Peace is a reality, and hope is the path leading to peace.
Abed Manasra is the Israeli Programs Director for the Abrahamic Reunion.
abed@abrahamicreunion.org
