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40th anniversary of Assassination of Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr.
9.4.2008
By Ara Alan
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April 9, 2008
I went to the 40th anniversary of Assassination of
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). I went to pay
respect to this great man. As a non-violent peace
advocator, he strived and gave his life for the
betterment of his people. Through out the history of
United States the non-white minorities have been
ignored, neglected and persecuted. Blacks, as one of
these minorities, were used to fuel the economy of
this nation as it emerged from a British colony to a
world superpower.
Blacks were freed from slavery based on the US
constitution in 1863. It has taken them a continuous
struggle to have the freedom and the rights that
they have today. During World War II many black
solders fought at the battlefronts of Europe. They
fought for freedom as the war propaganda and their
generals advertised it. At the end of the war,www.ekurd.net
they came back as Heroes
who has put their lives at risk to grant the French
freedom! Once back in US they faced prosecution and
racism. An awakening movement started during this
era. As the highlight of the movement, MLK in the
sixties preached a struggle of non-violence from
Atlanta Georgia.
Remembrance of his assassination 40 years later in
Atlanta was held at his final resting place at the
MLK center. Many Atlanta dignitaries were present
including King's family. They spoke of the
importance of civil rights of all men. Rights and
freedom is for all Humans not just one race, nation
or religion. I as a Kurd can identify with this
cause. Growing up in Kurdistan and especially living
abroad, I learned to see the double standard
treatment of Kurds by not only our oppressors but by
many "democratic" nations of the world.
To notice the injustice, a Kurd must first learn how
to feel equal to its surrounding people and nations.
This is a task much more complicated than the single
sentence that has described it. We have been
persecuted for so long that we tend to mistake an
end to a war or torture for equality! Equality means
equal to others. Equality is to be treated and given
opportunity like other people or nations.
Kurds don't have equal rights any where in the
world. As a nation without a country, we are a
people without backing. We must rely on our own for
the advancement of our people. In KurdistanTurkey
but in Iran, Syria and Iraq. where majority of Kurds
live Kurds are persecuted and treated with a double
standard. All of our neighbors impose their national
and religious believes on us. When we ask and say, I
want to be Kurdish they label us as separatist,
racist, terrorist…etc. This is true not only in
We have a Kurdish government in Iraq known as KRG.
It is our only hope and joy. Kurds from all parts of
Kurdistan and all cities of exile turn to that
government. As the only official government of
Kurds, we expect them to do everything for us. With
their shortcomings, we get angry and frustrated
because just like blacks we have been waiting for
our rights for the passed 100 years. We expect our
government to deliver it to us now and fast!
The most important lesson from visiting MLK's
gravesite, hearing the 40th remembrance ceremony and
talking to different people wasn't from the
dignitaries nor the keynote speakers. The lesson I
got was from a nice and elderly man. This man in
name of Joe was either homeless or close to be
homeless. Clearly, he was a man forgotten by the
system and society.
Joe has lived on the same street as we met him two
blocks down from MLK center for the past 60 years.
MLK's church, house, and barbershop are all on the
same street. Joe told us about the difficult days in
the 60s. Those days that they could not go to
Peachtree Street, just to blocks up, because it
wasn't for Niggas. The University that I attended,www.ekurd.net
down the road, was also
white only. Joe never got an education because for a
poor black man at those days it was too difficult.
There was only a hand full of schools for the
colored people and the cost of living was too high
for most young blacks of that era to attend. Joe
told us during the civil rights movement when MLK
used to walk up and down these streets. Joe used to
have a job where he earned one dollar a day! He has
marched with MLK and Joe still shares his story of
those rough days.
In middle of his talk, Joe was complaining about
today's attitude. Joe said, "Young Niggas today just
wanna jump on top of the table and get all they
want! They don't realize that they have to start
with cleaning the bottom first then work their way
up to the top"! Joe made the comment based on his
own experience and a group of people and a struggle
that he is a part of. His comment actually is
universal. It is for all people who were oppressed
and now have some rights. What Joe said; applies to
Kurds 100%.
Same pattern can be seen in our community and among
our own young. With southern Kurdistan Kurdistan
Kurdistan to modern standards. Kurdistan has
progressed since 2003 in an exponential rate, so has
the Kurdish people that live under those
territories. Some progressed more than others did
but nonetheless as a nation, we are developing and
progressing. (Iraqi-Kurdistan) being partially free
we expect everything to happen in matter of months.
has been a war zone for the passed 100 years; we
were oppressed and held back by our enemies. It
takes a lot of work many resources and a lot of time
to bring
To bring Kurdistan to a modern standard it takes
work not just from KRG, and their employees or
leaders. It is a struggle that we must all be
involved with. We must all work together each from
our side to help deliver our nation out of the
injustice and the double standard treatment to a
nation in equality. True sense of equality comes
from with in. We must all be leaders and initiators
in this struggle for perseverance. On this
remembrance, please take a moment to reflect on
yourself. Reflect on the treatment that you allow
others to give you. True equality is non-hostile and
non-violent; true equality comes with a high degree
of self-respect and self-recognition as an
individual and as a Kurd!
Copyright, respective author or news agency, Ara
Alan, Kurdish Youth Club, Promoting Kurdistan and
Kurdish Culture in U.S.A since 2003
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