Dear Jimmy Carter.... becoming part of the solution

Dear Jimmy Carter,

I must thank you for standing up to, as Paul Findley might say, Dare Speak Out... about Palestine !

I know how horrible the hate mongers are on every side of this issue and I applaud you for standing up to do the right thing. I know it is hard- and I know it hurts when people say cruel and thoughtless things, because you dare speak out for Palestine.

Right now it seems that every one I know is busy busy busy being angrily 'anti-war' ... but not really building peace... not really Building the Dream (I lift that phrase from the new memorial to be built on the National Mall in Washington DC in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. & America's battle for civil rights).

Right now there seems to be a whole huge and sophisticated EMPIRE of "peace groups" condemning "American Imperialism" with slick campaigns. And in everyone's rush to complain about war and "American Imperialism", every one seems to be forgetting basic human rights and dignity- real democracy... and most importantly- dear to my heart- Palestine... specifically the vital importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from 1948; including but not limited to the refugees inalienable legal, moral and sacred individual and collective right to leave- and the right to return.

The people of Palestine are in danger- and they are in pain. As I am sure your are aware religious hate arming violence & terror is everywhere in Israel on both sides of that awful apartheid wall and it is in Iraq with Iraqis right now killing each other as well as harassing and killing Palestinian refugees.

In addition Jordan and Syria and Lebanon are very much overwhelmed with refugees in a humanitarian crisis that began 60 years ago when Israel foolishly refused to respect the native non-Jewish Palestinians as the rightful owners of their ancestral homes, land and property. Israel still refuses to grant the token Palestinians known as "Israeli Arabs" remaining in "Israeli-proper" full and equal rights, refuses to respect the Palestinians as citizens entitled to peace and security, entitled to respect, entitled to true dignity... There are now over 5 million Palestinian refugees, with Israel making more and more every day. Plus the Lebanese refugees internally displaced by last summer's war. Plus all the refugees trying to escape from the violence and chaos in Iraq.

I don't think any religion should make families homeless. I don't think any religion should be armed with lethal weaponry and the will to kill "others" however that "other" might be defined. And I don't think any one religion should own the Holy Land- or righteous indignation... I think Palestine needs to be free in every possible way, including free to celebrate all of historic Palestine past, present and future... everywhere.

We just got our tax refund back this week before it all gets spent I made a donation to BuildtheDream.org that is creating an amazing and beautiful and totally inspiring Memorial on the National Mall in Washington DC to honor Martin Luther King Jr. I like that it is not honoring war or death or politicians- but it is honoring life and a civil rights victory.... and a noble man of peace and justice- a man of words... a man with a deep love for all of humanity: Let Freedom Ring!

And now I am making a donation to your The Carter Center which is according to the website "committed to advancing human rights and alleviating unnecessary human suffering. Join us in creating a world in which every man, woman, and child has the opportunity to enjoy good health and live in peace."

I make my donation in honor of Palestine: Peace not Apartheid ... and in honor of all those who dare speak out with courage and honesty to do what they can to help build a better future for all our children.

And I am sending a copy of this letter to my Congressmen and my current President, because I very much believe in American ideals- and I believe for everyone's sake, in order to end this war on and of terror, we all need to be saying firmly, with compassion- Palestine: Peace not Apartheid.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

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