6th Thought

The article I will discuss from the Jerusalem Post:
Here

On Israel Memorial Day, a group gathered at the Martyrs' Forest to honor activist William Cooper. He was an Aboriginal who worked hard in the Australian community to bring attention to the rights of the indigenous. And he recognized all forms of suffering; he and his follow clansmen protested the horror of Kristallnacht at the German consulate in Melbourn.

I find it so Cooper's actions so impressive, especially given the voicelessness and oppression of his own people that must have made speaking up difficult. It's wonderful that Israel was able to recognize him and his work; it really attests the power of transformation borne when one subaltern is able to speak out for another. I hope Israel can continue to reach out to the oppressed: the Jew, the Native, the lesbian, the Palestinian.

I also find the Martyrs' Forest as a whole so inspiring. The Milgram experiments illustrates the propensity for violence we all carry in our yetzer hara; the Forest shows the the equal ability for care and sacrifice in the yetzer tov. The idea of planting trees, rather than concrete - something real, something permenant and living - is so beautiful. It's truly a memorial built "of good deeds".

They brought "brought water from the Mari River and soil from Yorta Yorta country" to mix with the dirt and water of Israel in planting more trees. A great grandson of Cooper stated on this, "in some miraculous way, being here in Israel is like coming back home for many of us."

I hope Israel can be a home to all people, that trees will continue to be planted, but that never again will their be a need for monuments to the dead - from the oppression of Natives or of Jews. Grahame Leonard, incoming JNF Australia Federal President, made a vital point: "Education is a very important for me: it guarantees the bond between Israel and future generations." Having done this assignment, I've realized just how many facets there are to Israeli life. I never would have heard such a beautiful story otherwise. Education is vital, to lift up the subaltern, encourage compassion, and keep Israel safe. Even after the rest of these 15 posts, I hope to keep reading Israeli news. I think there's a tendency in America to dismiss it as too complicated or depressing to bother with, which is really very dangerous.