Issue date: 1/1/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Courtesy Photo The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

During the civil rights movement of the 1960's, there were many African American leaders who sought to establish equality and justice. Malcolm X used what could be described as a radical approach to rectify the racial issues in America. This is evident when he stated, "Give me the ballot or the bullet!" Conversely, Martin Luther King Jr. used the non-violence movement. This was enacted through several boycotts and demonstrations, specifically the 1963 march in Washington, DC. Fast forward 44 years, and world leaders such as Reverend Sun Myung Moon and Martin Luther King III are implementing a non-violent approach in the Middle East to create and maintain peace.
To achieve this goal, the Universal Peace Federation sponsors an annual three month voyage to Israel. This voyage, also known as the Middle East Peace Initiative (MEPI), is organized by Dr. Sun Myung Moon. The broad conflict in the Middle East encompasses Palestinians and Israelis of all religious affiliation. The goal of MEPI is to unite and recognize three forms of religion; Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. World leaders such as King III are committed to achieving the goals of MEPI and ultimately, establishing peace in the Middle East region.
Martin Luther King III of Realizing the Dream is invoking a leadership presence in the Middle East. During a recent trip to the Holy Land, King III suggests that, "peace ambassadors are supposed to stop and prevent war amongst countries." King III believes when Muslims, Jews, and Christians co-exist peacefully, a peace shift will occur across the world. King III believes the non-violence approach can achieve this. According to King III, there are six characteristics and descriptions of non-violence.
In order for the non-violence approach to succeed in the Middle East, all of its components must be present. According to King III, the six characteristics of non-violence suggest: it is not for cowards, it does not seek to defeat or humiliate, it attacks forces of evil as opposed to the person creating evil, it accepts suffering without retaliation, it chooses love over hate, and it holds the universe on the side of justice.
These characteristics help maintain an effective means to an end. King III believes that if a non-violence approach possesses these characteristics, then peace can reign where conflict once existed. To help understand these characteristics, King III effectively describes the six characteristics as: required information gathering, an education about the issue, a personal commitment, a negotiation on the various sides of the conflict, direct action, and bringing communities back together through reconciliation.
Martin Luther King III believes a non-violent peace solution will occur. He suggests, philosophically, "A successful non-violent approach requires people working together.
Whether or not people choose to embrace it, we don't know." Accepting the non-violence approach is not simple. However, if the non-violence movement is accepted, then a non-violent climate will occur. King III is focused on creating atmospheric changes similar to his forefathers. He understands, like the leaders before him, "Wars are poor chisels for carving out peace for tomorrow."

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