After visiting the snakebite URL, I couldn't help noticing how it uses the word Zionist all over the place. So I felt the following might enlighten some souls. Sharon, this one's for you. Too bad this great leader wasn't there at the International Conference on Racism in S. Africa. > Selections from the Writings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. > > > > ". . . You declare, my friend, that you do not hate the Jews, you are > > merely 'anti-Zionist.' And I say, let the truth ring forth from the > > high mountain tops, let it echo through the valleys of God's green > > earth: When people criticize Zionism, they mean Jews--this is God's > > own truth. > > > > "Antisemitism, the hatred of the Jewish people, has been and remains a > > blot on the soul of mankind. In this we are in full agreement. So know > > also this: anti-Zionist is inherently antisemitic, and ever will be > > so. > > > > "Why is this? You know that Zionism is nothing less than the dream and > > ideal of the Jewish people returning to live in their own land. The > > Jewish people, the Scriptures tell us, once enjoyed a flourishing > > Commonwealth in the Holy Land. From this they were expelled by the > > Roman tyrant, the same Romans who cruelly murdered Our Lord. Driven > > from their homeland, their nation in ashes, forced to wander the > > globe, the Jewish people time and again suffered the lash of whichever > > tyrant happened to rule over them. > > > > "The Negro people, my friend, know what it is to suffer the torment of > > tyranny under rulers not of our choosing. Our brothers in Africa have > > begged, pleaded, requested--DEMANDED the recognition and realization > > of our inborn right to live in peace under our own sovereignty in our > > own country. > > > > "How easy it should be, for anyone who holds dear this inalienable > > right of all mankind, to understand and support the right of the > > Jewish People to live in their ancient Land of Israel. All men of good > > will exult in the fulfilment of God's promise, that his People should > > return in joy to rebuild their plundered land. This is Zionism, > > nothing more, nothing less. > > > > "And what is anti-Zionist? It is the denial to the Jewish people of a > > fundamental right that we justly claim for the people of Africa and > > freely accord all other nations of the Globe. It is discrimination > > against Jews, my friend, because they are Jews. In short, it is > > antisemitism. > > > > "The antisemite rejoices at any opportunity to vent his malice. The > > times have made it unpopular, in the West, to proclaim openly a hatred > > of the Jews. This being the case, the antisemite must constantly seek > > new forms and forums for his poison. How he must revel in the new > > masquerade! He does not hate the Jews, he is just 'anti-Zionist'! > > > > "My friend, I do not accuse you of deliberate antisemitism. I know you > > feel, as I do, a deep love of truth and justice and a revulsion for > > racism, prejudice, and discrimination. But I know you have been > > misled--as others have been--into thinking you can be 'anti-Zionist' > > and yet remain true to these heartfelt principles that you and I > > share. Let my words echo in the depths of your soul: When people > > criticize Zionism, they mean Jews--make no mistake about it." > > > > (From M.L. King Jr., "Letter to an Anti-Zionist Friend," _Saturday > > Review_XLVII (Aug. 1967), p. 76. Reprinted in M.L. King Jr., _This I > > Believe: Selections from the Writings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr._
