Blueprint for Peace: “Weed Out Hate” Promised Land Enrichment; Not Scorched Earth Retribution

Yesterday morning, another brutal, senseless terrorist attack on our collective Jewish soul occurred, in Jerusalem, a city of peace in name only.

The concept of destroying houses of the terrorists, might make us all feel a bit better for a short while, thinking that at least we are doing something, but has this approach really been proven?  The attacks keep on coming and the missiles keep on flying.

Living only 90 miles away from Ferguson, MO, I have had ample opportunity to put my “Weed Out Hate” concept to the test. The day after Mike Brown was killed by Ferguson Police, I found myself dialoging with Dr. Charles Steele, the National Southern Christian Leadership Conference President, African American comedian Dick Gregory, CNN journalist Don Lemon, discussing the merits of rooting out 230 years of African American bondage and ensuing racism through the simple act of placing White hands on Black hands, grasping upon weeds together and then planting seeds in their place.

One thing led to another, and I found myself in Berlin, Germany, giving a Jewish tribute at the 50 year commemoration of Dr. King’s visit to Berlin. In my speech, I called on the people of Berlin to erect a Jewish themed Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial, surrounded by  interactive park gardens, right in the heart of Berlin. Just imagine children “weeding out hate” together and then planting sunflower seeds of peace. Yes, that very Berlin where 80 years ago, Jews were rooted out and murdered as weeds. The following morning, I had an opportunity to discuss the idea with John Emerson, U.S. Ambassador to Berlin, as well as German President Joachim Gauck.

Herein lies the lesson to be learned for Jerusalem and Israel. What the terrorist organizations expect is eye for an eye retribution.  Think of the possibilities mandating “Weed Out Hate” pedagogy throughout Israel, teaching children to relate weeding of gardens to the rooting out anti-Semitism and other forms of hatred.   Think of the possibilities of establishing “Weed Out Hate” internment farms as punishment for youth offenders.  To the leaders of Hamas, Guantanamo would be preferable! Jews and Arabs rooting out terrorism? A Temple Mount “Weed Out Hate” Garden? Unthinkable…

In contrast to the Nazi Concentration Camps of the1940’s the proposed  “Weed Out Hate” farming internment camps would teach the Palestinian inmates valuable skill sets in state-of-the-art farming techniques for filling valuable positions in Gaza and West Bank. This is a case in which Gartenarbeit macht wirklich frei.