By Robert S. Siegel
There was a significant period in Spanish history called. La Convivencia or “the Cooperation”. This period was a 700+ year golden age of cooperation between Jews, Muslims, and Christians that occurred in Spain from 711 A.D. to the Jewish expulsion from Spain in 1492. During this age these diverse groups led remarkable advances in economics, science, religion, and culture.
There is an opportunity to bring about a 21st century era of Jewish, Muslim, and Christian cooperation, La Convivencia II. A new era of cooperation has the potential to recreate the great progress in technology, medicine, science, arts, and especially religious philosophy. The location for a second La Convivencia?… Israel and the Palestinian territories.
The vision for La Convivencia II includes a Palestinian nation, a secure Israel, strong relationships between Israel and Palestine and their neighbors Egypt and Jordan.
Most Middle East watchers will insist that any chance for cooperation has to begin with a cessation of Israeli settlements on the West Bank, Israeli recognition of the Palestinian nation, and depending on whose the perspective, a division of Jerusalem or complete Israeli abandonment of the ancient part of the city. Some sharp observers might add a requirement for an end to Palestinian violence against Israelis and other Palestinians.
I want to take a different approach. Yes, I am a dreamer, but, perhaps a dream is what is needed. Martin Luther King used his I Have a Dream speech to paint a common vision of how things could be for all parties here in America. His speech established a level of expectation, a goal. The best motivators in history, Washington, Lincoln, Gandhi, King, painted great visions, goals, based on high expectations of everyone. That is how you win great achievements.
President Obama stands alone in modern history as the one person in possession of the full power and authority of the U.S. presidency, popular support at home and throughout the world unseen since Kennedy or Eisenhower, combined with the oratorical skills and the family relationship with Islam to launch the dream of La Convivencia II. Past presidents have been tough on the Palestinians and demanding of the Israelis. Those approaches haven’t solved anything. They have made the situation worse.
Israelis and Palestinians need Change they can believe in.
King said “I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.”
Applied for La Convivencia II, “I have a dream that one day on the hills of Jerusalem and Hebron the sons of Palestinians and the sons of Israelis will stand together in a new spirit of cooperation, in the land of their forefathers, in peace. That soldiers will beat their swords into ploughshares and great theological debates among Rabbis, Imams, and Priests will replace learning about war and about hate.
“Great minds will Cooperate to produce great technologies to feed the hungry, heal the sick, and clean our world, and great learning will advance our understanding and appreciation of each other’s approach to God.
“I have a dream that La Convivencia becomes a reality once more.”
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Good Job Mr Siegel….! I love this.
But I wonder if the first La Convivencia was the period when Spanish was ruled with Islamic Law? Because I once read about the history of Islam and from that book I know that Islam ever ruled Spanish. At that time, Islamic Law was the main law in Spanish and all people, Jewish, Muslim, and Christian lived side by side in peace. And is it right that the ruin of Islamic State in Spanish was because of the Crusade? I highly appreciate this writing, Mr Siegel… Good job….!
You are correct. Spain was under Islam during La Convivencia.
And Sir, do you think that the democracy will bring the second La Convivencia, in this case La Convivencia in Palestine and Israel? Because many people are not afraid of being ruled with Islamic Law as at the first La Convivencia.
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