Today is a very special day for those who love freedom and
democracy. Today is Israel’s 57th birthday.
Since its founding, Israel has been a faithful ally of the
United States, and this relationship has significantly helped both
nations. Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East, and by
supporting it the United States reaffirms its commitment to
democracy in that part of the world.
In these 57 years, Israel has contributed important research in
all academic and scientific fields, most notably health care and
technology.
Israelis have the highest number of degrees per capita in
science and engineering in the developed world and have used their
skills to develop technology that helps people around the globe.
For example, technology for the cell phone and the first
radiation-free breast cancer test were both developed by Israeli
scientists.
Israel has also lived up to its goal of providing a home for
world Jewry while maintaining equality for the diverse religious
groups residing in its territory. Israeli society is made up of
Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze and Baha’Ãs, all of
whom are equal in the eyes of the state, as Israel’s
declaration of independence guarantees its minorities full
citizenship and equal protection under the law.
Israel also embodies the same ideals of life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness that people worldwide hold so dear. It gives
rights and liberties to all its people, regardless of gender, race,
creed or sexual orientation.
These egalitarian values make Israel one of the world’s
most open-minded societies. Israeli women are guaranteed equal
rights and equal pay, and Israel was the first Westernized country
to have a female prime minister.
Israel is also the only country in the Middle East in which the
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community lives openly and
freely and is embraced by society.
Israel has achieved all these things while being under almost
constant attacks. So one must wonder how Israel has been able to
achieve so much.
The answer lies in Israel’s greatest resource: its
people.
To discover more about Israelis, I always look up to my
native-born Israeli grandparents, who were both raised in Tel-Aviv.
My grandparents are in their 80s and have lived in the state of
Israel since its birth. Both have felt much grief during those
years, as they lost numerous friends and family members in the wars
in defense of Israel.
Both my grandparents desperately want peace. They, like the vast
majority of Israelis, want to see Israelis and Arabs living happily
and safely, each in their own home, so that the future of both
people can be guaranteed.
It is precisely this longing for peace that makes Israel so
special. How can Israelis want peace after losing so many friends
and family? Because for Israelis, peace is the only way.
This is why this year’s commemoration of Israel’s
independence day on campus is a celebration of the prospects and
hopes for peace and is a day highlighting the achievements of this
small state. Today’s celebrations include an on-campus party
at noon in Bruin Plaza and a party at the Hillel building at
night.
And so, on this year’s 57th anniversary of Israel’s
independence, I would like to use this very Israeli notion of
longing for peace, and wish Israel and its people a peaceful and
happy birthday.
Morad is a Bruins for Israel spokesperson.