On this day when we recall the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. we can also be inspired by the courage he showed in dark and dangerous times. His words continue to remind each of us to find our own words to speak out every day for a tolerant and just society.
"We have an opportunity to make America a better nation." These words, spoken by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on this day in 1968 shortly before his death, are just as true today. They still give courage to people of all nations who seek a more fair and just society. Dr. King lived without fear and his life reminds us how much can be accomplished by standing strong for what is right.
On this day of remembrance of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. let’s recall what he lived and worked for fearlessly each day. In the style of the prophets, he called on society to grow in tolerance and justice. And in these difficult times, let’s not forget that unique strength he shared through his words and actions on behalf of all people.
Comments
Thanks Jim.
Do you know I haven't heard anything about this today until I read this? I guess that has more to do with my schedule today than with the media attention.
I wish we could all remember the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, not just on this day, but on every day.
One of the pitfalls of childhood is that one doesn't have to understand something to feel it. - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Jesus Swept ticked me off. Too short. I loved the characters and then POOF it was over.
-me
Robert Kennedy on the Death of Martin Luther King Jr.
Delivered in Indianapolis, Indiana, 40 years ago this evening:
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I'm only going to talk to you just for a minute or so this evening, because I have some -- some very sad news for all of you -- Could you lower those signs, please? -- I have some very sad news for all of you, and, I think, sad news for all of our fellow citizens, and people who love peace all over the world; and that is that Martin Luther King was shot and was killed tonight in Memphis, Tennessee.
Martin Luther King dedicated his life to love and to justice between fellow human beings. He died in the cause of that effort. In this difficult day, in this difficult time for the United States, it's perhaps well to ask what kind of a nation we are and what direction we want to move in. For those of you who are black -- considering the evidence evidently is that there were white people who were responsible -- you can be filled with bitterness, and with hatred, and a desire for revenge.
We can move in that direction as a country, in greater polarization -- black people amongst blacks, and white amongst whites, filled with hatred toward one another. Or we can make an effort, as Martin Luther King did, to understand, and to comprehend, and replace that violence, that stain of bloodshed that has spread across our land, with an effort to understand, compassion, and love.
For those of you who are black and are tempted to fill with -- be filled with hatred and mistrust of the injustice of such an act, against all white people, I would only say that I can also feel in my own heart the same kind of feeling. I had a member of my family killed, but he was killed by a white man.
But we have to make an effort in the United States. We have to make an effort to understand, to get beyond, or go beyond these rather difficult times.
My favorite poem, my -- my favorite poet was Aeschylus. And he once wrote:
Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget
falls drop by drop upon the heart,
until, in our own despair,
against our will,
comes wisdom
through the awful grace of God.
What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness, but is love, and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or whether they be black.
So I ask you tonight to return home, to say a prayer for the family of Martin Luther King -- yeah, it's true -- but more importantly to say a prayer for our own country, which all of us love -- a prayer for understanding and that compassion of which I spoke.
We can do well in this country. We will have difficult times. We've had difficult times in the past, but we -- and we will have difficult times in the future. It is not the end of violence; it is not the end of lawlessness; and it's not the end of disorder.
But the vast majority of white people and the vast majority of black people in this country want to live together, want to improve the quality of our life, and want justice for all human beings that abide in our land.
And let's dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world. Let us dedicate ourselves to that, and say a prayer for our country and for our people.
Thank you very much.
We lost a lot when we lost these two men.
One of the pitfalls of childhood is that one doesn't have to understand something to feel it. - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Jesus Swept ticked me off. Too short. I loved the characters and then POOF it was over.
-me
No, It Was Thursday, April 4, 1968
He was shot at 6:01 pm.
fhblack
Great reminider Jim....
Martin and Bobby were both products of our great country.
Born in social economic circumstances as far apart as East is to West, yet both American in every aspect of thier being.
The world societal value of Truth, Justice, Peace and Understanding is not itself "born", but can be born in men and women. These two men are examples of that fact.
I can only hope, strive and aspire to the greatness of thier humility.
http://MarshallAdame4Congress2008.com
Marshall Adame
2014 U.S. Congress Candidate NC-03
April 4, 1968
I posted some memories of that night and the days that followed over on OP:
http://www.orangepolitics.org/2008/04/april-4-1968-a-significant-date
fhblack