"Honoring" Martin Luther King, Jr.
Every year on the third Monday in January, a day which, in the United States, supposedly is set aside for the purpose of "honoring" the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a man who is, unquestionably, one of the greatest figures in American history, most Americans instead choose to go about their usual business, doing all the things that they usually do, in their usual, thoughtless manner. It clearly would be much better, both for themselves and for their nation, if they ceased their usual round of foolish pursuits, even if only for one day, and made an earnest attempt to heed the wisdom of his words.
Dr. King, a black man and a Baptist preacher, was primarily known for his moral leadership within the black community, where he chose to put himself at the forefront of the collective opposition to racism (particularly in regard to the policy of segregation), but he also looked beyond the plight of his own people, addressing wider problems and examining their underlying causes. His public comments, honed by the vigorous force of his own formidable intellect and grounded in the righteous prophecies of the Old Testament, conveyed a fearless outlook of deep understanding and sharp insight.
On nonviolence: "Admittedly, nonviolence in the truest sense is not a strategy that one uses simply because it is expedient at the moment; nonviolence is ultimately a way of life that men live by because of the sheer morality of its claim."
On war: "In this day of man's highest technical achievement, in this day of dazzling discovery, of novel opportunities, loftier dignities and fuller freedom for all, there is no excuse for the kind of blind craving for power and resources that provoked the wars of previous generations. There is no need to fight for food and land."
On conformity: "Many people fear nothing more terribly than to take a position that stands out sharply and clearly from the prevailing opinion. The tendency of most is to adopt a view that is so ambiguous that it will include everything and so popular that it will include everybody."
On poverty: "The poor in our countries have been shut out of our minds and driven from the mainstream of our societies, because we have allowed them to become invisible."
Unfortunately, it must be stated that Martin Luther King Jr. Day has never amounted to anything more than an annual display of nationwide lip service in America, and a shallow excuse for millions of Americans to enjoy a long weekend at the nearest shopping center. How many Americans, white or black, truly believe in the steadfast principles of peace and equity (which are, in truth, the principles of pacifism and socialism) that Dr. King voiced and exemplified? How many Americans, white or black, are actually inclined to reject the prevailing culture of violence and greed?
When Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed by a gunshot in Memphis, Tennessee, in April of 1968, America suffered an immeasurable loss. A loss that, decades later, continues to be palpable and painful. It is one thing for Americans to engage in the unmitigated hypocrisy of "honoring" Dr. King with a useless holiday, but it would be quite another thing for them to honestly acknowledge the virtue and verity of his profound beliefs, and, in addition, to stop and give serious thought to the necessary questions that he courageously raised in his brief lifetime.
Dr. King, a black man and a Baptist preacher, was primarily known for his moral leadership within the black community, where he chose to put himself at the forefront of the collective opposition to racism (particularly in regard to the policy of segregation), but he also looked beyond the plight of his own people, addressing wider problems and examining their underlying causes. His public comments, honed by the vigorous force of his own formidable intellect and grounded in the righteous prophecies of the Old Testament, conveyed a fearless outlook of deep understanding and sharp insight.
On nonviolence: "Admittedly, nonviolence in the truest sense is not a strategy that one uses simply because it is expedient at the moment; nonviolence is ultimately a way of life that men live by because of the sheer morality of its claim."
On war: "In this day of man's highest technical achievement, in this day of dazzling discovery, of novel opportunities, loftier dignities and fuller freedom for all, there is no excuse for the kind of blind craving for power and resources that provoked the wars of previous generations. There is no need to fight for food and land."
On conformity: "Many people fear nothing more terribly than to take a position that stands out sharply and clearly from the prevailing opinion. The tendency of most is to adopt a view that is so ambiguous that it will include everything and so popular that it will include everybody."
On poverty: "The poor in our countries have been shut out of our minds and driven from the mainstream of our societies, because we have allowed them to become invisible."
Unfortunately, it must be stated that Martin Luther King Jr. Day has never amounted to anything more than an annual display of nationwide lip service in America, and a shallow excuse for millions of Americans to enjoy a long weekend at the nearest shopping center. How many Americans, white or black, truly believe in the steadfast principles of peace and equity (which are, in truth, the principles of pacifism and socialism) that Dr. King voiced and exemplified? How many Americans, white or black, are actually inclined to reject the prevailing culture of violence and greed?
When Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed by a gunshot in Memphis, Tennessee, in April of 1968, America suffered an immeasurable loss. A loss that, decades later, continues to be palpable and painful. It is one thing for Americans to engage in the unmitigated hypocrisy of "honoring" Dr. King with a useless holiday, but it would be quite another thing for them to honestly acknowledge the virtue and verity of his profound beliefs, and, in addition, to stop and give serious thought to the necessary questions that he courageously raised in his brief lifetime.