IN COMMEMORATION of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Legacy
Young Martin
Original Oil Painting by Bay Area artist, Sally K. Green
www.sallykgreen.com, see leaders with a lasting impression
At this moment in our history, we have experienced a week where the realities of an escalating war are suddenly confronting our consciousness. Its truth is coming at us directly from governmental actions, in what appears an abuse of power, most likely covert plans and rumors of a deeper level of war, killing and destruction. It is as if Dr. Martin Luther King is speaking to us across time. He seems to be tapping us on the shoulder to remember for reasons that may be more important now than ever before in our lifetime.
Take in his wisdom...challenge yourself to step up to be part of creating that tipping point where all of us change our misdirected course, demanding that our country live up to its values. Peace doesn't come from war. War begets war. Hatred and violence multiplies hatred and violence. We must ask...
How can MORE KILLING hold the answers we seek?
CONSIDER DR. KING's WISDOM...
OUR ROLE IN PEACE
"When evil men plot, good men must plan. When evil men burn and bomb, good men must build and bind. When evil men shout ugly words of hatred, good men must commit themselves to the glories of love. Where evil men would seek to perpetuate an unjust status quo, good men must seek to bring into being a real order of justice."
LESSONS FROM WAR
"...The only change came from America, as we increased our troops commitments in support of governments which were singularly corrupt, inept, and without popular support. All the while, the people read our leaflets and received regular promises of peace and democracy and land reform. Now they languish under our bombs and consider us...not the real enemy. They move sadly and apathetically as we herd them off the land of their fathers into concentration camps where minimal social needs are rarely met. They know that they must move or be destroyed by our bombs, and they go, primarily women and children and the aged. They watch as we poison their water, as we kill a million acres of their crops, and they wander into the hospitals with at least twenty casualties from American fire power to one ["enemy-inflicted"] injury. They wander into the towns and see thousands of children homeless, without clothes, running in packs on the streets like animals. They see the children selling their sisters to our soldiers, soliciting for their mothers."
ISN'T WINNING MORE ABOUT RULE OF LOVE not War?
"The past is prophetic in that it asserts loudly that wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows. One day we must come to see that peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal. We must pursue peaceful ends through peaceful means. How much longer must we play at deadly war games before we need the plaintive pleas of the unnumbered dead and maimed of past wars?''
"Our freedom was not won a century ago, it is not won today; but some small part of it is in our hands... If we assume that life is worth living and that man has a right to survival, then we must find an alternative to war. In a day when vehicles hurtle through outer space and guided ballistic missiles carve highways of death through the stratosphere, no nation can claim victory in war."
BOOK REFERENCES and ARCHIVAL VIDEO of Dr. King's Wisdom
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Words of Martin Luther King Jr. and The Trumpet of Conscience
Selected by Coretta Scott King
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Visit to Grace Cathedral in 1965
Story and video of his message
What difference will you make to move us to the rule of love?
How will history record our response?
Debbe
Debbe Kennedy
author and founder, President and CEO
Global Dialogue Center and Leadership Solutions Companies
New Book! Putting Our Differences to Work (June 2008)
Learn more: www.puttingourdifferencestowork.com
Debbe,
Thanks for this post. Yesterday I attended Fellowship Church in San Francisco, the first interracial, interfaith church in the U.S. A member of the congregation who is an actor, Felix Justice, did a reading of one of MLK's speeches as part of the service. It was a powerful re-presencing of MLK and the vision he held for our nation. I found it particularly poignant that this was occuring in the shadow of the new White House plan for Iraq, Iran and Siria, as revealed earlier in the week.
Instead of adding to the public outcry and criticism already underway, I wish to ask where the American people have gone. The administration isn't going to change; this is clear. So why are "we the people" so resigned that we sit by while this plan is anacted? Why is the electorate so passive in this hour of darkness? What propmts us to be content with hurling a few opinions or pointing a few fingers instead of taking back our country and demanding a complete overhaul of our present foreigh policy?
King taught us that peace does not come from violence of any means yet we continue to walk heavily on the rest of the world with arrogance and hubris, trashing the principles we claim to uphold. We have essentially started another war with Iran, if not officially declared we have nonetheles invaded them.
King is dead but his vision can be rekindled if we have the collective will to get into action. But we have to get off our butts...not later but NOW!
Posted by: John Renesch | January 15, 2007 at 08:22 AM
Dear Debbe,
Once again you have expressed what so many of us are feeling at the depths of our souls--and done so with such heart and such clarity.
What more is there to say--what more is there to do--but to stay immersed in Dr. King's words--so powerful, so meaningful, so timeless. And then for each of us to step out and speak out BOLDLY in the face of the decisions being made by our administration--and stand for the dream of peace and the oneness of us all--to stand for the dream Martin Luther King expressed for all of us.
Posted by: Jan Coleman | January 17, 2007 at 09:48 PM
Dear Jan,
Thank you adding your thoughts. Dr. King seemed to be very present this week and your comments reflect how powerful and meaningful his wisdom is at this time in history. May we all honor the dream he left for us to fulfill by our actions.
Debbe
Posted by: Debbe Kennedy | January 18, 2007 at 08:51 PM