Monday, January 18, 2010

king.

Today marks the first Martin Luther King Jr. Day that I have actually taken the pause to recognize the man's wisdom and influence on society. Also, this will be a day in recognizing my own past and continuing ignorance of the wisdom this man preached.

Because of my budding understanding of Rev. King's message, and in light of the troubled world climate as an untold tragedy unfolds in Haiti, I wanted to let him guest-write on this blog.

I've searched some King quotes that still ring true in our charge to seek justice today, and I will be collecting them here... May his words live on as a bright voice of truth in a world of confused darkness.


"Let us be dissatisfied until the tragic walls that separate the outer city of wealth and comfort from the inner city of poverty and despair shall be crushed by the battering rams of the forces of justice."


"Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary."

"Pity may represent little more than the impersonal concern which prompts the mailing of a check, but true sympathy is the personal concern which demands the giving of one's soul."


"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"


"The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood."


"The question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be... The nation and the world are in dire need of creative extremists."

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

"The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people."

"A true revolution of values will soon cause us to question the fairness and justice of many of our past and present policies. On the one hand, we are called to play the Good Samaritan on life's roadside, but that will be only an initial act. One day we must come to see that the whole Jericho Road must be transformed so that men and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed as they make their journey on life's highway. True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring."

"I know that love is ultimately the only answer to mankind's problems. And I'm going to talk about it everywhere I go. I know it isn't popular to talk about it in some circles today. I'm not talking about emotional bosh when I talk about love, I'm talking about a strong, demanding love. And I have seen too much hate. I've seen too much hate on the faces of sheriffs in the South. I've seen hate on the faces of too many Klansmen and too many White Citizens Councilors in the South to want to hate myself, because every time I see it, I know that it does something to their faces and their personalities and I say to myself that hate is too great a burden to bear. I have decided to love. If you are seeking the highest good, I think you can find it through love. And the beautiful thing is that we are moving against wrong when we do it, because John was right, God is love. He who hates does not know God, but he who has love has the key that unlocks the door to the meaning of ultimate reality."

"Let us develop a kind of dangerous unselfishness."


Of course this set of quotes is far from extensive, but I hope it helps us reconnect with Rev. King's message of peace, hope, and justice.
If you have other quotes to add, please do.

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