Dr King

Posted: Monday, April 04, 2011 by Travis Cody in
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On 4 April 1968, Dr Martin Luther King Jr was gunned down as he spoke from the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, TN.  He was just 39 years old.  He was a leader for us all and his words are as powerful today as they were when he first spoke them and wrote them.


Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time: the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence.  Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation.  The foundation of such a method is love.  (MLK, Nobel Prize acceptance speech, Stockholm, Sweden, 11 December 1964)


Think of the unrest and discord all over the word.  Those words could be spoken about any of the uprisings we have seen of the oppressed over the last six months.  And yet they were spoken 46 years ago.


We have come so far, and yet we have so much farther to go.


Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.  Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction...The chain reaction of evil - hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars - must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.  (MLK, 1963)


It's easy to be cynical these days about respect and peace.  I'm not saying that there aren't things worth fighting for, because there are.  But the fight won't always require a closed fist.  Sometimes the fight calls for an open hand, stretched forth in love, respect, and brotherhood.




15 January 1929 - 4 April 1968

8 comments:

  1. Jeni says:
    04 April, 2011 05:24

    Just as hate begets hate, so too does love spread and grow -changing people and circumstances then as it moves on its way.
    His message -such a simplistic one in so many ways -and yet, though many claim to believe and practice it, still so much room for it to grow.
    Another very good post, Travis!

  1. Durward Discussion says:
    04 April, 2011 05:54

    As always, your thoughts reflect what needs to be said. We all need to dream the dream.

  1. Anonymous says:
    04 April, 2011 06:06

    I loved his message of equality. Not surpemacy, but equality. All men are equal. Folks need to remember that. Equality builds brotherhood, and brotherhood brings love...

  1. Charles Gramlich says:
    04 April, 2011 06:54

    Far too often it seems like 3 steps forward and 2 back, or sometimes 4 back. WE humans don't often get a lot better, and certainly not quickly.

  1. Naquillity says:
    04 April, 2011 07:53

    what a wonderful tribute to one of the most influential men of our time. it's a shame he was gunned down. it's untelling what he could have accomplished for our country. hope all is well. have a great day.

  1. Noe Noe Girl...A Queen of all Trades. says:
    04 April, 2011 08:43

    A awesome man.

  1. Akelamalu says:
    04 April, 2011 09:43

    Lovely tribute to a great man.

  1. Debra says:
    04 April, 2011 23:50

    I especially appreciate that second quote you posted of Dr. King. I find it so difficult to watch the news these days and that is saying a lot as I am a "news junkie"!

    Would to God that we could find some measure of peace to live together in this world.

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