Remembering Dr. King
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.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Nobel Prize acceptance speech, Stockholm, Sweden, December 11, 1964.
I first read this speech my junior year in a Peace, Religion and Justice class. Little did I know, that as I read Dr. King's speech, I was reading text that would eventually turn my whole world upside down. I know it may seem strange that an upper middle class white woman would be so influenced 45 years after Dr. King's acceptance speech, but I was. His message of non-violence and agape love showed me how the teachings of the Gospel can spark tangible change in a society. It is easy to dismiss the non-violence movement as idealistic, naive, and unpractical. However if we look at history, we will see that some of the greatest social revolutions of the previous century were accomplished by those who were committed to non-violent resistance (Gandhi and Indian independence, America's Civil Rights movement, South Africa's anti-apartheid movement).
In chapter 12 of the Gospel of Luke Jesus says, "to whom much is given, much is expected." I'm willing to bet that if you are reading this blog, much has been given to you. Through the availability of computers and the internet, our generation is able to connect to anyone anywhere you has a modem and a hard drive.... WE HAVE A VOICE! We are significantly wealthier than two-thirds of the entire world! What will we do with this voice and wealth. My hopes and prayers are that we will speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, and that we will push for social change through non-violent means. May we be instruments of peace and justice in a world that resorts to violence and oppression.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Nobel Prize acceptance speech, Stockholm, Sweden, December 11, 1964.
I first read this speech my junior year in a Peace, Religion and Justice class. Little did I know, that as I read Dr. King's speech, I was reading text that would eventually turn my whole world upside down. I know it may seem strange that an upper middle class white woman would be so influenced 45 years after Dr. King's acceptance speech, but I was. His message of non-violence and agape love showed me how the teachings of the Gospel can spark tangible change in a society. It is easy to dismiss the non-violence movement as idealistic, naive, and unpractical. However if we look at history, we will see that some of the greatest social revolutions of the previous century were accomplished by those who were committed to non-violent resistance (Gandhi and Indian independence, America's Civil Rights movement, South Africa's anti-apartheid movement).
In chapter 12 of the Gospel of Luke Jesus says, "to whom much is given, much is expected." I'm willing to bet that if you are reading this blog, much has been given to you. Through the availability of computers and the internet, our generation is able to connect to anyone anywhere you has a modem and a hard drive.... WE HAVE A VOICE! We are significantly wealthier than two-thirds of the entire world! What will we do with this voice and wealth. My hopes and prayers are that we will speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, and that we will push for social change through non-violent means. May we be instruments of peace and justice in a world that resorts to violence and oppression.
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