Martin Luther King Day

[buddyhu]

A national holiday in the US. While some focus on his human failings and controversies that can be stirred, let us take this holiday ("a day marked by a general suspension of work in commemoration of an event") to remember the best he had to offer, including his words of deep realization and inspiration. Some quotes:

"We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us, and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies."

"We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality."

"Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, you also refuse to hate him."

"Hatred paralyses life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it."

"The past is prophetic in that it asserts loudly that wars are poor chisels for carving out a peaceful tomorrow."

[chitz]

Thank you!

[Hoyt]

An inspiration in many ways.

[guitarmac62]

Well said, thanks!

[Bob Womack]

When our boys graduated from high school we threw each of them a party. We bought them whatever they wanted for the grill and allowed them to invite anyone they wanted to the party. Then my wife and I retired upstairs and let the fun begin.

The night of my second son's party about around 2003, and about an hour into the party, my son came up and knocked on the door: "Dad, could you help me start the grill?" We went downstairs and I helped him fire it up. Along the way down and back I met all his friends before I returned to the bedroom and picked up my book again. And then it hit me: My son and I were the only caucasians at the party. My son had invited his best friends to our table. Dr. King's dream was happening before my eyes in a very natural, un-self-conscious way. It was quite moving for me.

Bob

[Mdinterman]

One of the greatest orators ever. Maybe the best.

[Larry Pattis]

Thank you, Rich.

[fitness1]

Amazing human being....

[Glennwillow]

Thanks Rich.

I must say that I was very much alive when Martin Luther King, Jr. was doing his best work, but I was living in a different world, trying to grow up and get educated, wrapped up in my own challenges. It's very much in looking back as an older adult that I have realized who Dr. King really was and what he contributed to American culture.

I wish I had been more aware when I was younger. Sometimes we don't really see or understand the great moments or the great people in our lives until we look back on them years later.

- Glenn

[Thorby Bislam]

Do not his 'human failings' make his achievements greater?

[buddyhu]

Originally Posted by Glennwillow

Thanks Rich.

I must say that I was very much alive when Martin Luther King, Jr. was doing his best work, but I was living in a different world, trying to grow up and get educated, wrapped up in my own challenges. It's very much in looking back as an older adult that I have realized who Dr. King really was and what he contributed to American culture.

I wish I had been more aware when I was younger. Sometimes we don't really see or understand the great moments or the great people in our lives until we look back on them years later.

- Glenn

Thank you, Glenn. I appreciate your observation. I, too, was not aware of many great people that were in the milieu of my youth, and did not appreciate some of the great moments happening all around me. I guess that is part of what defines youth: being grandiose, self-cherishing, and not being able to recognize the full value of things that weren't immediately appealing or easily understood.

[buddyhu]

Originally Posted by Thorby Bislam

Do not his 'human failings' make his achievements greater?

My answer would be "yes".

[Dirk Hofman]

There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by Glennwillow

...Sometimes we don't really see or understand the great moments or the great people in our lives until we look back on them years later...

Fer sure...

Well said, Glenn...

[buddyhu]

Originally Posted by Dirk Hofman

There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Oops. Maybe I should have waited a bit longer for the coffee to kick in. Thanks for catching my oversight.