In the aftermath of the Arizona shootings, there is a new call for civility in our political discourse. The crises of our time demand a common sense of purpose and collective action. On what would have been his 82nd birthday, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words ring as true today as they did in the 1960s. The state that once rejected the King holiday is now providing the renewed impetus to heed his prophetic voice.
King always believed that it was necessary to listen to and even love one’s enemies. That did not mean tolerating injustice. He saw that anger, while understandable on the part of the oppressed and aggrieved, could never bring about true peace and social justice. Instead of trying to smash and destroy the opponents of freedom and equality, King called for building a new set of human relationships based on dignity and respect. Everyone is capable of changing, and all members of society are needed to create the “beloved community.”
via Scott Kurashige: From Civility to Nonviolence: Honoring Dr. King.
RichardWanke.Com 