Martin Luther King day

[Earl Purple]

Tomorrow in the USA (which is where I am right now).

Although Martin Luther King did not stand for any religion, he did stand for tolerance of people, especially people who are different from yourself, and giving them the same rights.

He was a peaceful man who stood for nothing but peace and harmony and died for his cause.

The ideal martyr.

[pinky]

Actually, Dr. King was an ordained Baptist minister, so I think it's safe to say he stood for Christianity according to the Baptist belief.

[Earl Purple]

maybe he was a Christian but I don't think that was the point of his "I Have A Dream" speech.

[pinky]

He was far more than that speech. Most of his work got overlooked because of the power of the speech.

He definitely stood for a particular religion.

[bekahbeans]

King said, and I'm paraphrasing, that he found his methods in Ghandi and his message in Christ.

Anyway, he was coo no matter what religion he was.

[tiger_rascal]

I did not want to bring this up, but I feel the need to. I figured this is as good a time as any to express my concern.

I have heard some bad things about Martin Luther King. Ever since I have had a different impression of him. I know we are all human and make mistakes, but this was some very bad stuff and it was while he was popular for lack of better words and making an impact.

Has anyone heard about this and if there is any truth in it?

[bekahbeans]

Hmm...not sure what you're talking about.

Would you mind PMing me? I'd be interested to know so I can look into it.

[db44]

The worst thing I ever heard were allegations of MLK having not been faithful to his wife. I've never heard if those claims were valid or not.

[tiger_rascal]

There may be a couple more things. One of which is basically saying that he was not faithful with his wife, but with some detail.

[bluehorizonx10]

I agree with Chad. Once you're heard the bad somehow it sticks out in your mind. But I'd also say that behind any great man you'll find some skeletons in the closet. We all make mistakes and some very big ones in life. I used to work for a doctor that always said, "that's why they put erasers on pencils." I sometimes think he meant we have a way through God to redeem ourselves. And if MLK was Christian, then I suppose he knew his way was through Jesus Christ. I pray he brought his mistakes before God in the right way before he died. But I do have to say in my close lying area here we don't celebrate the day. Across the state line yes, they do, but not here. Life goes on as normal.

[Keronothnetophobia]

I used to look up to Martin Luther King and I LOVED learning about him in school and then one day someone told me some of the bad things about him and I was so shocked.

It was actually in history class and this VERY intelligent boy raised his hand and told the teacher "Why don't you tell us some of the OTHER things that Martin Luther King did?" and the teacher said "There's no proof of that"....And the boy said "Well...isn't it only fair to teach us both sides of something...."

So yeah...The things I heard shocked me and I love the whole "I have a dream..." thing and I'm all for what he stood for...but I dont' agree with his lifestyle and it's sad that people can have such a great opinion of a strong black man and then we hear something like this and it just kills it. It's sad. I hope it's not true.

[DoubleEdgeSword]

If I'm not mistaken, most of these allegations came from a book by Michael Dyson, a black writer. Truthfully, I wonder how much of it was manufactured by J.Edgar Hoover. And even if the allegations of plagerism and infidelity are true, who among us has not broken at least one of the 10 Commandments? Perhaps Dr. King did commit adultery. But, as so many of the Christians here have pointed out, all sins are equal.

There is no denying the impact Dr. King had on the civil rights movement of the 1960s, and for that he is honored. As it should be. Whatever his sins may have been, that is between him and his God.

I have great respect for his work.

[oldernow]

I agree Double, the man made mistakes just like anyone else. It shouldnt take away from the good that he did.

[db44]

I'm curious how those people who look at MLK's image as tarnished feel about Nelson Mandela?

[Sinister]

Let he who is without sin.. You all know the rest..

[bekahbeans]

yesh, I agree with Double and Sinister. Whatever sins he comitted are between him and God. We should focus on the positive because he did so much. I still highly respect him for what he stood for.

[Sinister]

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


I said to my children, "I'm going to work and do everything that I can do to see that you get a good education. I don't ever want you to forget that there are millions of God's children who will not and cannot get a good education, and I don't want you feeling that you are better than they are. For you will never be what you ought to be until they are what they ought to be.'

- Martin Luther King Jr., 1.7.68


I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law.

- Martin Luther King Jr., "Letter From Birmingham Jail ", 4.16.63


In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.

- Martin Luther King Jr., "The Trumpet of Conscience", 1967


We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.

- Martin Luther King Jr., "Remaining Awake Through A Great Revolution ", 3.31.68


Whatever career you may choose for yourself -- doctor, lawyer, teacher -- let me propose an avocation to be pursued along with it. Become a dedicated fighter for civil rights. Make it a central part of your life. It will make you a better doctor, a better lawyer, a better teacher. It will enrich your spirit as nothing else possibly can. It will give you that rare sense of nobility that can only spring from love and selflessly helping your fellow man . Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for human rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.

- Martin Luther King Jr., 4.18.59


Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided man.

- Martin Luther King Jr., "Strength to Love", 1963


A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.

- Martin Luther King Jr., "The Trumpet of Conscience", 1967


Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.

- Martin Luther King Jr., quoting Martin Luther


Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.

- Martin Luther King Jr., "Letter From Birmingham Jail ", 4.16.63


I submit to you that if a man hasn't discovered something he will die for, he isn't fit to live.

- Martin Luther King Jr., 6.23.63


I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.

- Martin Luther King Jr., Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech , 12.10.64


If you succumb to the temptation of using violence in the struggle, unborn generations will be the recipients of a long and desolate night of bitterness, and your chief legacy to the future will be an endless reign of meaningless chaos.

- Martin Luther King Jr., "Justice Without Violence", 4.3.57


It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that's pretty important.

- Martin Luther King Jr., Wall Street Journal, 11.13.62


Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness.

- Martin Luther King Jr., "Strength to Love", 1963


Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think.

- Martin Luther King Jr., "Strength to Love", 1963

[tiger_rascal]

I agree with y'all.

[BSBGeezerFan]

Originally posted by bluehorizonx10
But I'd also say that behind any great man you'll find some skeletons in the closet. We all make mistakes and some very big ones in life. I agree with this whole heartedly. Scratch and sniff any founding father you care to name and you'll find out stuff that will curl your hair.

If you focus on the private life of anyone revered, you'll find some dirt. I don't understand why this a reason to diminish Dr. King's contribution or why people find his sins so shocking and not everyone elses'.......else's.....elseses...........you know.

[bluehorizonx10]

LOL Geezer, that word always confused me too.