Reflections on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.




Today is a good day to reflect on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Although many people appreciate his achievements, a fact that is attested by the day in his honor and the Nobel Peace Prize he received, I wonder how many stop to reflect on what great strides he made without violence. In fact, he strongly advocated non-violence, and taught others in the Civil Rights Movement to do the same.

I recently appeared as a guest on a local radio morning show, and the host made the comment that race relations in the United States was in a bad state. I partially agreed. We seem to make great strides at times, and then backslide. It amazes me that it's been this long since the Emancipation Proclamation and the end of the Civil War, and still America is plagued with prejudice. Such discrimination is simply unacceptable.

King must have been a life-long student - something I can relate to. He not only proved to be a great admirer of the noted theologian, Martin Luther, but he also studied Gandhi in India and adopted many of his non-violent policies to bring about reform. I think America was blessed to have this gifted activist who understood that violence only brings about more hatred, and that peaceful activism shows the negative hecklers and their violence in the dark light they deserve. Perhaps America needs another leader like him.

_________________________________