A preacher, civil rights activist, humanitarian, victim of murder, and so much more, his life's work impacted the lives of all American's today. Racism is still very much one of our country's largest problems, and is evident in the Ferguson, Missouri riots due to Michael Brown's death.
Dr. King created a legacy of loving one another, serving others before yourself. I have heard the popular parts of his "I have a dream" speech, but had never fully read it. Today I took the time to do so and have pulled parts from it that our country still so disparately needs.
"But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force."
What if today we applied these words to our lives? Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness or hatred. America is a beautiful melting pot where people from every nation, religion, and language can come and live their lives out loud without fear of prosecution, or worse.
But what have we done with the hate we express towards our Middle Eastern brothers and sisters? What are we doing showing prejudice towards Latin-Americans who fought to come to the United States in hope of better life? Our Asian countrymen that were forced from their homes during World War II did nothing to deserve the hate expressed towards them? Or women of every race and age? Still to this day men get paid more to do the same job as a women, and why? African Americans are not the only race or gender to find themselves victims of racism.
And what about Jewish people? A race that has been under attack since deep in the bible times and at one point, a tyrant tried to completely erase from the face of the Earth? Until will stop looking at the pigmentation and listening for the accent of our brothers and sisters and look at what kind of person they are, Dr. King cannot rest in peace.
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that."
In the Bible God tells us to love one another repeatedly. John 13:34-35 says "A new command I give you, Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must Love one another. By this everyone will know that you are disciples, if you love one another."
That is how Martin Luther King Jr. should be remembered. A man who chose love over hate, and fought for what our great country promised, freedom for ALL.
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