A few weeks ago we celebrated Martin Luther King day. I wanted it to be more than a “day-off” for my almost eight year old. So after he read me a book about Mr. Kings’ life (through the eyes of a second grader), I showed him a civil rights video on youtube, and then read him the entire “I Have a Dream”speech.
So often we hear the quoted”I have a dream that one day my little children…” these lines and those that precede them, have been the anthem for many disgruntled looters, vigilante college students, for marches, and demonstrations, but so often disregarded is Mr. Kings poignant plea to his own people…
“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.”
His words, were written for us, all of us not merely the “us’s” with the darker skin, but any other “us” the “us’s” who have been mistreated, the “us’s” who have found out way too early that life is sometimes so much more than just unfair, and he gives the “us’s” a message. The message is not for the others to smooth the ruffles of fear that undoubtedly accompanied his speech, but to tell”us”; his people,in no muddied terms, that: THIS IS HOW WE WIN!
We win by making right choices, even when making wrong ones are justified. We win, when we let go of bitterness and hate, if for no other reason than that, those attitudes perpetuate an idea, that we have no control, that we are damaged, and trust me, there is no greater damage you can do to yourself than to be bitter.
Mr. King never once said to give up, but rather to conduct ourselves with dignity and discipline, this was never a cry of surrender, but rather a battle cry to press forward with grace, because what so many forget is that VIOLENCE NEVER EVER CHANGES THE WORLD FOR THE BETTER. It takes strong, brilliant, determined people to rise in the face of adversity. To say “we can do and be better than you expect”,To be kind and tolerant to the people that think we are inferior and treat us as “less than”. That plight never seems to end. Although black and white issues have greatly improved, there is always unfairness, we seem to not be able to learn the great lessons of past history, but rather the pendulum swings and the “offended” becomes the “offender” over and over again. Why can we not say say,”My life is full of promise I can be the best me, I have support in my endeavors, I am grateful!”? Why do so many not focus on their own potential, but instead nurse wounds that do not heal?
This, I think,is what Martin Luther King Junior and all of the other heroes’ were fighting for, A chance to improve not only improve their lives but their world! The point is the people Mr King was addressing fought, not with weapons and looting, not by trash talking, but by refusing with dogged determination, to BE less.
So this post is for the “US’s” out there, who refuse to be knocked down, belittled, or oppressed. Those who refuse to perpetuate negative stereo-types, those intent on breaking legacies of living hard. This is for the “Us’s” who still say “no” to things that aren’t positive even if everyone around us is saying “yes”. Mr King’s speech should inspire all of us,to consider bitterness and hate our enemy, to recognize that to get anywhere in life it takes dignity, hard work and a strong determined soul.
So next time the holiday comes around, don’t just glance over that part of his speech, the urgency of what he says is still relevant today. His dream of equality and peace still has a long way to go. No more of his dream will be accomplished by laws that impose rules that take away from some and give to others. It’s up to us to bridge the gaps. We must replace rudeness with grace, fear with knowledge, and hatred with kindness, in all areas of our lives. This is how others are able to truly see the content of our character! This is how Mr. King’s dream is realized. THIS IS HOW WE WIN!