Monday evening, the doctor's appointment went well and now the car has decided to give me trouble. All about balancing the good with the bad I suppose!
Before I write a few words on this one, I want to start by saying that this should be required reading for everyone going through school. The lessons of struggle and era are one large part of this book. The other is determination, persistence, and an understanding that if you want to make a change in this world you have to be willing to go out and make sacrifices. It feels like this is a lesson that is lost in today's age of rapid change and instant gratification.
So many ideas that one could write endlessly about. The white moderates, Dr. King's ideas on capitalism vs. communism, or his thoughts on violence. What most inspired me was his consistent message of non-violence resistance. The thought that without provocation and violence, society can shift for the good with enough people behind a movement in a firm but peaceful way. His consistency on this throughout his life is inspiring to say the least. To take up a cause, and faced with endless violence and aggression thrown at you, not strike back is truly impressive. It allowed his message to never be used against him. There was no one to point at him and say "Ah yes, see there is the violence we expected."
Who are the voices of people in this generation we can turn to who have similar messages behind such causes I wonder? The Dali Lama is probably a good example. Who else?
If you will indulge me with one last quote that came near the end of his shortened life:
"Well, I don't know what will happen now; we've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life - longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over, and I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we as a people, will get to the promised land."
He was murdered one day later.
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