Thoughts

(Source)

I have a great deal of respect for the late, and lamented, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was a man of integrity and of vision. He would have fit in well with the Founding Fathers. Perhaps but for the color of his skin. Those men might have been able to see past that cosmetic difference and seen into the man's character. The founders were perceptive and very intelligent, but would the circumstances and customs of that time have hampered their opinion of Dr. King? Perhaps, but we'll never know.

I know in my youth that Dr. King was often judged solely by his skin color. Many of our fellow Americans were, and sometimes still are judged by that accident of ancestry. For that is all it is. Early humans adapted to their environment and adapted very well. In the heat and the harsh climate of the African continent, dark skin was a feature. Not a bug. In the cold, northern climes in which my ancestors evolved we tended to be pale. Not a lot of sun in the higher latitudes for much of the year.

So skin color and other physical attributes were adaptations to the environment. Nothing more.

Below (in italics) are some quotes from Dr. King that I rather like. My own thoughts on each are not italicized. For whatever it's worth.

I am harping a lot about "race" lately because there are evil forces out there who seek to divide us, and conquer us, along whatever lines they can. Sometimes it's skin color, sometimes it's religion, sometimes it's party affiliation. But evil forces do seek to split us apart and fragment us. E pluribus unum. Out of many, one. United we must stand, or most assuredly, divided we will fall.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

• Dr. King was a pastor, a very good one. This quote can be supported by multiple passages in scripture. Though Matthew 22:37-40 describes it best (to me at any rate):

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

• When the going gets tough, well, you know the rest. Making a stand in perilous times is truly an act of great courage.

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.

• So much of life would be simple if we only had faith. Not knowing where life will take you in the hardest of times is a tremendous leap of faith. Sometimes that first step is a doozy!

I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.

• Hate requires a great deal of effort and diminishes the hater far more than the hated. Again, I'm sure Dr. King let scripture be his guide in many things, if not most things.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

• All it takes for the triumph of evil is for good men (and women) to do nothing. (Edmund Burke nailed that one. It has been proven again and again throughout history.)

Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'

• Reminds me of JFK's speech: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." Both sentiments ring true.

The time is always right to do what is right.

• Doing the right thing is always the smart move.

I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

• Sigh... I long for the day when this holds true. Look inside someone, look at their actions, their deeds, look at their beliefs. Looking at only the surface attributes of a fellow human is the epitome of stupidity.
  

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

• I hadn't heard this one before, but it has the ring of truth. How can anyone sit back and do nothing when there are people suffering injustice at the hands of the powerful? As it says in Matthew 25:40, The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

• There is nothing I can add to that. Look around you, it's everywhere.

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While this hasn't really been a political post, it leans in that direction for any number of reasons. I am sickened by what is happening in my country. Lies and deceit are everywhere. Try and find an unbiased news story. I looked up something on Monday where I had eyewitness testimony to the facts of the case, from someone who was there, from someone directly involved, and what did I find from multiple news outlets (of all persuasions)? Lies, outright lies.

I guess if you don't know the truth and can't recognize the truth, you are lost. Truly lost.

This election frightens me more than I can say. We are on the precipice.