Posted on 01/14/2007 10:22:43 PM PST by goldstategop
I was driving near the border of Nevada about a week ago, when I saw a sign, Martin Luther King Jr. Highway. My mind instantly raced back 40 years.
I remember being moved as I watched this mesmerizing orator on television as he spoke outside the Lincoln Memorial. Even Walter Cronkite said about him, ''I only met Martin Luther King on a few occasions but I was always struck by the obvious force, the power of his character.''
King's life and death is the stuff of legend now.
But it's what he couldn't do that causes me to wonder today.
When civility became a right
Jan. 15, 1929 must have been a special day, especially for an Atlanta Baptist pastor and his wife. It was to his family that King credited his spirituality and drive to do such things as serve humanity or earn a doctorate in theology.
His faith and practice would far surpass arenas of academics or his pastorate by spearheading the liberation from racial segregation through passive civil disobedience.
At just 26 years of age, in 1955, he planned the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the first of many nonviolent resistance efforts that would multiply momentum to his movement.
In 1957, he was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which was established to provide new leaders for the growing civil rights movement.
Of course his most recognized civil hallmarks were being the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 and delivering his renowned ''I Have a Dream'' speech in 1963, when he and his followers peacefully marched upon Washington, D.C. That same year he was also Time magazine's ''Man of the Year.''
In the 11 years between 1957 and 1968, King spoke over 2,500 times, traveled over 6 million miles, was arrested 25 times, assaulted at least four times, and had his house bombed, all to combat civil injustice.
As a charismatic speaker and compassionate leader, he won the hearts of America, particularly the oppressed. King's altruism, genuineness, political activism, and commitment to nonviolent civil disobedience secured him a spot as one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century. Subsequently in 1986 his name was additionally and indelibly marked upon American history with a national holiday in his honor.
Unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies
The country mourned when Martin was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn., on April 4, 1968, after prophetically saying the day before, ''I just want to do God's will. And he's allowed me to go 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.''
God only knows what that man could have done if he were still living. Then again, he has probably done more posthumously than most do in their whole lifetimes. He is proof of the words in his own Bible, "Unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.''
His sacrifice canonized him as a martyr. His service cleared a path, beckoning for others to follow.
Life's most persistent question
King's life still calls us to make our world a better place. His memory still challenges us with the inquiry, ''Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'''
Your sphere of influence may not be as expansive. Your cause may not be as grandiose. And your sacrifice may not be as costly or noticeable. Nevertheless, your calling to serve others is as inherent in your design as it was in his.
That's the one thing King couldn't do — as powerful as a figure as he was, he could not force anyone to follow suit in using their influence to help others. He could inspire others to dream, but he could not drive them to sacrifice for those dreams. No leader can. As King said, ''Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.''
From day dreaming to doing for others
I spent too many years in destructive selfishness. How did I turn it around? The same way you can: by using your gifts, talents and influence for others' good, rather than your own. That's what King did. And that's what you can do, despite that your station in life might be totally different than his. Look at me! My life and career weren't exactly built upon passive resistance!
For 30 years I have had a dream to turn the excitement of the individual sport of combat martial arts into a thrilling team event. This dream is now a reality.
The World Combat League (WCL) brings together martial arts experts by region in a team format – six combat warriors against six combat warriors. Each team represents their city, their team, and their individual skills in an all out striking war. There is no wrestling or grappling to slow down the action.
This Saturday, Jan. 20, will be the WCL Championship at the Erwin Center in Austin, Texas, an event which will be shown soon with the rest of the preliminary competitions on the Versus Channel.
That is only one part of my dream and one that my wife Gena shares with me. With Kickstart being the official charity of the WCL, it is exciting for us because we want to use all of our profits that we get to help at-risk youth across our nation. That is what we have purposed in our hearts and is our life's mission. By far my most important undertaking.
Kickstart is a character building, life-skills program whose fundamental purpose is to give our nation's students the tools to strengthen their self image. When a child develops a strong sense of self-awareness and inner strength, they are able to resist peer pressure, including drug and alcohol use and involvement in gangs. In addition, martial arts training provides them with the core values and philosophies associated with leading a productive and healthy life. That is what we are all about: to give every child a chance for a productive life in which they can achieve their goals and dreams.
Kickstart is actively working in 37 of the public schools in Texas. We have over 5,000 middle school students learning the philosophies of the martial arts in order to live a more productive life and make healthy choices for themselves.
Someday, it is our vision to have this prevention program in every school in America! I want to see the 5,000 students multiply into millions of students and beyond.
Be a part of the 2 percent!
I heard it said once that it only took 2 percent of our population to create our nation. And that it still only takes 2 percent to change it today. King was a part of that 2 percent, and I believe you and I can be too.
King put it this way, ''Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better.''
So if you don't like what you see, be a part of the 2 percent!
Put in even simpler terms, it's what mountain fishing has taught me: the only thing that goes with the flow is a dead fish! King wasn't a dead fish, in life or in death. We don't have to be either.
So what do you say? Just like King showed us, I think it's time to start living our dreams, rather than just talking about them.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
When my young son learned about King, he was in awe that such a man could live. It is encouraging to see a spark of interest in the youth... when they begin to see what they can contribute to the world.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Here is a favorite quote from a sermon by MLK:
"I would urge you to give priority to the search for God. Allow his Spirit to permeate your being. To meet the difficulties and challenges of life you will need him. Before the ship of your life reaches its last harbor, there will be long, drawn-out storms, howling and jostling winds, and temptations seas that make the heart stand still. If you do not have a deep and patient faith in God, you will be powerless to face the delays, disappointments, and vicissitudes that inevitably come. Without God, all of our efforts turn to ashes and our sunrises into darkest nights. Without him, life is a meaningless drama in which the decisive scenes are missing. But with him, we are able to rise from tension-packed valleys to the sublime heights of inner peace, and find radiant stars of hope against the nocturnal bosom of life's most depressing nights. "Thou hast created us for thyself, and our heart cannot be quieted till it find repose in thee".
Strength to Love, by Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
I'd rather have a single 'flawed' person who actually takes a stand than a million 'perfectos' sipping coffee and moaning about the state of affairs in the morning paper.
This is your MOMENT!
MLK was a serial plagiarist and a serial womanizer, and those are proven facts which the Liberal Media has conspired to quash - UNSUCCESSFULLY!
When we play this cheap game, we are condoning the actions of the BJ Clintons and Joe Bidens of the world.
Giving the memory of this man a national holiday is an abomination.
Appeasing the race pimps with MLK Jr. Day will not ever make them vote Republican, or become Conservative.
bump
Looking at Dr. King requires more than the media image of a martyr and his early days.
His last years were controversial. In 1966 his protests against housing discrimination in Chicago meant nothing to the masses of people who were content to be part of Mayor Daley's machine system. Daley and blacks loyal to him made King look like a lonely radical fool. His protests only led to Mayor Daley adjusting housing policies a little and King got no following because Daley out maneuvered him.
The opposition to the Vietnam War made King no friends at the White House and among President Lyndon Johnson's buddies on Capitol Hill who were fiercely attacking King over his anti-war position.
Among the critics and I've seen newsfilm of it was none other than Senator Robert "Sheets" Byrd.
Dr. King's life and times are a more complex story than godlike status and martyrdom that make him part of a liberal-pagan trinity (RFK, JFK, MLK).
Jesse Helms never supported this holiday and the King FBI files are locked up until at least 2027.
The sex life of Thomas Jefferson was recently brought out into the open but how long will it take for a similar exposing of Dr. King's background to come out.
In the 1980's his former close associate Dr. Ralph Abernathy came out with a book saying that
Dr. King "was less than a saint." The book was denounced by the King family and Jesse Jackson.
It was then ignored by the mainstream media after the denunciations were put out.
As I said before, I would rather one tainted person doing something than a million 'perfectos' shaking their heads solemnly about how things are. Many people who do good are normally people with deep personal flaws, yet for all their drawbacks they do more good than ill (for instance take Moses ....one could say the guy was a murderer and had severe leadership issues. Or take David .....he had serious flaws, extending to even killing a man just to sleep with his wife. Yet God called him beloved). Or looking at more modern people take Mother Teressa - I've read some nasty things about her (I'm certain false), yet her accusers have never spent a night in Calcutta (Kolkata) helping the needy.
BTW ....nothing about MLK condones Bl@wJ@b Clinton. The most he did was weaken the US, threaten the globe, and make some intern pretend a certain body part was a cigar. Yes, BJ Clinton has the flaws ......but he lacks any good aspects (unless being slippery counts, in which case he is tops).
Anyways .....there were many 'perfect' people who did nothing, and many 'flawed' people who gave up careers, relationships and lives (with most of these people remaining nameless).
I know which group I'd rather have in my corner.
Well said.
My son was called a racist at school for saying as much. I have a dream that one day my son can speak the truth without fear of character assasination.
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
It's a great concept if you believe the content should be moral.
Appreciating that MLK stood for some positive things means we will have a RMN or RWR or GWB national holiday.
No?
I thought so.
The Libs created this most political of days and well-meaning Conservatives let it happen unopposed.
Pussies.
Thanks! That's just what I NEEDED to read today. God was working through you to get to me today. :)
Welcome to the world of Libs.
"Anyways .....there were many 'perfect' people who did nothing, and many 'flawed' people who gave up careers, relationships and lives (with most of these people remaining nameless).
I know which group I'd rather have in my corner."
Why not be in the corner of those who are moral and give all? Few that they are they do exist.
"Welcome to the world of Libs."
They're edging us out in the morals area not the other way around. Each year morals are slipping in favor of immorality on both sides.
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