“Wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows.” – Martin Luther King
A Brief Comment by Niagara At Large reporter/publisher Doug Draper
Posted May4th, 2024 on Niagara At Large
The great voice for racial equality, social justice and peace, Martin Luther King
It was 56 years ago today, on May 4th, 1968, that one of the most powerful voices for peace, social justice and an end to all forms of racism over the past hundred or more years was shot and killed in Memphis, Tennessee.
The night before, in that same city where King, a civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner, was gunned down by a man full of anger and hate driven by God knows what, that this great man delivered his iconic “I’ve Been to the Mountain Top” speech.
The speech ended with him telling his audience that while up there, he had looked over the other side and he had; “seen the promised land. I might not get there with you,” his prophetic words rang on, “but together as a people, we will get to the promised land.”
For many, King’s assassination was an earth-shaking blow to hope and peace during a time – not too much different than the times we are living in today – of war (both hot and cold), and social and racial injustice.
Yet Martin Luther King was someone who continually spoke about never giving up, about standing up tall and marching forward for a better world for all.
It is a message that we should all take to heart and do everything we can to act on today’
Below I am including a few of my favourite quotes from Martin Luther King –
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“It is not enough to say we must not wage war. It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it.”
“We have guided Missiles and Misguided men”
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“We must pursue peaceful end through peaceful means.”
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“I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality… I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.”
Finally, here is an equally iconic speech that Robert F. Kennedy (not the son running as an independent candidate for U.S. president today) delivered on the day Martin Luther King was assassinated. To hear and watch it, click on the screen below –
RIP Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated two months later, in June of 1968, by yet another angry, hate-filled man.
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