"Violence as a way of achieving justice is both impractical and immoral. It is impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction for all. The old law of an eye for an eye leaves everybody blind. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding; it seeks to annihilate rather than to convert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It destroys community and makes brotherhood impossible. It leaves society in monologue rather than dialogue. Violence ends by defeating itself. It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers."
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Nobel address, Oslo, December 11, 1964
Such wisdom from a young prophet! We are so much poorer for the loss of MLK from our society! And have we learned a single thing in the 40 years since? This simple message of non-violence would be (is) still viewed as being odd, impractical and downright unAmerican to our culture. It has application to our criminal justice system, our families and our international relations. LORD, give me the courage to speak out for peace to our violent people!
"How hateful it is that I must lodge in Meshech
and dwell among the tents of Kedar!
Too long have I had to live
among the enemies of peace.
I am on the side of peace,
but when I speak of it, they are for war."
Psalm 120:5-7
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment