The often outraged reaction by liberals to the rioting in Ferguson reminded us of this letter from Martin Luther King, Jr. Now King is often deployed in situations of revolt by pacifiers who just want everyone to go home and wait for the next election. But while he rejected the use of violence he didnt reject resistance or direct action. I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negros great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizens Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to order than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another mans freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a more convenient season. Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection. -- Martin Luther King, Jr, Letter from a Birmingham Jail
Posted on: Fri, 28 Nov 2014 05:14:40 +0000