Jan 24th, 2021: "I Have a Dream"

 

Martin Luther King, Jr.

This past Monday was Martin Luther King Jr day. Many Americans celebrated and remembered him.


Dr. King was a civil rights leader in the US. He fought for Black American Basic Rights. 


He is the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He is one of the most quotable persons for preachers. It might be a good idea to look at some of his quotes. Allow me to amuse you with some of my thoughts as well.


“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”


Intelligence helps us to exercise our thinking process. Character guides and applies our thoughts as we seek to find truth in our relationships with one another and harmony within ourselves. When we overlook the essence of education and only train our young people what to do, we miss the chance to bring about real progress in our society. We have more university graduates than ever before, and our nations are not getting any better. Without character, we are well-equipped to abuse and mistreat one another.


“The limitation of riots, moral questions aside, is that they cannot win, and their participants know it. Hence, rioting is not revolutionary but reactionary because it invites defeat. It involves an emotional catharsis, but it must be followed by a sense of futility.”


This passage speaks to how I felt as the riots took place across the US and some parts of Canada last summer. The real message was lost as we witnessed properties and businesses being destroyed and damaged. By the end, everyone lost. We are now dealing with a nation whose people cannot even talk to one another civilly. The real defeat is the loss of human decency. We can indeed release anger. However, the final destination of uncontrollable anger is emptiness. That is the ultimate image of futility.


In "I Have a Dream" talk, the most famous one, Dr. King referred to the Bible a few times. As we remember him, let us cherish his real commitment to what he did.


Amos 5: 24

“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”

Galatians 3: 28

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Psalm 30: 5

"For his anger lasts only a moment,

    but his favor lasts a lifetime;

weeping may stay for the night,

    but rejoicing comes in the morning."

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