NationStates Jolt Archive

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.' ... I have a dream that my four 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. ... And if America is to be a great nation this must become true." --Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thank you, sir, for being who you were and for teaching us as you did. I share your dream and will always make whatever small contribution I can to its realization.

MLK Jr. One person I really don't mind perpetuating a cult of personality for, I personally think he really was as good as we say he was.

His message was good, true, and noble. His cause was just. I also add my thanks for a inspirational man like Dr. King.

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.' ... I have a dream that my four 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. ... And if America is to be a great nation this must become true." --Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thank you, sir, for being who you were and for teaching us as you did. I share your dream and will always make whatever small contribution I can to its realization.

Looks like you and I had the same thought at about the same time. Twinkies!

You can never have too many threads on such a great man. I was a child during the race riots and he was the clear voice of peace and reason through it all. I wish he could have lived a full life to continue his teachings.

I respect Dr. King for being one of the few people in our era to not only understand the passive resistance philosophy embodied in the "turn the other cheek" reference, but to live it. While I am sure his personality has been exaggerated to a degree, I don't think anyone can argue that he was not a great man.

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.' ... I have a dream that my four 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. ... And if America is to be a great nation this must become true." --Martin Luther King, Jr.

One of the greatest speakers the world has ever come to know. He and Gandhi...

One of the greatest speakers the world has ever come to know. He and Gandhi...

Gandhi was his mentor.

I prefer Malcolm X. At least he lived his principles. Dr. King was an adulterer and a plagarist. That doesn't make his cause wrong, it just makes him a poor figurehead for it.

I was waiting for that comment... although i originally came here to see if Etrusca would bring it up first in some snide sarcastic remark.

I prefer Malcolm X. At least he lived his principles. Dr. King was an adulterer and a plagarist. That doesn't make his cause wrong, it just makes him a poor figurehead for it.

You may judge him a poor figurehead, but actually, he was a driving force in the peaceful segment of the civil rights movement. It was a bloody time, and without his influence, it would have been much worse. He also delivered a message that spoke to whites and overcame their ignorance, that made them see and understand the plight of the blacks. MalcolmX, Klorox, and others of their ilk, supported violence and chaos.

. MalcolmX, Klorox, and others of their ilk, supported violence and chaos.

It is true that Malcolm did support violence against "the white devils" that was when he was under the influence of the Black Muslims. After he made his Hajj and saw the lack of racial bigotry he became a different person. He was born again, if you will.

I was about to say exactly that. If Malcolm X had lived a bit longer, he might have done a lot more good than MLK ever did.

I was about to say exactly that. If Malcolm X had lived a bit longer, he might have done a lot more good than MLK ever did.

Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X were different people from very different backgrounds with different approaches to the racial problems in this country. I think it difficult to predict just what would have happened if either one of them or both had lived. It is clear to me that both peaceful approaches were needed and important the civil rights movement.

Thank you Dr. King.

Martin Luther is a better man because he lived his principles to the end. Malcolm's conversion only came at the end of his life, and his previous rhetoric harmed the cause far more than his later efforts aided it.

Stalin was a better speaker.

It is true that Malcolm did support violence against "the white devils" that was when he was under the influence of the Black Muslims. After he made his Hajj and saw the lack of racial bigotry he became a different person. He was born again, if you will.

I can appreciate that he cleared his eyes of bigotry. But, he encouraged violence that ended with the loss of many innocent lives. His actions at that time were destructive, but I am glad that he eventually saw the right of things.

Stalin was a better speaker.

Hitler was one of the greatest orators of the 20th century. That doesn't make his rhetoric true.

Dr. King's speeches spoke from the heart of black Americans and in so doing, he delivered some of the most inspired speeches of all time.

He is essentially unimportant to the world.

To America? Yes.

He is essentially unimportant to the world.

To America? Yes.

Hey. Leave your retarded little brother of a nation alone. Okay? We're just a bit slow. Give us a few more decades. @#$%^ religion.

Klorox? WTF?! Lol! OMG! Klorox! Teehee...
But seriously, who or what's Klorox?

He is essentially unimportant to the world.

To America? Yes.

Though the content of his speech was aimed at the bigotry in America at the time, the concept of racial prejudice and oppression is worldwide. His message of peace, equality, and freedom is applicable for all people, everywhere. Though large portions of the world choose to be ignorant of Dr. King and his message, this does not make it any less essential.

Klorox? WTF?! Lol! OMG! Klorox! Teehee...
But seriously, who or what's Klorox?

Hmmm...just tried to google him and not coming up with anything. Maybe he was a regional character in the midwest. I know he was outspoken in his support of violence for equal rights. I'll let you know if I find any references to him.

Looks like you and I had the same thought at about the same time. Twinkies!

You can never have too many threads on such a great man. I was a child during the race riots and he was the clear voice of peace and reason through it all. I wish he could have lived a full life to continue his teachings.
I'm not ashamed to say that I wept the day he died. I was still in the Army and was stationed with an African American fellow officer with whom I served in Vietnam. He asked me why I was crying for Dr. King, since I'm white. I told him that I admired courage and compassion in anyone, regardless of race or anything else, at which point he started crying as well. Hard, hard times those were. :(

I prefer Malcolm X. At least he lived his principles. Dr. King was an adulterer and a plagarist. That doesn't make his cause wrong, it just makes him a poor figurehead for it.

I prefer Booker T. Washington.

Martin Luther is a better man because he lived his principles to the end. Malcolm's conversion only came at the end of his life, and his previous rhetoric harmed the cause far more than his later efforts aided it.

I'm sure it doesn't do much good to try to judge these two men and say one was better than the other. I will leave that to God for now. If God doesn't get it right then I can step it and correct His mistake. Malcolm's conversion did come late in His life, but that was because he was murdered by those who were only concerned about keeping people apart. Ironic isn't. One group black; one group white and they both used the same methods for the same reason.