In Dr. King's life, the greatest source of frustration were neither the ultra-liberals, nor the ultra-conservatives, but rather the "mediocre moderates."
In the words of Dr. King, regarding the hypocrisy of the U.S. political scene, however, Dr. King described America as having a "schizophrenic personality," racist on the far right and hypocritical in its attitude towards the poor (a type of civil rights cut short by an assassin's crazed bullet).
To honor Dr. King, who combined the core religious values of the "far right" (i.e. Baptist Evangelical Church Theology) with the activism of the "far left" (i.e. sit-ins, bus boycotts, etc.), rather than being "schizophrenic," a better description for such a "Beautiful Mind" as Dr. King's is called genius. The following is a response from one such "Beautiful Mind," Activist from Seattle, Chad Lupkes who never accepts mediocrity, but embodies the "political schizophrenia" of Dr. King, in other words, a Far Left Radical political voice who ironically enough sees the good sense of promoting STRONG FAMILY VALUES POLITICS. Without further adieu, Chad Lupkes,
So was Dr. Martin Luther King an ultra-liberal or an ultra-conservative???
The question itself is nearly invalid. What would make MLK, Jr. one or the other? Was he a liberal because he preached against the Vietnam War and in support of Labor Unions? Was he a conservative because he believed in the spiritual values of the church? Was he a Democrat because he had to convince a Democratic Congress and LBJ to pass and sign the Civil Rights Act, even though it was known at the time that the Democratic Party would lose power in the South for a generation or more? Was he a Republican because the signer of the Emancipation Proclamation was a Republican?
Was Thomas Jefferson a Republican or a Democrat?
When did Jesus himself use violence against his enemies? Did Gandhi believe that he was doing the correct thing from Hindi values, or Christian values? Or were all of these people, Dr. King, Thomas Jefferson or Gandhi, products of their time and peaceful warriors in pursuit of a particular goal? Dr. King wanted the black people in the United States to be treated equally with everyone else, and he had started to build a campaign in support of the poor and working class when he was killed. Jefferson wanted to secure the blessings of liberty for his generation and all generations to come. And Gandhi wanted the British Empire to leave India and let the people of that country find their own path. I also follow a social tradition. It's a tradition that Jefferson, Franklin, Roosevelt (both of them) and Kennedy expressed numerous times. And that tradition says the people are sovereign, and that the best way to free a people is to empower them to free themselves, and not lead them where they do not want to go. Chad
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2 comments:
Gandhi (who lived in South Africa for a while) having read the bible was drawn to a Christian church and was once evicted from whites only church, was said to make the comment that if the church practiced what Jesus said they would change the world in years.
Gahndi was very fond of music and it was said that one of his favoured musical peices (even to his death) was "when I survey the wonderous cross". He was a man changed by Jesus the Christ. Although Gandhi reject the Christian church because of his experience in South Africa, were his actions in India more or less Chrsitian (Christ like) than the supposed Christians of the Brittish Empire who bruataly oppressed those fighting for independence.
As an addition when Gandhi stands in front of God almaighty on His day of Judgement, who is Jesus more likely to call his own, Gandhi who rejecting the the church, but was transfromed by Christ or those who drove him away form the Christ and were in the church, but were untransformed by Him. Fortunately I don't stand in judgement, but will like every one else humbly (fearfully) stand before our Almighty God and ask to be transformed by Jesus and by the Holy Spirit.
You wrote quoting Chad "When did Jesus himself use violence against his enemies?"
In response, When they occupied the temple court abusing the poor with unfair currency changes to temple money and rediculous pricing on animals for offerings (anilams which only teh authorities authorised). Jesus took some chords made a whip and turned over money lenders tables and drove the people and cattle out of the temple courts.
Jesus seems to be an architypal social activist.
Nick Tat
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