Without even picking up my Washington Post, I can glance over and see that there are more bombings in Baghdad, increasing tension surrounding Iran, and racist comments from a Virginia delegate. This time of year, the faithful reflect on the words and mission of Dr. Martin Luther King. Looking back at his eloquent speeches, I try to glean from his insight how we may apply his words to our nation’s, nay, our world’s current struggles.
What would King’s opinion be of Iraq, terrorism, ‘Dubya,’ and the stubborn, yet more covert, racism that still plagues this nation?
In my collegiate studies, I often visited a quote in my papers and discussions, said by King, which I still find relevant to many of the issues we face today.
"There is nothing more dangerous than to build a society, with a large segment of people in that society, who feel that they have no stake in it; who feel that they have nothing to lose. People, who have a stake in their society, protect that society, but when they don’t have it, they unconsciously want to destroy it."–Martin Luther King
What an insightful view of the human condition! Rather than beefing up the military presence in far-off lands, which has the effect of intensifying hatred, maybe our respected political leaders ought to consider how we can empower those elements within societies that feel they have nothing to lose, those suicide-bombers, plane hijackers, and America’s own poor and marginalized.
