Resonance...
While I was in the D.C. area recently, I had the opportunity to visit the Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial at night. This memorial is on a beautiful spot overlooking the Potomac River. With the effects of special lighting, the words engraved on the walls surrounding the massive figure of Dr. Martin Luther King resonated deeply into my being. Many of the quotes were from speeches he had given during different moments in our nation's history.
At this moment in our history as a nation, as we approach the presidential elections in early November, I found many of Dr. Martin Luther King's words to have a special relevance, for example; " We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people." (Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963)
Another quote; "Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." (From Strength to Love,1963)
Another quote on the wall of this memorial caused me to stop and pause for a few minutes, as I reflected on events in my own life not that long ago; "I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant." ( Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech, Dec. 10, 1964)
I came away from experiencing this memorial with lasting impressions about Dr. Martin Luther King the man, and the politician and civil rights leader, but what resonated at a deeper level within me was his words, and the truths that they carry within them. At this time of political rivalry, it is well to try to rise above the fray, and the words and ideas of this great man are not dead, but continue to live on to inspire future generations.
