An excerpt from Martin Luther King's acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964:
I accept this award today with an abiding faith in America and an audacious faith in the future of mankind. I refuse to accept despair as the final response to the ambiguities of history. I refuse to accept the idea that the "isness" of man's present nature makes him morally incapable of reaching up for the eternal "oughtness" that forever confronts him.
I refuse to accept the idea that man is mere flotsom and jetsom in the river of life unable to influence the unfolding events which surround him. I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality.
I refuse to accept the cynical notion that nation after nation must spiral down a militaristic stairway into the hell of thermonuclear destruction. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant.
I believe that even amid today's motor bursts and whining bullets, there is still hope for a brighter tomorrow. I believe that wounded justice, lying prostrate on the blood-flowing streets of our nations, can be lifted from this dust of shame to reign supreme among the children of men.
I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits. I believe that what self-centered men have torn down, men other-centered can build up. I still believe that one day mankind will bow before the altars of God and be crowned triumphant over war and bloodshed, and nonviolent redemptive goodwill will proclaim the rule of the land.
"And the lion and the lamb shall lie down together and every man shall sit under his own vine and fig tree and none shall be afraid."
I still believe that we shall overcome.
And so must we believe. He has given us example.
Note: Time edited to keep the post at the top of the page.
I am so glad to see folks sharing different bits of Dr King's legacy today. One keeps hoping we will finally listen to him.
ReplyDeleteDespite the untimely end of his life, he left behind a treasure of words that are memorable, life-giving, and for the ages.
ReplyDeleteBusy here today. Clinton, Edwards and Obama speaking at the MLK Day rally, but although it's only three blocks away, I missed it, since we work today. The Democratic primary is next weekend, which is why we're getting all this attention - after that we won't see hair nor hide of any of them until January, 2012.
ReplyDeleteLapin, too bad you couldn't sneak away. So near, and yet so far.
ReplyDeleteI don't think we'll ever get to see anyone in the primaries, because Louisiana does it by caucus, and the delegates are already chosen, without any great fanfare or attention by the candidates.
thank you!
ReplyDeleteYes it has been lovely to go to so many blogs and see the various ways in which we have each remembered Dr. King.
ReplyDeleteThank you for yours Grandmere.
Thanks Mimi. You do a good job of choosing.
ReplyDeleteI've read the words in the post 5 or 6 times, and they get more wise and wonderful with each reading.
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear Mimi. We are making our little cyber-pilgrimage and your stop on the way is a blessing.
ReplyDeleteAmen. MLK's words resound now and forever more. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteJane, yes, our pilgrimages around the blogs - like the Nine Churches on Good Friday. Except that I've got a lot more visitations than nine that I like to do.
ReplyDeleteJan, this one was a pleasure, because I had not read the Nobel speech in a long time.