And I do not plan to cooperate with evil at any point

[seemslikeadream]

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=03/04/07/0313210

This quote comes from a speech Dr. King gave on January 14, 1968. He had visited Joan Baez and her mother in jail and he gave the speech outside the Santa Rita jail in California afterwards.

“And I do not plan to cooperate with evil at any point. Somebody said to me not too long ago,

“ ‘Dr. King don’t you think you are hurting your leadership by taking a stand against the war in Viet Nam? Aren’t people who once respected you going to loose respect for you? And aren’t you hurting the budget of your organization?’

“And I had to look at that person and say,

"get a clue Democratic senators and representitives" SLaD says


“‘I am sorry sir, you don’t know me. I am not a consensus leader. And I do not determine what is right and wrong by looking at the budget of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference or by taking a Gallup poll of the majority opinion. Ultimately a genuine leader is not a of consensus but a molder of consensus.’

“On some positions cowardice asks the question, ‘is it safe?’

“Expediency asks the question, ‘is it is politic?’

“Vanity asks the question, ‘is it is popular?’

“But conscience asks the question, ‘is it right?’

“There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but he must do it because conscience tells him it is right. And that is where I stand today and that is where I hope you will continue to stand so that we can speed up the day when justice will roll down like waters all over the world and righteousness like a mighty stream. And we will speed up the day when men will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks and nations will not rise up against nations neither they will not start a war anymore and I close by saying as we sing in the old Negro spiritual,

“I ain’t going to study war no more.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and Singer Joan Baez in a Special On Civil Disobedience: Baez Recalls When King Visited Her in Prison, and We Play a Rare Recording of King's Remarks to Supporters Outside the Prison

[killbotfactory]

1. And that's why the FBI said the SCLC was a black nationalist hate group

"one of the most reprehensible … individuals on the American scene today" - Hoover

[bloom]

2. kick

[bvar22]

3. K&R

:dem:

[Recursion]

4. Damn that man could turn a phrase

And had the courage to stand up for his rhetoric...

if we are wrong, then God Himself is wrong

You weren't, Dr. King. What we need is people who follow their convictions with that kind of courage.

We are not wrong. We need not apologize. We are the leaders. And when we lead, the "leaders" will follow.

[Recursion]

5. And now I'm overcome by sorrow

I just realized he would only have been 77 this year.

Just imagine... if he had not been murdered. It's painful even to think that he would live to see how we have squandered the freedom he fought and gave his life for.

I am white, as white as they come, but I recognize that this man made me free. Free to know, love, and fellowship with persons of any skin color. It is a debt I can never repay to one of the greatest patriots our nation has produced. This man should have been -- could have been -- our President.

He was not afraid. He was not afraid though he knew this fight would cost him his life. He was not afraid because he knew that justice is sweeter than popularity, and liberty is sweeter than life, and there is a beauty in a spirited act that outweighs its consequences.

Ray did not just kill a man. He robbed a nation of its greatest leader in a century. He passed to an unready and unprepared population (us) a burden we have not been able to shoulder. MLK shouldered it. We have to wake up and follow. This was the greatest American of this century, in my opinion. It's easy to say, "MLK would know what to do now". And it's true, he would. But we know too. We know but we don't do it.

Stay strong. Keep the faith. Fight, brothers and sisters.

[Straight Shooter]

20. The spirit of King is alive and well, and it speaks through you, dmesg.

"I recognize that this man made me free. Free to know, love, and fellowship with persons of any skin color."

[Voltaire99]

6. He was no mere Hillary, was he?

Beautiful towering words from Dr. King, whose light is still there to guide those who wish to see. I ain't going to study war no more, either.

Nor am I voting for any asshole who does.

[Selatius]

7. Martin Luther King never bartered with his principles

He died for it, but he died an honorable man. I didn't see that with Bill Clinton selling out the poor in the 1990s, nor do I see it with Hillary today.

[Voltaire99]

10. Agreed on all counts.

Too true, alas, r.e. Bill 'n Hill. Honor King though they might in word, their deeds make a mockery.

King's courage and decency in opposing the Vietnam war is deeply inspiring to me--one of the greatest moments in American political thought. I would see his anti-imperialism become the cornerstone of any party that wants my support.

[Recursion]

12. My favorite MLK speech

I know you are asking today, 'How long will it take?' Somebody’s asking, 'How long will prejudice blind the visions of men?'...

I come to say to you this afternoon, however difficult the moment, however frustrating the hour, it will not be long, because truth crushed to earth will rise again.

How long? Not long, because no lie can live forever.
How long? Not long, because you shall reap what you sow.
How long? Not long.

Truth forever on the scaffold,
Wrong forever on the throne,
Yet that scaffold sways the future,
And, behind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadow,
Keeping watch above his own.

How long? Not long,
Because the arc of the moral universe is long,
but it bends toward justice.

How long? Not long, because
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He has loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.
He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat.

[Selatius]

13. Looking back, I think he was killed for a very "good reason"

To personal aides, he advocated a democratic socialist path. He never spoke about this in public at all; he was extremely private about this. He was one of the most influential figures in US history at the time. The notion of somebody being that influential and being a democratic socialist was something that--I'm willing to wager--frightened a lot of invested corporate interests in Congress at the time. He was the most powerful socialist in US history in many respects. He had to die not just for opposing the war on moral grounds or for destroying an old order of segregation but for the sake of profits, and war, indeed, is a truly profitable business.

[lonestarnot]

16. Once peace breaks out, don't look back.

[seemslikeadream]

19. We up on your games if you know wha me mean - govemment them is a monckery

Broadcasting lies on the television sreen
Trying to get us hooked on your american dream
We up on your games if you know wha me mean
When you cheated on your wife with your money and your schemes
People rule and a that you fi follow
We and nuh no call me no nigga
Do a good term and you deserve another
Signed musically yours, the general sleepywonder



The state of union

The people live in misery
Govemment a work
But govemment them is a monckery
Respect to the youths
Whether in front and all dem a back a me
Why don't you treat them the way you should
And I know all the things you hide
Even though it's a good disguise
And we see all the things you do
And what you do will comeback on you
You think we can't fight what the eyes can't see
Because we are blinded by poverty

The people live in misery
Govemment a work
But govemment them is a monckery
Respect to the youths
Whether in front and all dem a back a me
Why don't you treat them the way you should

The people live in misery
Govemment a work
But govemment them is a monckery
Respect to the youths
Whether in front and all dem a back a me
Why don't you treat them the way you should

It's like the people you want them to rebel
And fire gunshots and burn buildings to hell
And after that you a go want treat me well
It's like you have the people under a spell
Talking to the people in a congress
A we vote you in, so you must put out your best
After all we no in a contest
It's the state of the union address

The people live in misery
Govemment a work
But govemment them is a monckery
Respect to the youths
Whether in front and all dem a back a me
Why don't you treat them the way you should

The people live in misery
Govemment a work
But govemment them is a monckery
Respect to the youths
Whether in front and all dem a back a me
Why don't you treat them the way you should

Broadcasting lies on the television sreen
Trying to get us hooked on your american dream
We up on your games if you know wha me mean
When you cheated on your wife with your money and your schemes
People rule and a that you fi follow
We and nuh no call me no nigga
Do a good term and you deserve another
Signed musically yours, the general sleepywonder

The people live in misery
Govemment a work
But govemment them is a monckery
Respect to the youths
Whether in front and all dem a back a me
Why don't you treat them the way you should

The people live in misery
Govemment a work
But govemment them is a monckery
Respect to the youths
Whether in front and all dem a back a me
Why don't you treat them the way you should

Thievery Corporation

[me b zola]

8. One more reason to honor Dr King

“There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but he must do it because conscience tells him it is right.

Yes, this should be sent to every congress critter.


SLaD :thumbsup:

[ThsMchneKilsFascists]

9. a powerful reminder

Dr. King was such a wonderful speaker.
Thanks for posting this.
kick

[Voltaire99]

11. Ah, nice screen name. Good old Woody.

[rucky]

14. I can count the number of political leaders who share his principles

and not run out of fingers. :(

[rosesaylavee]

15. Thanks for posting...

I needed to read his words again - esp this week.

K & R

[seemslikeadream]

17. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now.

excerpt from Martin Luther King speech at the Holt Street Baptist Church during the Montgomery Bus Boycott (5th December, 1955):

"I want to say that with all of our actions we must stick together. Unity is the great need of the hour. And if we are united, we can get many of the things that we not only desire but which we justly deserve. And don't let anybody frighten you. We are not afraid of what we are doing, because we are doing it within the law."

excerpt from MLK speech delivered on April 3rd, 1968, the night before he was assasinated:

"Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind.

Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get will get to the promised land!

And so I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man! Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!!"


You took me to the restaurant where we first met
You knocked a future shock crowbar upside my head
I got caught with the stop of the tick-tock, tick-tock clock
When you told me what you knew

Lost in the moment
The day that the music stopped
And I do remember you

Drawing patterns with a cork on the tablecloth
Promising volcanic change of plot
Where will this lead us - I'm scared of the storm
The outsiders are gathering, a new day is born

I tried to tell you I am not afraid
You looked up and saw it all across my face
So am I with you or am I against
I don't think it's that easy - we're lost in regret

Now I'm trying to remember
The feeling when the music stopped
When you told me what you knew

Lost in the moment
The day that the music stopped
And I do remember you

Drawing patterns with a cork on the tablecloth
Promising volcanic change of plot
Where does this leave us - I'm scared of the storm
The outsiders are gathering, a new day is born

Drawing patterns with a cork on the tablecloth
Promising volcanic change of plot
Where does this leave us - I'm scared of the storm
The outsiders are gathering, a new day is born

The outsiders are gathering, a new day is born
The outsiders are gathering

A man walks away when every muscle says to stay
How many yesterdays - they each weigh heavy
Who says what changes may come?
Who says what we call home?
I know you see right through me, my luminescence fades
The dusk provides an antidote, I am not afraid
I've been a million times in my mind
This is really just a technicality, frailty, reality

Uh, it's time to breathe, time to believe
Let it go and run towards the sea
They don't teach that, they don't know what you mean
They don't understand, they don't know what you mean
They don't get it, I wanna scream
I wanna breathe again, I wanna dream
I wanna float a quote from Martin Luther King
I am not afraid
I am not afraid
I am not afraid

I am not afraid
I am not afraid
I am not afraid
I am not afraid

-R.E.M. with Q-Tip
The Outsiders

--------

SUPPLEMENTARY DETAILED STAFF REPORTS
ON INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES AND THE
RIGHTS OF AMERICANS
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., CASE STUDY

http://www.icdc.com/~paulwolf/cointelpro/churchfinalreportIIIb.htm



Thanks everyone for responding :grouphug:

ONE LOVE, JAH BLESS
SLaD

[vickitulsa]

18. Thank YOU for this wonderful thread!

Made my day, as it does every time I remember what this great American stood for -- and stood for with the utmost courage. Reminds me of "Peace Takes Courage."

I have said to others many times over the years that I firmly believe MLK's leadership prevented an all-out and very bloody racial civil war in America. Just imagine if his Ghandi-style approach to protest, with the aim of procuring civil rights and justice, had not been there to mitigate the anger and hate on both sides at the time....

We lost Dr. King too soon, but in one sense his death in his cause made his teachings and his leadership all the more powerful.

What an uplifting thread this was to read! It will be in my thoughts for some time to come, and that's a very helpful thing.

[Singular73]

21. Manufacturing Consent is the name of the game.

[seemslikeadream]

22. Prevent the rise of a messiah who could unify and electrify the militant

nationalist movement ... Martin Luther King, Stokely Carmichael and Elijah Muhammad all aspire to this position....





http://www.icdc.com/~paulwolf/cointelpro/churchfinalreportIIIc.htm

Dear BISHOP:

It pains me to have to write this letter to call to your attention a matter which, if brought to public light, may cause the church a great deal of embarrassment. I wish to remain anonymous with regard to the information because in divulging it I may have violated a trust. I feel, however, that what I am writing is important enough that my conscience is clear.

Specifically, I'm referring to the fact that Reverend and Mrs. are associating with leaders of the Black Panther Party. I recently heard through a close friend of Reverend that he is a revolutionist who advocates overthrowing the Government of the United States and that he has turned over a sizable sum of money to the Panthers. I can present no evidence of fact but is it possible Reverend is being influenced by Communists? Some statements he has made both in church and out have led me to believe he is either a Communist himself, or so left-wing that the only thing he lacks is a card.

I beseech you to counsel with Reverend and relay our concern over his political philosophies which among other things involves association with a known revolutionist, , head of the Black Panther Party in New Haven. I truly believe Reverend to be a good man, but his fellow men have caused him to go overboard and he now needs a guiding light which only you can provide.

Sincerely,

A Concerned Christian. 119

[mhr]

23. AntiWar Today, AntiWar Tomorrow, AntiWar Forever!

And NO! I will not support Bush enablers like Hillary Clinton!