[recently discovered, apparently never before published speech by MLK Jr., recorded on 7 December 1964, from democracynow.org] Now, I would like to mention one or two ideas that circulate in our society. They probably circulate in your society and all over the world, that keep us from developing the kind of action programs necessary to get rid of discrimination and segregation. One is what I refer to as the myth of time. There are those individuals who argue that only time can solve the problem of racial injustice in the United States. In South Africa or anywhere else, you got to wait on time. And, I know they said to us so often in the States and to our allies in white communities, just be nice and be patient and continue to pray, and in a hundred or two hundred years, the problem will work itself out. Uh, weve heard and weve lived with the myth of time. The only answer that I can give to that myth is that time is neutral. It can be used either constructively or destructively. I must honestly say to you that Im convinced that the forces of ill will have often used time much more effectively than the forces of good will. And, we may have to repent in this generation, not merely for the vitriolic words and the violent actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence and indifference of the good people, who sit around saying, Wait on time. Somewhere along the way, its necessary to see that human progress never rode in on the wheels of inevitability. It comes through the tireless efforts and the persistent work of dedicated individuals who are willing to be co-workers with god, and that is hard work. Time itself becomes an ally of the primitive forces of social stagnation. And, so we must help time. And, we must realize that the time is always right to do right. This is so vital, and this is so necessary. * * * Now, as you know, we have been engaged in the United States in a massive struggle. And, to make desegregation finally integration a reality. In that struggle, there has been an undergirding philosophy, the philosophy of non-violence, the philosophy and method of non-violent resistance. And, Id like to say just a few words about the method or the philosophy that has undergirded our struggle. First, I want to say that Im still convinced that non-violence is the most potent weapon available to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom and justice. It has a way of disarming the opponent, exposing his moral defenses, weakens his morale, and at the same time, it works on his conscience, and he just doesnt know how to handle it. If he doesnt beat you, wonderful. If he does beat you, you develop the quiet courage of accepting blows without retaliating. If he doesnt put you in jail, wonderful. Nobody with any sense loves to go to jail. But, if he puts you in jail, you go in that jail and transform it from a dungeon of shame to a haven of human freedom and dignity. Even if he tries to kill you, you develop the inner conviction that there are some things so dear, some things so precious, some things so eternally true, that they are worth dying for. And, if a man has not discovered something that he will die for, he isnt fit to live. This is what the non-violent discipline says. Then, the other thing about it is that it gives the individual a way of struggling to secure moral ends through moral means. One of the great debates of history has been over the whole question of ends and means. All the way back to the days of Platos dialogues, coming on up to Machiavelli and others. There have been those individuals who argue that the end justifies the means. But, in a real sense, the non-violent philosophy comes along and says that the end is pre-existent in the means. The means represent the idea in the making, and the end in process. And so that in the long run of history, immoral means cannot bring about moral ends. Somehow, man must come to the point where he sees a necessity of having ends and means cohering, so to speak. And, this is one of the things that is basic in the non-violent philosophy at its best. It gives one a way and a method of struggle which says that you can seek to secure moral ends through moral means. It also says that it is possible to struggle against an evil, unjust system with all your might and with all your heart and even hate that unjust system; yet, you maintain an attitude of active goodwill and understanding and even love for the perpetrators of that evil system. Now, this is the most misunderstood aspect of non-violence. And, this is where those who dont want to follow the non-violent method say a lot of bad things to those of us who talk about love. But, I still go on and believe in it. Cause, I am still convinced that it is love that makes the world go round. And somehow, this kind of love can be a powerful force for social change. And, Im not talking about a weak love. Im not talking about emotional bosh here. Im not talking about some sentimental quality. Im not talking about an affectionate response. It would be nonsense to urge oppressed people to love their violent oppressors in an affectionate sense. And, I have never advised that. When Jesus said, Love your enemies, Im happy he didnt say, Like your enemies. Its pretty difficult to like some people. But, love is greater than like. Love is understanding, creative, redemptive goodwill for all men. Theologians talk about this kind of love with the Greek word agape, which is a sort of overflowing love that seeks nothing in return. And when one develops this, you rise to the position of being able to love the person who does the evil deed, while hating the deed that the person does. And, I believe that this can be done.
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 05:01:00 +0000
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