LiViNg PeAcE

As I wrote in my previous entry, Martin Luther King, Jr. was an activist during the sixties. He participated in many activities that involved peace. Some of these activities include the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the march on Washington, and the “Bloody Sunday.” He helped with the foundation of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. With this conference he flew to many cities, like Washington, where he gave his famous “I Have A Dream” speech. Even though not many people agreed with the Civil Right Movement, with this speech King persuaded many people and “raised public conciousness.” This speech stablished himself as “one of the greatest orators in U.S history. During these years he tried his best to stop segregation and racial discrimination, therefore, he was the youngest person to receive a Nobel Peace Prize. All of his accomplisments were reached by non-violent means, such as civil disobedience.King was the leader in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, where he and other African Americans lasted 385 days without using the public buses. During this period, King’s house was bombed and he was arrested. This led him to court, where he won the case and caused the racial segregation present on all Montgomery public buses to get to an end.

He accomplished many other things, but I chose him because was another person who participated in the anti-war movement against the Vietnam War. He gave the “Beyond Vietnam: A Time To Break Silence” speech. His strongest argument was that America was spending enormous amounts of money on the war, while they could spend it on the War On Poverty. He believed that “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense that on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.” He was hated by many white segregationinsts, however. Even with enmities, King kept going with his struggle to make a better world. One day, Martin went to Mephis, were he was to give a speech. Here, he recieved many threats from white segragationists. His response, which would be his last speech, was:

 And then I got to Memphis. And some began to say the threats, or talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers? 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 to the promised land. And 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.

Later that week, Martin Luther KIng, Jr. was assasinated by James Earl Ray at 6:01. After his death, president Jimmy Carter awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977.

                                                         “I Have A Dream!”