posted on: 01/14/2006
revised: 3/9/2010
"A true revolution of values will lay hand on the world order and say of war, "This way of settling differences is not just." ... A nation that
continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death. America,
the richest and most powerful nation in the world, can well lead the way in this revolution of values. There is nothing except a tragic death wish to prevent us from reordering our
priorities so that the pursuit of peace will take precedence over the pursuit of war." |
This quotation comes from Dr. King's "A Time to Break Silence" speech on April 4, 1967 but could never be more relevant than in our country today. I regret that many Americans have not embraced this national holiday as an opportunity to acknowledge the truth in Dr. King's message.
My specific wish is that young Americans
take 20 minutes on this holiday to listen to Dr. King's most famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Patriotic adults who may occasionally wonder about the wisdom of our nation's
recent international policies should take the time to listen to "A Time to Break Silence". The second speech is longer but certainly incomparable in the powerfully convincing
message.
keywords: peace, anti-war, Iraq, MLK birthday
related topics: Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech August 28, 1963
(text and audio)
Dr. King's
"A Time to Break Silence" speech April 4, 1967 (text and audio)
Copyright 2010 by Tony Novak. Originally produced and published for the "AskTony" column syndication prior to 2007. Edited and independently republished by the author in March 2010. All rights reserved. |