This is one of my favorite Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. sermons. Here he lays out the rationale for non-violent defiance. He beautifully articulates why we must not demonize the enemy but instead see an element of good in them that can produce more good. Hate begets hate, even if you hate someone for a so-called good reason. On the other hand love is redeeming and has a power of unifying unlike other forces.
Jesus, one of the biggest influences on the Reverend, said:
Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same?
Publican here being Tax Collector
And on Dailykos, where we’ve obviously chose a side, I think MLK day is a good day to reflect on some of MLK’s words from "Loving your enemies" to understand how to value those who differ from you.
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