Video: Stand Up! - In Memory of Martin Luther King, Jr.

[Ava]

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Note: this video is a year old. Please keep in mind while viewing that the death toll of American troops in Iraq has surpassed 3,000 and the Iraqi civilian death told is estimated to be in the hundred-thousands.

I was looking through some speeches of Dr. King's speeches when I came upon "Why I Oppose the War in Vietnam." On April 4, 1967, exactly one year before Dr. King was assassinated, the speech was delivered during a meeting at Riverside Church in New York City. As I sat listening to the speech I came upon a section that sent chills up and down my spine:

"It is time for all people of conscience to call upon America, come back home, come home America. Omar Khayyam is right: 'The moving finger writes, and having writ moves on.' I call on Washington today, I call on every man and woman of good will all over America today, I call on the young men of America who must make a choice today. Take a stand on this issue, tomorrow may be too late. The book may close. Don't let anybody make you think that God chose America as His divine messianic force to be -- a sort of policeman of the whole world. God has a way of standing before the nations with judgment, and it seems that I can hear God saying to America: 'You are too arrogant! If you don't change your ways, I will rise up and break the backbone of your power, and I will place it in the hands of a nation that doesn't even know my name. Be still and know that I am God.'"

There are good speakers. There are great speakers. But Dr. King is more than that. Dr. King is more than a speaker. He is more than a reverend. He is more than an activist. He is an inspiration. Dr. King is an inspiration to people of all races and nationalities. Listening to his speeches will make a person feel confident, strong, and ready for the challenge ahead of him. After listening to Dr. King it is as if something in your head says "All right. We can do it." Whether the challenge we are facing is racism, deception, war, or anything else, we can face it together. When I listened to "Why I Oppose the War in Vietnam" I realized that Dr. King's speech wasn't just about the Vietnam War, it was about people uniting for peace, justice, and humanity. With the speeches he left behind Martin Luther King Jr. still speaks to us today.

The spirit of Dr. King lives on in all of us.
It is up to us to listen and "Take a stand on this issue."

[Ava]

1. some quotes

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." - Martin Luther King Jr.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. - Martin Luther King Jr.

Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars... Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. - Martin Luther King Jr.

I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant. - Martin Luther King Jr.

[Ava]

2. kick

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