January 15, 2007

Happy Birthday, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King JrA few years ago when I taught freshman composition, I began a discussion with my students about Dr. King, and as we talked, I realized that many of them thought that all the freedoms that they were now enjoying were inevitable.


So I asked them to imagine what would have happened if Dr. King had decided after the first baton hit his skull, a water cannon blasted his body, or a dog snarled in his face that although the civil rights movement was a just cause, it simply wasn’t worth it?
How many of us facing lesser obstacles have walked away?

Happy Birthday, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
***

2 comments:

Rethabile said...

"How many of us facing lesser obstacles have walked away?"
----------

Many of us, if not more than that. Happy birthday, sir.

Stephen A. Bess said...

Wow! I don't know what the world would be like if we didn't have "The Dream" to reflect on every year. His impact goes deeper than that, but what I mentioned alone is truly inspirational. Thank Dr. King. We truly love you.

I went to a program last night that honored him. It was beautiful and inspiring. Thanks Geoffrey and hello! :)