Monday, January 19, 2015

"I Speak As Someone Who Loves America"

"When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights, 
are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, 
extreme materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered."
-- Dr. Martin King Jr., Speech at Riverside Church, April 4, 1967


Although the events this year in Ferguson, Missouri and elsewhere make Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream"speech poignantly relevant this year, I would like more attention given to the words Dr. King delivered at the Riverside Church on April 4, 1967 as the nation celebrates Martin Luther King Day.

On that day, Dr. King proclaimed, "these too are our brothers", and came out against the US involvement in the Vietnam War with a passion and an eloquence that many believe caused his assassination exactly one year later.

As it is, the corporate media has consistently whitewashed Dr. King's views on economic justice, materialism and militarism for decades now.  Rather than the blasphemous blather perpetuated by today's Psuedo-Christians of the Far Right, King's words were those of a True Christian Prophet.    Like Mahatma Gandhi, Kings politics emerged from the power of Truth and Love.  His stirring call for active protest by all people of conscience ring as true today as they did nearly half a century ago.  It is no wonder the corporate media today chooses to ignore this speech and remain silent. 

Beyond Vietnam: A Time To Break Silence



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My Humble Take on the Real Deal

I believe that the movement for peace, economic democracy and social justice is a Spiritual Quest. No mean feat, what is called for is a True Revolution of the Heart and Mind--and it starts with each of us.

This revolution has to be Peaceful. The Hippies (and Jesus and Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. King, et al) had it right. It really is all about Peace and Love. Besides being a total drag, violence just doesn't work. It keeps our wheels spinning in fear, anger and pain. Who needs that?

Besides some hard work, I think the Revolution also calls for dancing, plenty of laughter, and some sitting around just doing nothing. (Some folks call it meditation.)


As Stephen Gaskin, proclaimed years ago:

"We're out to raise Hell--in the Bodhisattvic* sense."

Doesn't that sound like some serious fun?

(*The Bodhisattva Vow is a set of commitments made in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. It basically says I vow to get my act together and figure it out well enough to really help out--and I ain't gonna stop until everybody is covered.

I've found that doesn't necessarily have to happen in that order. It's best to try to help out even before you have it all together! Like right now.)

-----Brother Lefty Smith, Founding S.O.B*