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Raquel Evita Saraswati
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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on dissent -- and your role in challenging authority
May 7, 2008 - 12:10 AM
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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said that the greatest barrier to equality is not the transparent bigot, but the “tepid liberal.”
By that, MLK meant the person who fancies himself progressive but who prefers “negative peace,” or the absence of tension, over “positive peace,” or the presence of justice. (See more here).
****
In your own community, family, or social circle - are you willing to challenge authority for the sake of justice, even though this will create tension?
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Genie
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Re: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on dissent -- and your role in challenging authority
May 8, 2008 - 07:55 PM
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Actually, we are willing and we do. Fat lot of good it does us, we get beat down repeatedly. We never win. But we are, at least, a thorn in the side of those who believe themselves to be above the law.
The battles we fight have little to do with equality on the scale of human rights and bigotry. Our focus is on politics, taxes, and the legal process being ignored so that a few can line their pockets at the expense of us little guys. I'm grateful to live in a community where I don't have to fight for human rights. I find it hard to imagine having to fight for that. In this day and age you think we humans would have evolved past bigotry and intolerance. I fear we never will. But that's no reason not to keep fighting for it.
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SlicNic5150
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Re: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on dissent -- and your role in challenging authority
May 13, 2008 - 05:14 AM
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I’m far to egotistical and self absorbed to worry to much about what those in my family or social circle think of my position on justice.
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Raquel Evita Saraswati
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Re: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on dissent -- and your role in challenging authority
May 13, 2008 - 08:27 AM
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Slic wrote:
I’m far to egotistical and self absorbed to worry to much about what those in my family or social circle think of my position on justice.
Thank you, Slic, for the much-needed chuckle.
But why is that self-absorption? Isn't it conviction? Do you think the two are the same?
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Raquel Evita Saraswati
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Re: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on dissent -- and your role in challenging authority
May 13, 2008 - 08:28 AM
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Genielorene wrote:
Actually, we are willing and we do. Fat lot of good it does us, we get beat down repeatedly. We never win. But we are, at least, a thorn in the side of those who believe themselves to be above the law.
The battles we fight have little to do with equality on the scale of human rights and bigotry. Our focus is on politics, taxes, and the legal process being ignored so that a few can line their pockets at the expense of us little guys. I'm grateful to live in a community where I don't have to fight for human rights. I find it hard to imagine having to fight for that. In this day and age you think we humans would have evolved past bigotry and intolerance. I fear we never will. But that's no reason not to keep fighting for it.
Genielorene --
What community doesn't have to fight for human rights? Do you mean that you, yourself are essentially protected?
If so (or if not) what would be your stance on the idea of a universal obligation to fight for human rights?
This post was edited on: 2008-05-13 at 08:30 AM by: RaquelEvita
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SlicNic5150
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Re: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on dissent -- and your role in challenging authority
May 13, 2008 - 08:43 AM
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In all seriousness, I do believe “conviction” is related to “Ego” on a subconscious level. A fine line separates the 2.
The moral filter through which each individual views the world is powered by conviction, but guided by ego and how right and wrong affects us personally.
This post was edited on: 2008-05-16 at 05:11 PM by: Slic
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Genie
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Re: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on dissent -- and your role in challenging authority
May 13, 2008 - 02:02 PM
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What community doesn't have to fight for human rights? Do you mean that you, yourself are essentially protected?
If so (or if not) what would be your stance on the idea of a universal obligation to fight for human rights?
I am blessed to live in a community where no one group is being oppressed or kept down in a way that relates to basic human rights. Not on a large and public scale. What goes on inside private homes is hardly all butterflies and rainbows. In that respect, NO community is free of the struggle for human rights. I am well aware that there are many instances where individuals are most certainly in a desperate struggle to enjoy their human rights.
I feel, most certainly, that my human rights are protected. I am not censored, tortured, or kept down by my local government. I have a right to free speech and expression of ideas that I use frequently.
My stance on a universal obligation to fight for human rights: Amen! I think we all have a duty to fight for that. Just because I don't have to fight for it (against my government) where I live doesn't mean I am off the hook. As long as people on the planet are deprived of their human rights, then the rest of us have a duty to do what we can about it.
And as to the private struggles of individuals who are being deprived of their human rights behind the closed doors of homes in my community, I have a duty to do what I can there as well. In fact, I would say my primary duty is to do what I can in my own hometown and my secondary duty is to do what I can "out there."
It's my current belief that if we all did nothing but try to improve life in our own community, that the whole world could be made better, safer, healthier, and more beautiful.
This post was edited on: 2008-05-13 at 02:06 PM by: Genielorene
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Raquel Evita Saraswati
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Re: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on dissent -- and your role in challenging authority
May 13, 2008 - 04:50 PM
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Genielorene wrote:
What community doesn't have to fight for human rights? Do you mean that you, yourself are essentially protected?
If so (or if not) what would be your stance on the idea of a universal obligation to fight for human rights?
I am blessed to live in a community where no one group is being oppressed or kept down in a way that relates to basic human rights. Not on a large and public scale. What goes on inside private homes is hardly all butterflies and rainbows. In that respect, NO community is free of the struggle for human rights. I am well aware that there are many instances where individuals are most certainly in a desperate struggle to enjoy their human rights.
I feel, most certainly, that my human rights are protected. I am not censored, tortured, or kept down by my local government. I have a right to free speech and expression of ideas that I use frequently.
This post was edited on: 2008-05-13 at 02:06 PM by: Genielorene
Genielorene, I commend your sense of responsibility within and beyond your community.
You state that no one group is widely oppressed in your community. Are you confident that those who don't necessarily fit into the mainstream also feel represented, and justly?
I find that in communities that feel free of "obvious oppression", other kinds of oppression occur. Often, these things slip under the radar of even well-meaning people. A quick example -- what does a person with physical disabilities feel when someone else says "that's so lame"? In this case, "lame" is being used to mean stupid, bad, or ridiculous. It may sound like mere semantics to many, but it is an example of rendering a large group as invisible - and oppressing them with our language. If even just one person with disabilities in your community hears this, I'd say that yes, a group is being oppressed. That person may still have food, clothing, and shelter, but when oppression becomes part of our vernacular, we are participating in large-scale and public oppression.
That's just one example. All communities have cases like this - and more. Thus, I'd say, no community is free of some kind of widespread oppression.
This post was edited on: 2008-05-13 at 04:52 PM by: RaquelEvita
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Genie
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Re: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on dissent -- and your role in challenging authority
May 13, 2008 - 05:27 PM
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You state that no one group is widely oppressed in your community. Are you confident that those who don't necessarily fit into the mainstream also feel represented, and justly?
Naturally I cannot speak for everyone. Overall, I feel that all are represented well. All are as welcome as anyone to stand up and speak their mind at city council or commissioners court. It doesn't mean that what they have to say will be given due consideration, of course, but they aren't kept from speaking out. The injustices in our community center around certain people lining their pockets and if it would serve them to keep certain sections of the community oppressed, I think they would. But, as it stands, it isn't in their interest. Not at the moment, anyway. The potential is always there. That's why people MUST stay involved.
I find that in communities that feel free of "obvious oppression", other kinds of oppression occur.
Indeed. And our community isn't free of that.
I'd say, no community is free of some kind of widespread oppression.
Yes, oppression of some form exists everywhere. Be it in the home, within a religious organization, within a school, within local government, and beyond. Yet I know howfortunate I am to have been born in America in the time I was born in. I shudder to think of being a woman in an earlier time or in a country that doesn't value freedom of expression. I don't want to discount the freedoms I enjoy because I am very grateful for them. But I know to keep those freedoms, I can't take them for granted (although we should ALL be able to take them for granted!).
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Raquel Evita Saraswati
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Re: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on dissent -- and your role in challenging authority
May 13, 2008 - 06:06 PM
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Genielorene wrote: But I know to keep those freedoms, I can't take them for granted (although we should ALL be able to take them for granted!).
Question: Even if freedom were a given across the board, what would be the benefit of taking it for granted? What impact would this have on the character of the free?
Not trying to give you a hard time, I promise! I believe you're sincere about change, and I enjoy reading what you have to say.
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Christy W
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Re: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on dissent -- and your role in challenging authority
May 25, 2008 - 04:53 PM
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Mad Love for Dr. King, I was born on his birthday.
I think his opinions are well founded and with regards to human rights and equity, standing by and watching something unethical go down is morally wrong. I think society as a whole, are becoming more and more aware of this "standing by is equivalent to actually being the bully yourself" phenom. The generation in which these words were uttered was far different that the generations of today. We are much more interconnected in many ways and because of this education, especially with regards to cultural diversity, I believe more and more people are taking steps towards the kind of society Dr. King dreamed of. I think the generations of the future will be better equipted with knowledge of right and wrong than ever before, while I also agree with the fact that a tepid liberal will stand in the way of any effort to make this possible. No matter how long ago it was stated, this statement holds true.
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Hafiidhaturrahmah
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Re: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on dissent -- and your role in challenging authority
October 4, 2008 - 07:41 AM
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i've watched the movie of Martin Luther
I love his way to do something
He is a good man with great brain
I like his quotes for human right
^_^
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Stephen Ojeremen
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Re: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on dissent -- and your role in challenging authority
October 20, 2008 - 03:40 PM
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An instrument of social engineering is the foundation of all human civilizations, for it is the greatest evidence of our collective resolve to surrender part of our rights as individuals, in order to live a social life with all the obligations and rights we have agreed to specify.
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Regina
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Re: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on dissent -- and your role in challenging authority
October 21, 2008 - 05:18 PM
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Even though different people have different definitions of justice, the moment someone refuses to stand up for whatever they think is right, is the day that they deserve whatever comes their way, good or bad.
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