Today is the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., although next Monday is the legal holiday. Before he was assassinated in 1968 Martin Luther King Jr. was organizing an occupation of the nation’s capitol called “Resurrection City.”
After King was killed “Resurrection City” went on as planned but as many similar events when it was over it was over. It was supposed to be the beginning of movement to organize poor people of all races into a united body, a movement for social change. Resurrection City, as the Occupy Movement last year or the movement in the Wisconsin Capital was slowly marginalized by the ‘unspeakable powers that be”. The next step for these movements would have meant more sacrifices, strikes, boycotts, jail and lost of jobs. When it comes to personal sacrifice most movements of people fade away.
This is not true for all movements. The Plowshare and other movements against nuclear bomb sites, Killer Drones and military training continue since jail and persecution does not seem to stop the people of these movements. So they are ignored.
All movement for real change, like improved labor conditions, child labor laws, civil rights for African-Americans, have come with sacrifice of time, often behind bars, money, poor people losing what little they have and talents, throwing oneself into the movement.
Some, like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. have even given their lives. We all need meaning in our lives. Dr. King said “If you haven’t found something worth dying for, you aren’t fit to be living.” What do we have in our lives worth dying for?
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