CharlieMopps
New Member
These are a few snipets from MLK Jr's "Letter from Birmingham Jail". Even though King's message was aimed at ending segregation, I believe his message speaks also about morality and overall human rights. I think his words can be directly aimed at the issue of decriminalization, and I quote;
"I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly."
"You may well ask, why direct action? why sit-ins, marches, ect.? Isn't negotiation a better path? You are exactly right in your call for negotiation. Indeed, this is the purpose of direct action. Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crysis and establish such creative tension that a community that has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored."
"One may ask, How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others? The answer is found in the fact that there are two types of laws, just laws and unjust laws. I would be the first to advocate obeying just laws.One has not only a legal, but moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws."
"One who breaks unjust laws must do it openly, lovingly and with a willingness to accept the penalty. I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and willingly accepts the penalty by staying in jail to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the very highest respect for law."
Those are the word straight from MLK, written in jail.
"I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly."
"You may well ask, why direct action? why sit-ins, marches, ect.? Isn't negotiation a better path? You are exactly right in your call for negotiation. Indeed, this is the purpose of direct action. Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crysis and establish such creative tension that a community that has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored."
"One may ask, How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others? The answer is found in the fact that there are two types of laws, just laws and unjust laws. I would be the first to advocate obeying just laws.One has not only a legal, but moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws."
"One who breaks unjust laws must do it openly, lovingly and with a willingness to accept the penalty. I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and willingly accepts the penalty by staying in jail to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the very highest respect for law."
Those are the word straight from MLK, written in jail.