Martin Luther King Jr said:
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
I know he was a Baptist minister but he was a big part of the Civil Rights Movement. And being a humanist I believe to this day that everyone no matter what pigment your skin is should have equal rights. We are all human beings. We should love each other and take care of each other.
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.I loved my seminars on Kingian Nonviolence, but the leader of the group thought it was odd an Atheist would get into it. I told him that I had first read Satyagraha when I was 12, and that MLK had gotten most of his ideas from Gandhi.
Attributed to Gandhi, when a reporter supposedly asked him what he thought of Western Civilization upon his arrival in England, "I think it would be a good idea."
But seriously, MLK synthesized a lot of Gandhi's work with Christan ideas from the most moral buts of the New Testament, with a fair bit of Exodus thrown in for good measure.
TaraMarshall
Level 7
Mar 17, 2018
0
I am NOT an atheist- I refuse to comment on the belief "or disbelief" of something so foolish as an egoistic god. I believe it is Manitou who is the god of the Hurons, but from what I understand, that is a respect of all of Nature. But going back millennia peoples have understood that what they didn't like for themselves; they shouldn't do to others. And even though it is strange, at times, even other residents of this rock have shown compassion; there is a film of a gorilla picking up a child that fell into its compound. It is probably the human beastie that is the most violent of all.
@Diogenes, Manitou is a word used in all the Algonquin dialects, and is variously interpreted as spirit, good, or even demon depending upon useage. Gtchi (or Kitchi) Manitou is usually translated as Great Spirit, but has pantheist connotations that usually go ignored in translation to European languages.
@TaraMarshall Thanks for the info. I have no excuse- I should read more and know more. Although I often watch excellent programs on PBS, WNED Buffalo, I should turn 'the tube' off when there is nothing on- do something with my limited time on this rock.
@Diogenes, most Americans don't really know much about Native American languages. My grandfather was one of the last surviving native speakers of Abenaki, although he was also fluent in English, French, Gaelic, and Mohawk. Abenaki being one of those Algonquin languages. I only speak a few words, I've mostly focused on languages that are still in use.
Some religious people are arrogant and mean. Other believers are kindhearted, smart and show Moral Courage. Some atheists are jerks and others are virtuous people. I am a non-believer, but I have a few friends who believe in god(s) and regularly go to church, synagogue, mosque, etc. I don't really care what people call themselves, I just care about how they behave. When I slip on and fall on the icy pavement, I respect the person who gives me a hand up. Just behave like a mature adult. That is all that counts.
SKH78
Level 8
Mar 13, 2018
2
Susan, very well said- you are my "hero".
No matter the pigment, or sex or personal beliefs, everyone is equal and should be treated as equals.
ChrisJones
Level 6
Feb 16, 2018
3
But he did not try & force feed his god down my throat as if I was a foie gras goose. He moved a nation that we could all sit & have a sandwich at a lunch counter. A practitioner of Christ's manifeso & not a Xtian hypocrite.
Mooolah
Level 8
Feb 4, 2018
3
I don't get or understand your "Christ's manifesto-bit". How did a fictitious character write anything? A person needs no "manifestos" to lead a 'decent life'. 'Considering' this world and universe and the residents in it might be a great way to start though. From stats that I have read, more secular people are vegetarian than theist. Anything with four legs is just "meat" to theists. Okay, why not barbeque Fido?--------- I agree with the first part of what you said. And it was a nasty (or 'more nasty'
world we lived in decades ago.
I selected NO "smiley" face for my reply. These "helps" make me angry.
@Countrywoman YES, I agree with you 100% on the lunch counter, riding on the bus, toilets- or anything to do with all that evil era. But that was not my point. My point was non-theist think more- and are more liable to be aware of many issues, including animal welfare.
Just because some people have their lives rooted in a god-based faith in no way should take away from their capacity for wisdom and knowledge. Martin Luther King Jr is a perfect example. I would never simply dismiss the wisdom of a man/woman based solely upon the fact that they are god-fearing individuals. I prefer to take people on in a case by case mindset. If they can respect my bondaries, I can accept theirs. If they can accept my lack of faith, I can accept their faith. If they shed wisdom in my life, even if they see that wisdom born of god, I have no issue in sharing it and taking it to heart. Any person can be good/bad, helpful/troublesome, positive/negative... their faith never determines that for me. It is in their Actions that I take notice. I credit where credit is due regardless of faith or lack thereof. I felt badly that on MLKJ day most people didn't even Realize why they had the day off. Tsk Tsk. That bothered me. MLKJ was am amazing man. The fact that he was a man of god never bothered me. In fact, I wish More religious folk walked the same walk as MLKJ did. If that were the case, most of us probably wouldnt have even More underlying reasons why we detest religion in the ways that we do. 
Glad to read someone else made mention of MLKJ. Sorry I am a bit late in leaving a response.
Sadoi
Level 7
Jan 18, 2018
4
This is a great quote.You get back what you dish out in life.
Ghandi used the idea to remove British rule in India also,peacefully,using nonviolent civil disobedience .
The popular citizens groups "Peace People" in Northern Ireland also tapped into the idea, facing up to sectarian terrorism that had plagued the province for decades. The IRA and Protestant terror organisations eventually resolved for peaceful solutions.
VinceRichardson
Level 6
Jan 15, 2018
2
Vince, my grandfather was an Orangeman- he loved to hate everyone, even if he had never met them. Don't give me 'they': Catholic or Protestant, resolved anything--- they got tired and bored- and went on to other corruption.
@Diogenes, would agree to an extent . They realised that killing one other wasn't working,Adams chose the political route, against some resistance. Not saying the Peace People swung the balance but it showed that the people on both sides got fed up of the daily murder. As Mao once said the revolutionary fighters only swim in the sea of public opinion.You can have peaceful protests is the point here,
Good post for today.
sassygirl3869
Level 9
Jan 15, 2018
2
Sassygirl, you have to stop thinking like me- I am 'crazy'- but even so, not as crazy as about 95% of the rest of the world! Please laugh.
I scoff at the notion that violence isn't warranted sometimes. Try negotiating with a serial killer, or an invading army, or a person who has it ingrained in their brain that you are lower than scum and must be eliminated from the Earth like a Nazi or KKK member.
Piece2YourPuzzle
Level 8
Jan 15, 2018
4
"THAT" is something I agree with. Saying anything else is just covering the truth. Back up far enough- eventually there is no place to back up to.
Canadian National Anthem : " we stand on guard for thee " USA is a slave ship harbor song glorifying stripes whipped upon victims backs cut deep with stars of iron. ...oer the land of the free whites and the home of the brave rapist who sells the mulatto babies of raped black women
@GreenAtheist Most Americans don't even know the meaning of the anthem, or the words that were cut out of it.
He was a champion of nonviolent civil disobedience. He showed us the way forward.
RoboGraham
Level 8
Jan 15, 2018
4
Dr King Jr led Memphis garbage workers for living wages HUMAN DIGNITY indicting capitalism and racist war invading Vietnam. ....lunch counters and freedom marching must not be obsfucating daily human needs for economic justice. ..
He asked his epitaph be: " DRUM MAJOR FOR JUSTICE "
I admire MLK JR and he’s a hero of mine, even though he was a preacher, he was good people!
Comicfan1986
Level 4
Jan 15, 2018
7
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." ~ MLK
I have met people with IQ's below 100 that have great character. I have met people of every skin tone, even Cheetos orange, that have great character. I have met people of most faiths with great character. I don't care if he was a minister, but I like most of the content of his character.
DJVJ311
Level 7
Jan 15, 2018
7
What defines us is the compassion that we share. We are uplifted by our actions.
Jack-of-scythes
Level 6
Jan 15, 2018
8
"Uplifted by our 'good' actions". I have made some 'bad actions' in my life- and I will remember them 'forever'- which I feel is just punishment. Don't do evil things in the first place.
Religious people can think good thoughts and do good deeds as well.
You are a thoughtful and loving lady. I think we should keep our minds and hearts open to our fellows.
Treasurehunter
Level 6
Jan 15, 2018
6
YES
It baffles me why people can't get along. I have coworkers who hate people without knowing them because they're different. I hope someday we'll get over it.
Eazyduzzit
Level 7
Jan 15, 2018
8
I can relate ... one of my friends, now deceased, kept ranting that she hated Arabs and hated Muslims. But she never was acquainted with any Arabs and Muslims. I could not understand that. The Arabs and Muslims I have met are decent people. Of course, eventually I will meet someone who is not nice, but to hate a whole group when you have never had a conversation with a member of that group? Makes no sense to me.
Just because god doesn't exist, just because there are things in the Bible that are immoral, does not mean that everyone who has religion is incapable of intrinsic good or morality, as is evidenced by MLK.
Geophrii
Level 5
Jan 15, 2018
12
YES, right on; but personally, I must admit to a dislike for 'self-indulgent' atheists too. Man-made gods or millions of "one true gods" are satire, obviously- but regardless of this, there are good people of all stripes, religious or secular.
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