Darkness cannot drive out darkness

[G_j]

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Have we not come to such an impasse in the modern world that we must love our enemies - or else? The chain reaction of evil - hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars - must be broken, or else we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

If you succumb to the temptation of using violence in the struggle, unborn generations will be the recipients of a long and desolute night of bitterness, and your chief legacy to the future will be an endless reign of meaningless chaos.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

http://www.cuadp.org/news/LVSUN-20031212.htm

December 09, 2003

Martin Luther King III calls death penalty unjust in Vegas speech
By CHRISTINA ALMEIDA
ASSOCIATED PRESS

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Martin Luther King III called Tuesday for the end of the death penalty, describing it as archaic and unjust especially when applied to children.

In a speech to about 100 people gathered for a juvenile justice conference, King recalled how his father, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and grandmother were murdered.

"I should be on the front line for those advocating the death penalty," King said.

But the values instilled by his parents prevent him from believing the death penalty is just.

"We have always been consistently against the death penalty," he said.

..more..

.........

Treat those who are good with goodness, and also treat those who are not good with goodness. Thus goodness is attained. Be honest to those who are honest, and be also honest to those who are not honest. Thus honesty is attained.
Lao Tzu

Violence, even well intentioned, always rebounds upon oneself.
Lao Tzu

How could man rejoice in victory and delight in the slaughter of men?
Lao Tzu

[annabanana]

1. thank you. . . . .n/t

[Wind Dancer]

2. Words of wisdom!

They seem to be lost by many in today's society.

3. We must be much more

creative as humans than killing gang members and filling prisons. We have a long way to go. Peace will be the victor some day.

[G_j]

6. amen

[stillcool]

4. It must be the time of the year...

my thin-skin is taking a beating by non-thinking garbage mouths that I allow to invade my space. Fortunately there appears a post as yours, and I can once again look toward the light and see the possibility. Thank-you.

[G_j]

5. at times

I too often forget to look towards the beautiful light that has been shone to us by certain evolved and beautiful human beings.

MLK Jr. is one of my teachers. I'd trust him over a million vengeful, unloving voices.

[G_j]

7. ~~

[G_j]

8. kick

[sproutster]

9. Beautiful and thank you

I am so angry right now.

[G_j]

11. thank you

I am sad that it seems so difficult to keep the sanity of MLK Jr
on the page amidst all the rest of the heated dialog.

[leftchick]

10. truth

:kick:

[AirmensMom]

12. Thank you.

:kick:

[sandnsea]

13. "endless reign of meaningless chaos"

This country cannot put down its violent tendencies, and we are in the dark abyss.

[G_j]

14. dark abyss.

sadly, yes :-(

[ClayZ]

15. Thank you!

:kick: I was about to think this whole place had gone mad!

[dweller]

16. proudly

placing this on the greatest page.

thank you G_j


:kick:

dp

[shanti]

17. loved it

and a :kick:

[angee_is_mad]

18. Double kick

this post is much needed at this moment. Thank you

[John Q. Citizen]

19. Right on!

[underseasurveyor]

20. Few more King quotes

"We are a nation that worships the frontier tradition, and our heroes are those who champion justice through violent retaliation against injustice. It is not simple to adopt a credo that moral force has as much strength and virtue as the capacity to return a physical blow; or that to refrain from hitting back requires more will and bravery than the automatic reflexes of defense." MLK


"It is not possible to be in favor of justice for some people and not be in favor of justice for all people." MLK


"The greatest purveyor of violence on earth is my own government." MLK


"Law and order exist for the purpose of establishing justice . . . when they fail in this purpose they become the dangerously structured dams that block the flow of social progress." MLK
_______________________________________

"Held to be a crime when committed by individuals, homicide is called a virtue when committed by the state."
St. Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, 3rd century AD - Epistulae

[G_j]

23. beautiful!

those quotes really speak volumes tonight!

peace

[Quixote1818]

21. Some Gandhi quotes

"Where there is love, there is life; hatred leads to destruction."

"Mankind has to get out of violence only through nonviolence."

"True nonviolence is an impossibility without the possession of unadulterated fearlessness."

"The acquisition of the spirit of nonresistance is a matter of long training in self-denial and appreciation of the hidden forces within ourselves. It changes one's outlook on life . . . It is the greatest force because it is the highest expression of the soul."

"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."

[G_j]

24. "Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."

thanks

[G_j]

22. kick

[driver8]

25. That last quote says it all for me..."How could man rejoice in

victory and delight in the slaughter of men (women and children)?

Seems to me that there is a lot of "delight" in the slaughter,lately...

[bliss_eternal]

26. Romans 12:19--The Bible

Romans 12:19

Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord...

Translations based on text:


Don't seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God's wrath. For it is written, "Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord." (WEB)

Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God : for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord. (ASV)

Do not give punishment for wrongs done to you, dear brothers, but give way to the wrath of God; for it is said in the holy Writings, Punishment is mine, I will give reward, says the Lord. (BBE)

not avenging yourselves, beloved, but give place to wrath; for it is written, Vengeance belongs to me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. (DBY)

[KitchenWitch]

27. Dr King and Lao Tzu - very wise men indeed.

[info being]

28. And fighting fire with fire only creates more fire

[JerseygirlCT]

29. Amen. nt