Martin Luther King III letter to John Edwards

[medeak]

January 20, 2008


The Honorable John E. Edwards

410 Market Street

Suite 400

Chapel Hill, NC 27516


Dear Senator Edwards:


It was good meeting with you yesterday and discussing my father’s legacy. On the day when the nation will honor my father, I wanted to follow up with a personal note.


There has been, and will continue to be, a lot of back and forth in the political arena over my father’s legacy. It is a commentary on the breadth and depth of his impact that so many people want to claim his legacy. I am concerned that we do not blur the lines and obscure the truth about what he stood for: speaking up for justice for those who have no voice.


I appreciate that on the major issues of health care, the environment, and the economy, you have framed the issues for what they are - a struggle for justice. And, you have almost single-handedly made poverty an issue in this election.


You know as well as anyone that the 37 million people living in poverty have no voice in our system. They don’t have lobbyists in Washington and they don’t get to go to lunch with members of Congress. Speaking up for them is not politically convenient. But, it is the right thing to do.


I am disturbed by how little attention the topic of economic justice has received during this campaign. I want to challenge all candidates to follow your lead, and speak up loudly and forcefully on the issue of economic justice in America.


From our conversation yesterday, I know this is personal for you. I know you know what it means to come from nothing. I know you know what it means to get the opportunities you need to build a better life. And, I know you know that injustice is alive and well in America, because millions of people will never get the same opportunities you had.


I believe that now, more than ever, we need a leader who wakes up every morning with the knowledge of that injustice in the forefront of their minds, and who knows that when we commit ourselves to a cause as a nation, we can make major strides in our own lifetimes. My father was not driven by an illusory vision of a perfect society. He was driven by the certain knowledge that when people of good faith and strong principles commit to making things better, we can change hearts, we can change minds, and we can change lives.


So, I urge you: keep going. Ignore the pundits, who think this is a horserace, not a fight for justice. My dad was a fighter. As a friend and a believer in my father’s words that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, I say to you: keep going. Keep fighting. My father would be proud.


Sincerely,

Martin L. King, III

edited for link:
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/01/mlk_iii_to_edwards_my_father_w.html

[gateley]

1. What a wonderful letter - thanks. nt

[medeak]

2. it made me cry n/t

[keep_it_real]

3. When Edwards said in the debate that

After years of slavery, years of segregation, years of discrimination (not sure this is exactly what he said but to the same effect) that the black community is still suffering i was DEEPLY IMPRESSED. That is what black people in American have been trying to get white people and all other people in the world to understand and John Edwards GOT IT, or sure ACTED like he did, but i was impressed.

[Nutmegger]

4. That is touching.

My support for Edwards has strengthened. The haters have the nerve to slam Edwards for bringing up poverty, but I have known along with us supporters that it is very personal to him.

Reading this brings tears.

Thank you for posting this.

[gratuitous]

5. Whether Edwards gets the nomination or not . . .

It's important for him to keep these issues out there, just like young King said. You know for a fact that the Republicans aren't going to touch them. And as long as Edwards is there, these issues have to be addressed, and if the other candidates disagree with Edwards' framing, then explain how they will approach them.

It's just so tough to see the white man being held back like this. God bless MLK3 for reaching out.

[medeak]

6. your words are resonating

with me...omg..the repubs can't touch him...but corporate america can and has.

[CorpGovActivist]

7. Kick, Already Rec'd n/t

[ClayZ]

8. Bravo, to M.L. King, III and John Edwards! K and R

:applause:

[lonestarnot]

9. Keep fighting!

:applause:

[judaspriestess]

10. a proud Edwards supporter

kicking this thread........

[Ravy]

11. That says it all. I am proud to be an Edwards supporter. nt

[progressoid]

12. Hey, I saw this on CNN too.

Just kidding.

[SammyWinstonJack]

19. ...

:-( Edwards not getting the nomination will be a grave mistake. :-(

[Lucinda]

13. That was great! Thank you for posting it.

[ConsAreLiars]

14. K&R, King's Riverside Church speech made it clear where he would stand today.

"We can no longer afford to worship the god of hate or bow before the altar of retaliation. The oceans of history are made turbulent by the ever-rising tides of hate. History is cluttered with the wreckage of nations and individuals that pursued this self-defeating path of hate."

The text: http://www.ratical.org/ratville/JFK/MLKapr67.html

The audio, download and share: http://www.afsc.org/mlk/audio.htm

[Hekate]

15. KnR. What a wonderful testament. nt

[Faux pas]

16. Amen.

n/t

[SpiralHawk]

17. k and r

eom

[BlueCollar]

18. K&R...n/t

[onehandle]

20. kick. nt

[racaulk]

21. K&R!

:kick:

[TomClash]

22. Can I kick and recommend this 100 times? nt

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

23. Powerful words!!! Ours IS a fight for justice, economic and otherwise!!!

Edwards IS the only candidate that has brought that fight to the fore.

Yet, there are so many who either distract or are distracted from a very basic objective.

[DianaForRussFeingold]

24. Beautiful and inspiring letter! K&R

medeak, :loveya: Thank You so much for posting this! saved, recommended and kicked..

"So, I urge you: keep going. Ignore the pundits, who think this is a horserace, not a fight for justice. My dad was a fighter. As a friend and a believer in my father’s words that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, I say to you: keep going. Keep fighting. My father would be proud."
:kick:

[desertflamingo]

25. nice.

i didn't get a chance to see the debate "live" but what i saw on clips here on du were quite inspiring. je is the man and it is so heartening to see mlk III recognize je's passion and focus on one of the biggest lies about america - that we are the greatest nation on earth. not as long as we have 37 million poor, and that's just the top of the list. uh oh, does that make me angry like je? yeah. so. it is time to get angry but with purpose and i see je having the purpose AND the answers. of all the candidates - both sides - je is angry, full of fire AND he has comprehensive answers to what he believes is wrong with our beautiful country right now. i, like je, grew up believing we were a better country than we are right now. i KNOW he will help us find our way - he is a shining beacon in the dark. thank you mlk III and thank you je.

EDWARDS '08

[jsamuel]

26. awesome

thanks for posting

[Rambis]

27. K&R

:kick:

[tgnyc]

28. My father was not driven by an illusory vision of a perfect society --

Sounds like a "facial" to Obama.

[Infinite Hope]

29. K&R n/t

[jeff30997]

30. I have goosebumps!

K&R!

[stravu9]

31. 3 cheers for John!

HIP, HIP HOORAY! HIP, HIP HOORAY! HIP, HIP HOORAY!

[lastliberalintexas]

32. What a fantastic letter

I am not in any candidate's camp yet, but I must say that Mr. King's letter gave me goosebumps. I think it holds equally true for Kucinich as well- 2 fine candidates we have. Too bad neither is likely to win the nomination. :(

[Divine Discontent]

33. Error: You've already recommended that thread. n/t