"The Fierce Urgency of Now" Obama needs to LISTEN to MLK Jr.'s speech again!

[G_j]

"We are now faced with the fact, my friends, that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time. Life often leaves us standing bare, naked, and dejected with a lost opportunity. The tide in the affairs of men does not remain at flood -- it ebbs. We may cry out desperately for time to pause in her passage, but time is adamant to every plea and rushes on. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words, "Too late." There is an invisible book of life that faithfully records our vigilance or our neglect. Omar Khayyam is right: "The moving finger writes, and having writ moves on."

MLK Jr.

the above is from the speech,

Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence
Declaration of Independence from the War in Vietnam

Delivered by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr
April 1967
At Manhattan's Riverside Church

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

I'm not at all comfortable w/ Obama having used the quote taken from this, the Beyond Vietnam speech.
It's quite hypocritical, considering the content and message of the speech.

more:
The war in Vietnam is but a symptom of a far deeper malady within the American spirit, and if we ignore this sobering reality , and if we ignore this sobering reality, we will find ourselves organizing "clergy and laymen concerned" committees for the next generation. They will be concerned about Guatemala and Peru. They will be concerned about Thailand and Cambodia. They will be concerned about Mozambique and South Africa. We will be marching for these and a dozen other names and attending rallies without end unless there is a significant and profound change in American life and policy. So such thoughts take us beyond Vietnam, but not beyond our calling as sons of the living God.


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other quotes from MLK Jr.

"It is time for all people of conscience to call upon America to return to her true home of brotherhood and peaceful pursuits. We cannot remain silent as our nation engages in one of history's most cruel and senseless wars. {Vietnam}

During these days of human travail, we must encourage creative dissenters. We need them because the thunder of their fearless voices will be the only sound stronger than the blasts of bombs and the clamor of war hysteria.

Those of us who love peace must organize as effectively as war hawks. As they spread the propaganda of war, we must spread the propaganda of peace. "
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"Now let me say that the next thing we must be concerned about if we are to have peace on earth and good will toward men is the nonviolent affirmation of the sacredness of all human life."

---- both quotes by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 - 1968)

[madrchsod]

1. anyone who had their life on the line during those times....

understood and felt what martin was saying.

i`m afraid martin`s message has lost it`s passion in the following generations.