![]() Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Yet when years have rolled past and when the blazing light of truth is focused on this marvelous age in which we live–men and women will know and children will be taught that we have a finer land, a better people, a more noble civilization–because these humble children of God were willing to suffer for righteousness’ sake. Most of these people will never make the headlines and their names will not appear in Who’s Who. “I still believe that one day mankind will bow before the altars of God and be crowned triumphant over war and bloodshed, and nonviolent redemptive goodwill will proclaim the rule of the land. Yes it is love that will save our world and civilization love even for our enemies.” Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal Loving Your Enemies… Far from being the pious injunction of a utopian dreamer, this demand is an absolute necessity for the survival of our civilization. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him. “Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. If you are seeking the highest good, I think you can find it through love.” I’ve seen hate on the faces of too many Klansmen and too many White Citizen Counselors in the South to want to hate, myself, because every time I see it, I know that it does something to their faces and their personalities, and I say to myself that hate is too great a burden to bear. I’ve seen too much hate on the faces of sheriffs in the South. And I’m not talking about emotional bosh when I talk about love I’m talking about a strong, demanding love. I know it isn’t popular to talk about it in some circles today. And I’m going to talk about it everywhere I go. I have also decided to stick with love, for I know that love is ultimately the only answer to mankind’s problems. Hatred darkens life love illuminates it.” I have the audacity to believe that people everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits. “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.” “We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline.” Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. “Those who love peace must learn to organize as effectively as those who love war ![]() “If we have a will – and determination – to mount such a peace offensive, we will unlock hitherto tightly sealed doors of hope and transform our imminent cosmic elegy into a psalm of creative fulfillment.” In short, we must shift the arms race into a peace race.” Somehow, we must transform the dynamics of the world power struggle from the negative nuclear arms race, which no one can win, to a positive contest to harness humanity’s creative genius for the purpose of making peace and prosperity a reality for all the nations of the world. We must see that peace represents a sweeter music, a cosmic melody, that is far superior to the discords of war. We must concentrate not merely on the negative expulsion of war but on the positive affirmation of peace. It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it. It is not enough to say we must not wage war. “We will not build a peaceful world by following a negative path. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” “The foundation of such a method is love.” Mankind must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation.” “Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time the need for mankind to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence. It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers.” It leaves society in monologue rather than dialogue. It destroys community and makes brotherhood impossible. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding: it seeks to annihilate rather than convert. “Violence is impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction for all. Writing a Powerful News Advisory For Your Press Conference.Campaign for a Department of Peacebuilding.Practicing Peace in Schools Audio Course.The Peace Alliance Educational Institute. ![]()
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