Yesterday the world hailed Dr. Martin Luther King jr. He was celebrated more in the United States by African Americans and indeed white people and Latinos. His speech, "I have a dream" still ranks 1st among public speeches given in the last 250 years of mankind.
Dr King was not just an orator. He stood for something greater than himself. He stood for justice, equal rights and the end of segregation. It was not an easy struggle. Police brutality was targeted at the African Americans and shops were marked "whites only". The injustice and wickedness faced by the African Americans were terrible. Many could not even sit quietly in a bus because a white man had to sit down first.
Make no mistake, there were other freedom fighters in his day. But Dr King insisted on non violence and non resistance. A certain Malcom X accused him severally and bitterly for leading the African people astray. But Dr King would not resort to hate speeches, threats or even calls for secession and violence.
He gave many speeches but that one speech stands out. In it, he challenged the Africans to "go back to Georgia, Louisiana and slums and ghettos knowing that this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair." One line is indicative of his nobility and proves beyond doubt the sincerity of his virtue. In that line, we see forgiveness, and a sincere hope for reconciliation with the oppressor.
It says: I have a dream that one on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. Those lines are for all intents and purposes the definition and fulfillment of turning the other cheek, going another mile and giving your cloak.
Before that point, Dr. King had graciously appealed to the negro community to maintain the high plane of dignity and discipline and refuse to succumb to the distrust of all white people. In fact, he went on to say that many white people "are our brothers" and that ..."they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone."
What a speech. What a man. At another day, Dr King remarked: I have seen the mountain top and I have seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. We as a people will get to the promised land.
Sadly, his example has not be seen down here. It is all calls for violence, anger, distrust and vengeance. It is calls for destruction of one people or forced secession from Nigeria. Those who disagree with such calls are termed efulefus. Sometimes, I get angry when people mention Nnamdi Kanu and Dr. Martin Luther King jr in the same sentence especially describing them as men of the same kind. There can be nothing more inaccurate and malicious than that to the legacy of Dr. King.
As Nigeria grieves the death of many lives as a result of the activities of vicious Fulani herdsmen, we must remind ourselves that not all Fulani are herdsmen and that not all of them approve of the violence. We must also maintain our composure and continue to engage properly the clamour for better Nigeria where federalism is fully operational. This is our best chance as we too like Martin Luther said must come to realise that our prosperities and progress are inextricably bound.
Thank you for reading. God bless you. God bless Nigeria.
Dr King was not just an orator. He stood for something greater than himself. He stood for justice, equal rights and the end of segregation. It was not an easy struggle. Police brutality was targeted at the African Americans and shops were marked "whites only". The injustice and wickedness faced by the African Americans were terrible. Many could not even sit quietly in a bus because a white man had to sit down first.
Make no mistake, there were other freedom fighters in his day. But Dr King insisted on non violence and non resistance. A certain Malcom X accused him severally and bitterly for leading the African people astray. But Dr King would not resort to hate speeches, threats or even calls for secession and violence.
He gave many speeches but that one speech stands out. In it, he challenged the Africans to "go back to Georgia, Louisiana and slums and ghettos knowing that this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair." One line is indicative of his nobility and proves beyond doubt the sincerity of his virtue. In that line, we see forgiveness, and a sincere hope for reconciliation with the oppressor.
It says: I have a dream that one on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. Those lines are for all intents and purposes the definition and fulfillment of turning the other cheek, going another mile and giving your cloak.
Before that point, Dr. King had graciously appealed to the negro community to maintain the high plane of dignity and discipline and refuse to succumb to the distrust of all white people. In fact, he went on to say that many white people "are our brothers" and that ..."they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone."
What a speech. What a man. At another day, Dr King remarked: I have seen the mountain top and I have seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. We as a people will get to the promised land.
Sadly, his example has not be seen down here. It is all calls for violence, anger, distrust and vengeance. It is calls for destruction of one people or forced secession from Nigeria. Those who disagree with such calls are termed efulefus. Sometimes, I get angry when people mention Nnamdi Kanu and Dr. Martin Luther King jr in the same sentence especially describing them as men of the same kind. There can be nothing more inaccurate and malicious than that to the legacy of Dr. King.
As Nigeria grieves the death of many lives as a result of the activities of vicious Fulani herdsmen, we must remind ourselves that not all Fulani are herdsmen and that not all of them approve of the violence. We must also maintain our composure and continue to engage properly the clamour for better Nigeria where federalism is fully operational. This is our best chance as we too like Martin Luther said must come to realise that our prosperities and progress are inextricably bound.
Thank you for reading. God bless you. God bless Nigeria.
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