How Did Martin Luther King's I Have A Dream Speech

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When the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, I do not believe he thought it would have the impact it has had on society. The people assembled were of every race, age, and belief. Yet, Dr. King believed if you gave respect, acted in kindness, and friendship you would receive the same. King believed that gift would amount to self-respect and equal rights. On the north wall of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in District of Columbia is etched with the following quotation: “True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.” Much of Dr. King’s social action and activism is born from the Golden Rule. Dr. King began the civil rights and racial …show more content…

The Golden Rule is the basis for the last six of the ten commandments. It shows us how to love our neighbors. His Father rains on the just and the unjust and He blesses the oppressed and the oppressor. Since God embodies loving all, He does not make any distinction on who the sun shines. The Golden Rule presents God as having unconditional love and unmerited favor on all people. As we strive to be more Christ-like and emulate His character, we are to mirror the love and good He shares with all. Then the Golden Rule is a summary of who God is and an example of Christ’s way of life. Moreover, Gandhi’s life and the principle of Satyagraha coincide with love and the Golden Rule. He believed that whoever seeks truth alone follows the Golden Rule. He also believed that as you want and desire the followers of other religions to appreciate us and our religion, you should seek to appreciate their religions. Gandhi believed this was also an interpretation of the Golden Rule. A common belief of Karma which origin is in India says that you must never do to another which you regard as injurious to …show more content…

In all my research they seemed to espouse many of the same beliefs. The only exception is that Jesus existed well before Gandhi and King and therefore had no physical interaction with them. However, I do believe that both Gandhi and King were influenced by Jesus and His teachings. Even though Gandhi was Hindu. He believed that many Christians did not reflect Christ. He believed that being a good Hindu was the same as being a good Christian. Gandhi felt that he did not have to be a Christian to believe in the beauty of the teachings of Christ or to follow in Christ’s example. Gandhi died before King rose to prominence. What is ironic is that Jesus the Christ was crucified, Mahatma Gandhi was murdered, and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. They all suffered violent deaths, yet they believed in nonviolence as a way of life and activism. So, what are my thoughts about the Golden Rule? Social Action and Social Activism are born out of the Golden Rule. I believe they are a morphing or evolution of the rule. The Golden Rule itself is necessary for growth. As I stated earlier, as a Christian it assists you by helping you to remain or be humble. This is vital as you strive to be more Christ-like. It also assists as you seek to help others who are less fortunate than