King’s convictions still apply today
We’ve recently seen a rise in violence in America. From the most current incident in Tucson, Ariz., involving the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, to the “endangered disappearance” of middle-school cheerleader Hailey Dunn, to Nebraska’s own Tyler Thomas, it seems that our nation is increasingly prone to violence.
Whether our country is indeed becoming more violent, or if it is just the increasingly high profile incidents publicized in the media, perhaps it is time we take a step back and pursue better options in relation to resolving conflict.
Appropriately, Monday was the annual celebratory tribute to the famed civil rights advocate, Martin Luther King Jr., who is perhaps remembered more for his methods rather than his message. While his “I have a dream” speech is certainly iconic, King is highly lauded for his non-violent approach to getting his message across.
King had this to say in regards to peace: “Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.” If we resort to violence, we will never achieve peace.
Even at our own college, while we have enjoyed a relatively low rate of reported violent incidents, we still see the root cause of those assaults to be hatred and intolerance of differences. Rather than trying to eliminate outward expressions of violence, and achieve favorable ratings in public safety, it should be our goal instead to promote unity among the student body, and then as a result of that, enjoy the benefits that such an attitude brings.
The best way to achieve this unity, as King suggested, is with peace. The acts of violence spreading across the country do not accomplish anything but more violence and hatred.
One of King’s greatest inspirations may very well have been Indian philosopher Mohandas Ghandi, who famously said, “There are many causes that I am prepared to die for but no causes that I am prepared to kill for.” Practically, one of the tenets of a peaceful approach to guide one’s interactions with others is dedication to truth. If something isn’t true, it isn’t worth believing, much less fighting for. Prejudices and stereotypes are better forgotten.
Students on this campus had the opportunity to reflect on King’s message through the events hosted by the college to commemorate his legacy. Hopefully, through participating in these events, the student body will become more unified, and we will enjoy an increase in peaceful attitudes, in this community, and in our country as well.