It’s a brisk Sunday morning in a large church, buzzing with conversation from a packed house of over 500 men, women, and children. Suddenly, silence falls over the crowd like a thick wool blanket as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. crosses the stage to take the podium. He clears his throat and says, “The time has come for America to her the truth about this tragic war.”
It’s a statement King went on to support with what may be his most passionate speech to date. He spoke of the millions of Americans already speaking out against the war and of the millions more who oppose our government policy but cannot bring themselves to express their opposition openly.
“There are those seeking to equate descent with disloyalty. It’s a dark day in our nation when high level authorities will seek to use every method to silence descent. Something is happening, and people are not going to be silenced.” King said.
King went on to state that he believes this war should be viewed as a war against our fellow man both foreign and domestic. He cited the figure that America currently spends an estimated $500,000 for each enemy soldier killed in battle, while only allotting for $53 per person when it comes to supporting those classified as “poor” in our own country.
In closing King called for a prioritizing of the social well being for people in need both at home and abroad, and said that the vast investments in foreign countries in the name of domestic profit had to cease. With brutal honesty and growing intensity King said that a rapid revolution of values needed to take place from the love of money to the “Unconditional love for all men.” He went on to say, “I oppose the war because I love America… I call on Washington today. Take a stand on this issue. Tomorrow may be too late.”
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