A few weeks ago I visited the Martin Luther King memorial at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco. I’m incapable of reading the inscriptions without shedding a tear. When I visited a few weeks ago with my family I must admit it was even more poignant for some reason. Having my young children with me was part of it, I think.
On Sunday a 49 year old father of four, Kevin McDaid, was beaten to death in Coleraine by people who call themselves football supporters, or loyalists, or both.
It’s highly unlikely that the words of Martin Luther King would be read by, or would move, the kind of people who kicked and beat Kevin to death. But for the rest of us they might just remind us, if we needed reminded, why our common humanity is more important than anything.
An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.
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Through our scientific genius, we have made the world a neighborhood; now, through our moral and spiritual development, we must make of it a brotherhood. In a real sense, we must learn to live together as brothers, or we will perish together as fools.
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Men for years have been talking about war and peace. But now, no longer, can they just talk about it. It is no longer the choice between violence and non-violence in this world. It’s non-violence or non-existence.
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I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant.Martin Luther King
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