User Comments

1. 

   1/19/09

   aningeniousname

   I think some semblance of racial equality was inevitable but what King did was hasten that inevitability.
   When he began pushing on that door it was firmly locked and I think every American should be grateful for what he tried to do.
   I think he was also the best president America never had.

   [reply]
   1. 

      1/19/09

      stealth2000

      The best president America never had. I like that. I also believe that he empowered a nation. He could not be ignored and neither could the movement.
2. 

   1/19/09

   csiunatc

   Great question stealth, I was watchign the documentary last night and asking myself something along those lines.
   
   In the end, i don't think he actually did make a difference, I think that his words were the synthesis of the general mood, and therefore i don't think that he is responsible for the developments.
   
   I'm going to post a similar one in the political forum instead of highjacking this one.

   [reply]
   1. 

      1/19/09

      aningeniousname

      I think you are correct to a degree, King was the "face" of civil rights and therefore just the pinnacle of a pyramid of millions of unseen heroes.
      But I think that having such a respected and eloquent leader as King made the civil rights movement impossible to ignore and so I would argue that he made a massive difference.
   2. 

      1/19/09

      stealth2000

      I think he did make a difference. There were a lot of other heroes no doubt. We read about them during black history month. What made Dr. King significant was his innovative way of demanding change peacefully. It is difficult to influence a group of people to change anything without some kind of force. Change is difficult and lots of people would rather cling to ignorant beliefs and ideals than be enlightened by wisdom and willingly submit to change.
   3. 

      1/19/09

      aningeniousname

      I think his insistence on peaceful resistance was the most impressive thing about the man, he had studied Gandhi's use of it against the British in India and he knew it could be a very powerful tool if used correctly.
3. 

   1/19/09

   wehireu

   I think he made a difference but not in the way you expect. I think he made it much easier to protest things without being physically attacked. He opened up the ability to make nonviolent protests on just about anything.

   [reply]
   1. 

      1/19/09

      stealth2000

      King believed that there were six important points about nonviolent resistance. First, he argued that even though nonviolence may be perceived as cowardly, it was not. In fact, it was a method that did resist. According to King, a nonviolent protester was as passionate as a violent protester. Despite not being physically aggressive, "his mind and emotions are always active, constantly seeking to persuade the opponent that he is mistaken.”
      
      I got that from: afroamhistory.about.com/od/martinlutherking/a/mlks_philosophy.htm
      
      It's a great read. There are five other points that they talk about.
4. 

   1/19/09

   mikeny07

   No, we would have been much further behind. We still have a long way to go though.

   [reply]
   1. 

      1/28/09

      stealth2000

      I definitely agree with you there.
      
      thinking.today.com