Thought for the Week
“In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline…we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.”
Today America celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King’s fame is tied, of course, to his leadership in producing positive change for black Americans. But he is equally famous for insisting that that change be accomplished through peaceful, respectful means, through loving rather than hating our enemies—who so often turn out to be our neighbors. Dr. King loved his friends. But he also loved his enemies.
Do we?
How desperately we need his legacy today. True, many told Dr. King (and Gandhi, and Mandela, and Jesus) that “only force and fear can produce change!” But the problem, Dr. King knew, was that after the smoke cleared, we would all have to face the future together—those who’d forced the change and those upon whom it was forced.
If change is not brought about peacefully, respectfully, it doesn’t last. Instead, it only lays the groundwork for the next act of violent, forceful change.
And on and on it goes.
So let us refuse to drink from the cup of bitterness and hatred. Instead, let us “rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force,” of driving out hatred…
With love.
Mitch Teemley 
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Absolutely we have to face the force of evil with the force of Soul Love. Love, compassion and understanding can only bring about true peace. Change brought by evil only leaves scars and pain for a retaliation.
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Very well said Mitch!
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Thank you, Cat.
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❤
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With love indeed
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Right on, Mitch. I believe Dr. King also said, “Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”
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Yep (it’s in the picture, David ;>).
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Listening to understand is a step toward love. Thank you for sharing.
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Very True!
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That’s what brought WWII after only 20 years since the end of WWI. How WWIII didn’t happen after WWII, I don’t know. Change was forced on Europe by the Nazis and the Fascists, and then change (and punitive damages) was forced on the Nazis and the Fascists by the rest of the world. I think people from WWI were still waiting for things to get back to “normal” like we are currently and haven’t accepted the fact that “Normal” is what got us into this mess in the first place.
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Well, one significant difference after WWII was the Marshall Plan. Well said, Rebecca!
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And this approach couldn’t be more needed in 2021…
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Thanks again Mitch. Timely words about a hero of Civil Rights, peace, justice and faith.
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I love how Dr. King phrased this: “we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.” I remember when he and Malcolm X were both still alive and my father saying that Malcolm X chose the wrong the wrong path. Violence only begets more violence.
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Malcolm X later concluded the same, I understand.
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“So let us refuse to drink from the cup of bitterness and hatred. Instead, let us “rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force,” of driving out hatred…
With love.”
Gives me goosebumps.
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This is so rich in truth, Mitch. Hits the bullseye.
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Thank you, Shelly.
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Reblogged this on Love and Love Alone.
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Yes, with love.
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“If change is not brought about peacefully, respectfully, it doesn’t last. Instead, it only lays the groundwork for the next act of violent, forceful change.”
Exactly.
Sharing…
-Shira
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