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¶ … Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter From Birmingham Jail." It uses M.Gandhi as an example of extremism to match King's example of Jesus Christ. It includes a quote by King on Gandhi. It distinguishes King's form of extreme behavior from the extreme action of those who mailed the anthrax-contaminated letters.
LETTER FROM BIRMINGHAM JAIL
Martin Luther King Jr. knew the same discontent and yearning for freedom that eventually manifests in oppressed people no matter on what continent they live or in what era of history. He believed that repressed emotions equaled bloodshed if not directed to a nonviolent path of action, for the passion of discontent can be over-powering and often bursts forth in rage (http://nobelprizes.com/nobel/peace/MLK-jail.html).
King was aware of the pendulum of change and how extreme action is needed at times to force the swing to balance. Moreover, he was certain that extremism by peaceful means was the correct path to justice (http://nobelprizes.com/nobel/peace/MLK-jail.html). His belief that nonviolence was the greatest force and weapon of mankind echoed many peaceful extremists throughout history such as Mohandas Gandhi, who lived the creed of passive resistance against injustice, and led India to freedom from English colonialism (http://www.engagedpage.com/gandhi.html).
The recent attacks of anthrax-contaminated mail are certainly an extreme form of action to a discontentment, but the action is violent and self-serving. The means does not justify the end. King once said of Gandhi, "Gandhi was inevitable. If humanity is to progress, Gandhi is inescapable. He lived, thought and acted, inspired by the vision of humanity evolving toward a world of peace and harmony. We may ignore Gandhi at our own risk"(http://www.engagedpage.com/gandhi.html).
WORKS CITED:
Gandhi, Mohandas. History. (accessed 02-19-2002).
http://www.engagedpage.com/gandhi.html.
King Jr., Martin Luther. Letter From Birmingham Jail. April 16, 1963. (accessed 02-19-
2002). http://nobelprizes.com/nobel/peace/MLK-jail.html.
Letter Birmingham Response to the Letter from Birmingham Jail It is difficult to imagine being in the position Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was in when he wrote this letter. Though it was far from the only time he was arrested during his campaigning for civil rights, the "Birmingham Campaign" that led to this arrest was one of the larger movements of civil disobedience that King helped to lead, and the weight
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