A Time to Break Silence: Part 2

Dear Mr. President,

While Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech was both visionary and inspirational, his anti-war speech, “A Time to Break Silence,” was a call for a revolutionary shift in values “from a thing-oriented society to a person-oriented society,” Until we do that, he said, “the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.” In that speech, he clearly revealed the falseness of war, the lies that are its foundation, the myths that glamorize and promote it, and the hypocrisy of politicians who decry aggression (or terrorism) and promise peace and security while dropping bombs on a country 8,000 miles away. (Vietnam then, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and, perhaps, Syria today.) He reveals the ugly truth behind the war: “…none of the things we claim to be fighting for are really involved. Before long [our troops] must know that their government has sent them into a struggle among Vietnamese [or Iraqis or Afghanis or…] and the more sophisticated surely realize that we are on the side of the wealthy and the secure while we create a hell for the poor.” Finally, one last quote: “There is nothing except a tragic death wish to prevent us from reordering our priorities so that the pursuit of peace will take precedence over the pursuit of war.” The pursuit of peace, Mr. President, wisdom from a visionary giant who devoted his entire life to the pursuit of peace. who laid his body on line for justice, equality and a vision of the brotherhood of man. There is no justification for bombing Syria, Mr. President, no core interest for America, no imminent threat, and yet you are poised to strike. It is a direct violation of Article 51 of the UN Charter, a crime of aggression. Today, the British Parliament rejected military action in Syria. Only France and Turkey are willing partners in this, our latest misadventure. The Arab League, the UN, even NATO refuses to participate. And yet the news reports indicate you will probably make a decision to go it alone. “Go it alone.” The mark of an Imperial President who has lost touch with reality, with humanity, with his own soul. We have come a long way since Dr. King gave his “I have a Dream” speech. However, we have not budged an inch since he gave the “A Time to Break Silence” speech. The Nobel Peace Prize inspired him to work even harder for peace. He would, I think, be sadly disappointed in you, Mr. President. Mortified that his life’s work has come to this.