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Dear Beloved Community,
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would be 96 years old today. Born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia, his legacy is alive in the hearts and minds of those of us who continue the work of social justice. His words are as relevant today as when he spoke them decades ago. Although King has been quoted many times before, this is a fresh opportunity to reflect on his words as a message for this moment.
King was foremost deeply committed to nonviolent passive resistance as a spiritual practice and strategy for social change. The power of this commitment first became apparent after the successful end of the 1956 Montgomery bus boycott. He encouraged participants to return to the buses and their daily lives with this in mind:
The aftermath of violence is bitterness; the aftermath of non-violence is the creation of beloved community; the aftermath of beloved community is redemption and reconciliation.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1957)
On April 4, 1967, exactly a year before the day of his death, King manifested the courage of his convictions in a speech entitled "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence":
I am convinced that if we are to get on the right side of the world revolution, we as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values. A nation that continues year after year to spend money on military defense rather than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death. When machines and computers profit, motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, militarism, and economic exploitation are incapable of being conquered.
King was vilified for this speech and many believed it marked the beginning of his demise. Yet, his courage and unique contribution enabled him to tie nonviolent direct action to a vision of Beloved Community, giving the struggle for justice the universality that is necessary to ignite a global movement. Sixty years later that movement is still celebrated for its transformative impact on America and beyond. It became a catalyst for the anti-war movement, the women's rights movement, the gay rights movement, the farm worker's movement, and countless others all around the world, including the fall of the Berlin Wall and the confrontation at Tiananmen Square in Beijing. The unifying force behind these movements was an unwavering commitment to nonviolent social change in the face of oppression.
King reminded us that the creation and sustainability of Beloved Community will not happen on its own. It demands intentional action, unwavering courage, and a steadfast commitment to confronting systemic oppression with compassion and determination. As we reflect on King’s enduring legacy, we are called to recognize the profound alignment between his vision and the founding principles of CIIS, both rooted in the transformative power of spiritual growth and social awakening. His words continue to inspire us to face injustice with bravery, to imagine a more equitable and harmonious world, and to take meaningful steps toward its realization.
May we, as a united community, recommit ourselves to the ongoing work of building a world that honors human dignity, fosters reconciliation, and advances justice for all.
Best and Highest,
Brock & Rachel
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