⒈ Response To Martin Luther Kings Letter From Birmingham Jail

Painter Hernandez v. Wilhoit, Stephen. The racial inclusion enjoyed by all today in the United States did not come easy. Would anyone have blamed Dr. They have gone down the highways of the South on tortuous rides for freedom. Yes, Response To Martin Luther Kings Letter From Birmingham Jail see the church as the body of Christ. Lightfoot Boynton v. In your statement you assert that our actions, even though peaceful, must be condemned because they precipitate structured interviews advantages and disadvantages. The letter has been described as "one of the most important historical documents penned by a modern political prisoner ".

Teaching Staff Discussion MLK, Jr, Letter from a Birmingham Jail

And this just lets you sympathize with. King believes and gives support for reasons why these men are wrong because, in their perspective, they believe it is morally wrong. In his letter he is mainly reaching out to the entire country to try and get them to put a stop to racial injustice. The way that he addressed and refuted the clergymen's letter is one of the things that made this letter most effective.

Another thing that made this letter so effective, is the way that he used the appeal to emotion, or pathos, to pull the readers in and make them think about if it were them that were being discriminated against. While imprisoned, Martin Luther King Jr. King, possibly from his pastoral background, wrote his letter in an eloquent, sermon-like matter, yet it was his use of rhetorical devices that effectively stitched his argument together and gave it an interesting flow, either by reminding the reader of his purpose in writing, or to progress through his reasons in an impactful way.

King describes negative effects that segregation still has with usage of convincing examples. His metaphors and similes bring importance to his letter because they describe an inside look and feel on the effects of unequal rights that the church and readers have not ever seen before. In the end, Martin Luther King Jr. King had to be really upset at the clergymen because he rarely acknowledges criticism of his work. He argues his equality to be there like anyone else speaking on the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Atlanta, Georgia but run through every Southern state. Repeatedly, he was told by his fellow monks to look to the cross, but was plagued knowing he could never do enough to be righteous, and stand before a righteous God, of his own merit.

Focuses way too much on himself to be of Christ. Enough about Luther, the original guilty Catholic. I feel like the converted Lamanites truly showed their understanding of the gospel and their love of God. Even when the Lamanites began to kill them they stayed true to their covenants and praised God. These people not only had strong testimonies, they were truly converted. In verse 15 they recognized how difficult it was to repent from their sins, and to ultimately change their lives.

They said,"since it has been as much as we could do to get our stains taken away from us, and our swords are made bright, let us hide them away that they may be kept bright, as a testimony to our God at the last day" Alma First, he explained the reason why he was in the Birmingham; it was because he could not ignore the injustice problem there. The injustice anywhere was the reason for him become active in working for civil rights in Birmingham even though he did not claim permanent residence there. The letter mentioned about the strategy of nonviolence resistance to racism. Martin Luther King described the racism problem in his letter, and also explained the reasons why they could not wait for help anymore.

Now, through this symposium, representatives of Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox and Evangelical backgrounds in the United States have done so. Christian Churches Together sponsored the event which included presentations and responses, a prayer walk, a panel discussion and the ceremonial signing of a long-delayed clergy response to Dr King's letter. Among those present at the symposium was Bernice King, Dr King's youngest daughter and minister. As part of the Catholic response Archbishop Joseph E. Letters deserve a response, and in fact, some demand one. Such is the letter that we gather to remember. Fifty years ago in this city of Birmingham, Dr Martin Luther King, Jr sent a letter, actually a reply to one that he had received from religious leaders at the time.

Making use of the edges of newspapers and stubs of pencils available to him in the jail, Reverend King set out what has become a classic letter, quoting from Socrates to St Paul and St Augustine to St Thomas Aquinas. This letter, which is rich in foundations of scripture and human philosophy, direct, and prophetic, gave a rationale for strong action as well as marching orders for the steps we must follow to lift us, as the letter states, "from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of human dignity". Rightly, he uncovered the words of St Thomas Aquinas that the unjust law is "the human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law" and so is, as Dr King says, "out of harmony with the moral law.

Though at that time I was only 16 and taking my seminary entrance examination in my home state of Pennsylvania, I can look back to his response to religious leaders of that day, who had cautioned him against action that they claimed was "unwise and untimely". We now see clearly his response as true wisdom, whose time had long since come. Such a letter deserves a response: one that asks forgiveness for past sins; one that gives thanks for clear gains over this half-century of recognizing the God-given dignity, not to be denied because of the color of one's skin; and one that forms a resolve to do more, for much more needs to be done.

Such a response, of course, needs to be in writing and in living witness. It surely is in writing. Later that year on 23 August , a statement on racial harmony was issued by the Administrative Board of the National Catholic Welfare Conference. Here are some words from that statement: "We must insist that the heart of the race question is moral and religious Discrimination based on the accidental fact of race or color, and as such injurious to human rights, regardless of personal qualities or achievements, cannot be reconciled with the truth that God has created all men with equal rights and equal dignity" On Racial Harmony n.

Even stronger words were to come. In , the U. Catholic Bishops' Pastoral Letter on Racism , which was meant to shape the hearts, consciences, and actions of the Catholic faithful and all people of good will. What was said? Racism is the sin that says some human beings are inherently superior and others essentially inferior because of race" 3. Then, 20 years later in , two of my brother bishops spoke publicly against racism still at work. Bishop Curtis J. Guillory, now of Beaumont, Texas, rightly declared: "In the minds of many, tolerance is the goal in racial relations.

However, for Christians and Catholics in particular, the goal goes beyond to the deeper level of actual reconciliation. How reminiscent is this understanding of Dr King's words, for he knew that laws written on the human heart are deeper and more binding than laws in the halls of legislators. These words of Bishop Guillory were echoed by another brother bishop, Joseph Perry of Chicago, who added: "Ultimately our Christian faith is about building bridges between people, not walls". Today we give thanks for these written and spoken words.

Thanks, Bishop Dennis Madden, for serving as the President from the Catholic family, and thanks for this highly symbolic occasion for the churches to formally and publicly respond to the letter of Dr King. Though very personal, our commitment to our brothers and sisters can never be private. For sure, any change of law without a matched change of heart will not bring lasting change, but such a change of heart cries out to be proclaimed and recognized publicly as each of us commits personally. During this Easter season we are in good company, for in the Acts of the Apostles, we hear of St.

Peter and the first apostles speaking and acting words and actions whose legacy continues to this present age in Dr King's letter. Of course, such writing is essential but not enough. Thus, this gathering allows not simply a response in writing but also one given in living witness. Our living witness has three elements. Thus today, we must ask forgiveness for past wrongs, be grateful for words that have already borne fruit, and be resolved for more action. First, imperfect as we are, we speak in sorrow asking the Lord our God for forgiveness of past sins of racism, especially those that linger consciously or subconsciously in the present, and for any lingering temptation to judge not by the content of character but by the color of skin.

Our prayers to the Lord our God must be earnest and sincere. Secondly, we give thanks for gains that we have witnessed in this half century. It behooves us in this hour period to be specific in our recollection and our gratitude. I recall two specific events, both in my home city of Louisville. Each year, now for more than a quarter century, adults and young adults are recognized. I can't wait each year to hear not only who will be honored but the words of witness each gives.

From another point of view, Malcom X, human rights activist, delivered his Oedipus The King: A Heroic Analysis speech at Cory Methodist Church in Ohio. Jonathan Religious Catalogue. King was finally released from jail on April 20, four days after penning the letter. While Mr. CBS, Inc. The letter gained more popularity as summer Response To Martin Luther Kings Letter From Birmingham Jail on, and was reprinted in the August edition [30] of The Atlantic Monthly under the headline "The Negro Is Your Brother".