Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration

It's a reminder of what our culture has lost to read the Letter from Birmingham Jail. Which political leaders in our day write in a way which provoke reactions like this so long after the words have been put on paper? And how many of today's college students would be able to appreciate the allusions King made to parts of the then commonly-understood cultural heritage of our country?

UPDATE: William Bennett in 1986 on MLK's change in his field of study from sociology to theology:

Martin Luther King turned to the greatest philosophers because he needed to know the answers to certain questions. What is justice? What should be loved? What deserves to be defended? What can I know? What should I do? What may I hope for? What is man? These questions are not simply intellectual diversions, but have engaged thoughtful human beings in all places and in all ages. As a result of the ways in which these questions have been answered, civilizations have emerged, nations have developed, wars have been fought, and people have lived contentedly or miserably. And as a result of the way in which Martin Luther King eventually answered these questions, Jim Crow was destroyed and American history was transformed.

Plus, comments on some inherent weaknesses in scientific studies, particularly in the social sciences.

Here's a thought-provoking review of a book about MLK's funeral.

The country itself seemed to quake in the shooting's aftermath. Fear of more assassinations and riots was rampant. The Vietnam War raged. President Lyndon Johnson had just announced that he would not seek reelection. The FBI manhunt for King's killer had gone global.

Yet Atlanta stayed calm. . .

King catalyzed positive changes in our society. New weaknesses seem to pop up as we correct old ones. But it's worth remembering King's dream on this day.

UPDATE: Don't forget Sudan's slaves.

p.s.: Did you know that the pacifist Martin Luther King was an advocate of gun rights? Like many other civil rights leaders. Apparently, Michael Moore thinks King was a racist.