"Beyond Vietnam" (by Dr. King)
Details
As we mark the MLK Day, we'll read and discuss "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence" (circa April 1967). It can be accessed from various sources online, including at the following link below:
https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/beyond-vietnam
(Note: the audio version of the speech can be accessed from the same webpage).
***************
Some questions worthy of further exploration:
-
Who is the intended audience of the speech, and has he pursued the audience?
-
Do you find the moral, philosophical, and religious references to be relevant and persuasive?
-
Does the philosophy of "nonviolence movement" have any universal appeal or virtues?
-
What was the impetus for Dr. King's evolution of civic activism from Civil Rights to foreign affairs?
-
Does the speech appeal across today's ideological boundaries, namely the Left and the Right?
-
Is the speech still relevant in today's society? If so, how?
IMPORTANT: please note the required reading assignment, if you wish to attend.
***************
Previous MLK Day discussions:
▨ "Letter from Birmingham Jail" (Jan. 2019) (https://www.meetup.com/NYC-Politics/events/257326277/)
"Beyond Vietnam" (by Dr. King)