World needs more
creative extremists
After reading Ken Upright’s Jan. 24 letter in the Post, I felt a need to respond.
I would like to use this letter as a teachable moment. Mr. Upright, it is indeed a sad commentary when one is driven to write a letter without facts. Everyone has an opinion. But when opinions are expressed because one may be feeling left out of the mainstream, it tends to hurt and clouds one thinking and makes you wonder how long this kind of implied racism will continue.
I wonder if Mr. Upright has ever heard of MLK Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” This letter was written to the clergy when Dr. King was arrested after he went to Birmingham protest the way African-Americans were being treated. The clergy said that Dr. King’s activities were “unwise and untimely.” Dr. King stated in his letter that there are four steps in a nonviolent campaign; collections of facts, negotiation, self-purification and direct action. We saw the injustices in Birmingham because people felt the bites of the dogs that the police chief Bull Connor unleashed on them.
When Judge Timmons-Goodson started her speech, she stated that she would speak from Dr. King’s letter. She quoted his method of nonviolence by citing what Dr. King told his critics. She quoted Dr. King by saying the Jesus was an extremist for love, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you.” Paul was an extremist for the Christian gospel. Lincoln was an extremist when he stated that “This nation cannot survive half slave and half free,” and Jefferson stated that “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” Dr. King concluded by saying that “Perhaps the South, the nation and the world are in dire need of creative extremists.”
ó DeeDee Wright
Salisbury
Rainy day angel
On a recent rainy Thursday, I ate at Richard’s Barbecue. It was raining a little when I went in and raining hard when I came out. I wore only a light jacket. I have a bad back and have trouble walking. I was about to open my car door when a man walked up, put his raincoat around me and asked if he could help me into the car.
I was so humbled by his kindness, and I want people to know about his good deed. I truly believe he was my angel that day, and I do thank him again. May God continue to bless him.
ó Dorothy Campbell
Cleveland