MLK: "I'm Sorry Sir You Don't Know Me"

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"I'm Sorry Sir You Don't Know Me"

Most Important quote:

• Ultimately a genuine leader is not a searcher of consensus but he is a molder of consensus.

• And on some positions a coward asks the question is it safe.

• Expediency asks the question is it politic.

• Vanity asks the question is it popular.

But conscience asks the question is it right and there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe nor politic nor popular but he must do it because conscience tells him it is right.


Quotes from this speech:
when you go to jail for a righteous cause you can accept the inconveniences of jail with a kind of inner sense of calm and inner sense of peace

I'm gonna continue with all of my might with all of my energy and actions
to oppose the abominable , evil, and unjust war in Vietnam

we must to continue to stand up and we must continue to follow the dictates of our conscience even if that means breaking unjust laws.
non cooperation with evil is as much a moral obligation as cooperation with good and i do not plan to cooperate with evil at any point.

somebody said to me DR King don't you think you are hurting your leadership by taking a stand against the war in Vietnam. Aren't people who once respected you will lose respect for you and aren't you hurting the budget of your organization and i had to look at that person and say I'm sorry sir but you don't know me.
leadership by looking at the southern Christan leadership budget or taking a poll of the majority opinion.
Ultimately a genuine leader is not a searcher of consensus but he is a molder of consensus.
and on some positions
coward asks the question is it safe
expediency asks the question is it politic
vanity asks the question is it popular
but conscience asks the question is it right
and there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe nor politic nor popular but he must do it because conscience tells him it is right.


---Martin Luther King at Santa Rita
produced by Colin Edwards.

Description: King's speech at a demonstration supporting anti-war activitists imprisoned at the Santa Rita rehabilitation center.

MARTIN LUTHER KING AT SANTA RITA produced by Colin Edwards.
RECORDED: Santa Rita, California, 14 Jan. 1968.

BROADCAST: KPFA, 15 Jan. 1968. (23 min.)BB1460 Pacifica Radio Archives.

This item is part of the collection: Pacifica Radio Archives

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