King would note progress, push for more: #tellusatoday
Letters to the editor:
Martin Luther King Jr. would preach cautiousness and remind the nation of the progress that has been made in the last 50 years, even though it may be hard to see when tragedies such as the ones in Ferguson, Mo., and New York occur. He would also, however, urge police officers to search more deeply within themselves and reflect upon the authority they have and to not abuse it.
King would also express disappointment in the rioting that occurred in Ferguson. As he once wrote, "Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars."
Patrick Parr; Bellevue, Wash.
MLK would say today the same thing he had been saying because we have not overcome, and we have not been able to "develop an overriding loyalty to mankind as a whole in order to preserve the best in their individual societies." MLK would continue to fight in a non-violent way to ensure justice for all!
Jami Mims; Sacramento
Martin Luther King Jr. would say: Our forefathers took great pride in the term "we the people." But today, my fellow Americans, it is them and us! The rich and the poor. The black and the white. The Democrats and the Republicans. The nation is divided. Why?
Today we operate in fear. We are held hostage by the very people who have sworn to protect us. We have been betrayed, not by a man's skin color and prejudices, but instead by his belief in his political party. There is no compromise. There is no discussion. There are only lines in the sand. The winds of change must blow those lines away so we are left with just a clean surface on which to work — together! We must come together as Americans.
We the people, must rise up! We the people, must call for compromise! We the people must demand service first to the country. We the people must speak. For our future lies in what our forefathers laid out as their dream. God Bless America!
Rob Buller; Reston, Va.
We asked our followers what Martin Luther King Jr. would say today. Comments from Twitter are edited for clarity and grammar:
We have accomplished much, yet have a long way to go. We are all one people.
— @KimmeeSue6
Humanity has changed very little over the centuries, but there are people of courage who represent our potential for goodness.
— @Lavistaland316
The progress we've made has helped, but we are on a path of regression.
— @tobyalan82
Violence is never the right answer.
— @3x10to8mps
Racism and slavery are still alive but just in a different form.
— @KwameMcJoseph
MLK would be saddened we are still having issues among races.
— @Cukoo4u
He would probably say he's sorry to see that the world doesn't change!
— @MarioMurgueitio
For more of the conversation, follow @USATOpinion or #tellusatoday on Twitter.