I understand that concern, but in a way what I'm trying to do here is also address those people.
An unreasonably rose-tinted view of King hurts his legacy because his legacy is most powerful in light of his flawed humanity. That's the point.
Emphasizing personal character flaws in the way I've attempted to do in this piece is how we show how little they matter. If people are thoughtlessly rejecting his principles it won't help or convince them to pretend King is some perfect being because, as I wrote in the piece, that's an easy illusion to break through. Acknowledging his faults and showing how they only make his activism more remarkable is the better way forward.
You can't convince people who don't want to be convinced, but that's no reason to abandon reality. As for those who have taken a different tack with their activism, that's where we model people like King in our response to them and let the best method win. I am confident that compassion, courage, love, and unity will beat cynicism and division every time, over time.
I understand that concern, but in a way what I'm trying to do here is also address those people.
An unreasonably rose-tinted view of King hurts his legacy because his legacy is most powerful in light of his flawed humanity. That's the point.
Emphasizing personal character flaws in the way I've attempted to do in this piece is how we show how little they matter. If people are thoughtlessly rejecting his principles it won't help or convince them to pretend King is some perfect being because, as I wrote in the piece, that's an easy illusion to break through. Acknowledging his faults and showing how they only make his activism more remarkable is the better way forward.
You can't convince people who don't want to be convinced, but that's no reason to abandon reality. As for those who have taken a different tack with their activism, that's where we model people like King in our response to them and let the best method win. I am confident that compassion, courage, love, and unity will beat cynicism and division every time, over time.
Well said, Angel. Thanks so much for clarifying your intent like this! I apologize for misconstruing the intent of your writing.
No worries at all, Paul. I'm very grateful to you for engaging in good faith. That's what we need!