"I've Been to the Mountaintop"... King

Today is the anniversary of the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. shot in 1968 in Memphis Tennessee, he was just 39 years old.

King, and his espousal of non-violence, was one of most important influences in my formative political philosophy.

The previous evening he had given the famously prophetic speech comparing his struggle to lead the Civil Rights movement with that of Moses leading the Hebrews out of Egypt:

"We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!"

"The light has gone out of our lives, and there is darkness everywhere"

The above words were spoken by Jawaharlal Nehru on the occasion of the assassination of the Mahatma, Gandhi on this day back in 1948.

I am a follower of Gandhi's principle of ahimsa or non-violence which is a belief in, and strategy for social change.

This does not mean simply a passive acceptance of oppression, rather we put great emphasis on information, education, and persuasion, as well as civil disobedience and direct action to attain lasting change.