Lol wut? He’s saying that power comes from solidarity, and with solidarity you make demands, and when you have power you do not relent until those demands are met. He’s also saying that the harm caused by direct action in pursuit of liberty is justified, even when that harm is to everyone (as in the case of a general work stoppage in an entire city). That you don’t want to see the relevance isn’t something I can help.
The point isn’t to cause the harm, it’s to use the threat to gain concessions.
Say to everybody in this community that you’re going to stick it out to the end until every demand is met. And that you’re going to say, “We ain’t going to let nobody turn us around.
We can all get more together than we can apart. This is the way to gain power. Power is the ability to achieve purpose. Power is the ability to effect change. We need power…
If we are going to get equality, if we are going to get adequate wages, we are going to have to struggle for it. Now, you know what, you may have to escalate the struggle a bit. If they keep refusing, and they will not recognize the union, and will not decree further check-off for the collection of dues, I’m telling you what you ought to do, and you’re together here enough to do it. In a few days you ought to get together and just have a general work stoppage in the city of Memphis.
You are not in active negotiations. You are in the end game. You have very few possible choices, and holding out (not voting) does not empower a track of choices, or opportunity. It only silos you into a particular choice.
“Sticking it out” does not better your scenario, and especially does not better the scenario of the most at risk.
Nope, MLK acknowledges that protest is meant to bring them to negotiation, it’s not just when you’re “in negotiation”
This is exactly the type of direct action MLK is talking about. You just find it personally threatening, and far be it from me to suggest that’s the point.
You may well ask, “Why direct action, why sit-ins, marches, and so forth? Isn’t negotiation a better path?” You are exactly right
in your call for negotiation. Indeed, this is the purpose of direct action. Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and
establish such creative tension that a community that has consistently refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks
so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored. I just referred to the creation of tension as a part of the work of the
nonviolent resister. This may sound rather shocking. But I must confess that I am not afraid of the word “tension.” I have
earnestly worked and preached against violent tension, but there is a type of constructive nonviolent tension that is necessary for
growth. Just as Socrates felt that it was necessary to create a tension in the mind so that individuals could rise from the bondage
of myths and half-truths to the unfettered realm of creative analysis and objective appraisal, we must see the need of having
nonviolent gadflies to create the kind of tension in society that will help men to rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism
to the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood. So, the purpose of direct action is to create a situation so crisis-packed
that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation. We therefore concur with you in your call for negotiation. Too long has our
beloved Southland been bogged down in the tragic attempt to live in monologue rather than dialogue
Well then. Youve handle this comment chain well. Bravo, comrade. Thanks for trying so hard, my hats off to u. The troll might be a lil fed, but this is a public forum and ur conversation is visible for all to see.
Replying to one of the comments a lil higher up for visibility, but i enjoyed all the way down. Pleasr dont stop preaching <3
Hah I wouldn’t actually wear the comrade title, I’m not that far left, but I do believe building a real progressive candidate is important, and a real third party would be great.
But I’m more a realist, and there certainly aren’t a lot of options in this next election. That ship has sailed. All I really know is at-risk and marginalized folks are in GREATER danger with trump, so I’m all about avoiding that.
Sounds like a comrade to me. Your ideal society might not look like mine, but when it comes to it, you and i will need to be capable of standing/marching/striking together to make changes happen.
I will vote for the lesser of two evils to keep our ability to do all those things alive, and if streets get closed or the upper classes gets uncomfy bc leftists are trying to give workers somewhere better working conditions, i only ask that u underatand and respect those efforts as well and dont give in to corporate propaganda that the far left is evil, even if the road youd recommend is different.
Solidarity to u, solidarity to the working class, solidarity to the queer, and solidarity who wants any leftward movement from where we are, comrade.
Biden needs to move on this issue, otherwise he can’t count on our vote. We all know Israel has crossed a line, even him. What’s being asked is reasonable. It should be a simple choice for him.
Don’t pretend you don’t understand what’s being asserted, dipshit.
No, but he would probably say to vote for the candidate that mentions they’re open up integration vs the candidate who wants to make slavery a thing again.
Sure, but what each of those candidates does is flexible, and one of those candidates can fulfill some action in that role right now.
And since that candidate needs our votes, we have some degree of bargaining power over what that candidate chooses to do right now and for the next 7 months.
Nor did he say “hurr it’s your duty to vote for the lesser-evil!”
Well, it’s completely irrelevant to the quote
Lol wut? He’s saying that power comes from solidarity, and with solidarity you make demands, and when you have power you do not relent until those demands are met. He’s also saying that the harm caused by direct action in pursuit of liberty is justified, even when that harm is to everyone (as in the case of a general work stoppage in an entire city). That you don’t want to see the relevance isn’t something I can help.
The point isn’t to cause the harm, it’s to use the threat to gain concessions.
Yeah that’s about unions, in active negotiations.
You are not in active negotiations. You are in the end game. You have very few possible choices, and holding out (not voting) does not empower a track of choices, or opportunity. It only silos you into a particular choice.
“Sticking it out” does not better your scenario, and especially does not better the scenario of the most at risk.
Quit bolding shit, I know how to read.
Nope, MLK acknowledges that protest is meant to bring them to negotiation, it’s not just when you’re “in negotiation”
This is exactly the type of direct action MLK is talking about. You just find it personally threatening, and far be it from me to suggest that’s the point.
You have no opportunity for negotiation, you have a binary choice in the upcoming election.
Edit also you included more text, I didn’t declare verdict on everything MLK said, only that specific quote. Shitty behavior
Well then. Youve handle this comment chain well. Bravo, comrade. Thanks for trying so hard, my hats off to u. The troll might be a lil fed, but this is a public forum and ur conversation is visible for all to see.
Replying to one of the comments a lil higher up for visibility, but i enjoyed all the way down. Pleasr dont stop preaching <3
Hah I wouldn’t actually wear the comrade title, I’m not that far left, but I do believe building a real progressive candidate is important, and a real third party would be great.
But I’m more a realist, and there certainly aren’t a lot of options in this next election. That ship has sailed. All I really know is at-risk and marginalized folks are in GREATER danger with trump, so I’m all about avoiding that.
Sounds like a comrade to me. Your ideal society might not look like mine, but when it comes to it, you and i will need to be capable of standing/marching/striking together to make changes happen.
I will vote for the lesser of two evils to keep our ability to do all those things alive, and if streets get closed or the upper classes gets uncomfy bc leftists are trying to give workers somewhere better working conditions, i only ask that u underatand and respect those efforts as well and dont give in to corporate propaganda that the far left is evil, even if the road youd recommend is different.
Solidarity to u, solidarity to the working class, solidarity to the queer, and solidarity who wants any leftward movement from where we are, comrade.
Lol there’s 7 months of negotiation left, wtf are you talking about “binary choices”
And I don’t care if you think my behavior is shitty, or if you take issue with my agitation.
No, the frontrunners are already decided. You are in an outcome restricted scenario weather you like it or not.
Edit trump or Biden will be your next president. How will you aid one of those 2?
Nothing else is possible regardless of your ideals
Don’t be dense.
Biden needs to move on this issue, otherwise he can’t count on our vote. We all know Israel has crossed a line, even him. What’s being asked is reasonable. It should be a simple choice for him.
Don’t pretend you don’t understand what’s being asserted, dipshit.
No, but he would probably say to vote for the candidate that mentions they’re open up integration vs the candidate who wants to make slavery a thing again.
Except one of those candidates is in the position to take action now, but chooses not to.
Doesn’t change the calculation.
It changes what effective methods of protest you have, though.
Not really. It’s a binary choice.
“Nothing else exists outside this vote right now”
Jesus, read a history book or something
That’s the entirety of what we’re discussing. Biden or Trump. Binary choice. You’re getting one of em.
Sure, but what each of those candidates does is flexible, and one of those candidates can fulfill some action in that role right now.
And since that candidate needs our votes, we have some degree of bargaining power over what that candidate chooses to do right now and for the next 7 months.