Last night I watched a video of Dr. Martin Luther King's interview with talk show host Michael Douglas. Usually a mild-mannered host, Douglas asked piercing questions to which, Dr. King responded with such eloquence and integrity it was exquisite to watch. What an inspiration!
Are we in touch with our own passion and inner fortitude? Will our leaders again one day be driven by that same commitment to humanity, earth and universal wisdom - a higher calling - as Dr. King? I certainly believe it is possible.
Mike Douglas asked the following question.
Would Dr. King care if he lost favor with President Johnson because of his (Dr. King's) position against the President's policy on Viet Nam?
Dr. King's response was stunning. He and the President were friends because of their shared values on the civil rights movement. Dr. King responded, "That
isn’t the most important thing to me. The important thing is that I not lose
favor with truth and what conscience tells me is right , conscience tells me is just. I am much more
concerned with keeping favor with these principles than keeping favor with
a person who may misunderstand the position I take".
This is faith. A calling to do something grand, not because of egoic needs but from a place of inner calling and a desire to see the world become a better place. I do hope we can break out of our collective trance so leaders with such a deep commitment and resolve will emerge and take us to the next level of our human potential. Yes!
Look for the video, Martin Luther King, Jr. Man of Peace at a Time of War in your local video store. I promise, his message is as relevant today as it was over thirty years ago.
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