King, on King and Beck

In a Washington Post piece today, Martin Luther King III (son of the late Civil Rights leader) addresses the rally to be held at the Lincoln memorial by Glenn Beck, and apparently (because he does not exactly come out and say it) the inappropriateness of Beck’s remarks at that place, at that time.

Mr. King is not his father, and I am always leery of those who tell us what some important figure thought or meant, regardless of their relationship to that figure. Dr King’s words and works leave a lasting memorial, and I think that they illustrate his beliefs clearly. Mr. King wants to make sure we don’t misunderstand them.

My father championed free speech. He would be the first to say that those participating in Beck’s rally have the right to express their views. But his dream rejected hateful rhetoric and all forms of bigotry or discrimination

I am also leery of those who throw in a “but” when discussing free speech. I am not entirely sure what aspects of  Beck’s speech Mr. King believes will express hateful rhetoric or bigotry, as he implies they will. Has Mr. King read Beck’s planned remarks? Was a copy of them submitted to him previously for his review? Or is he in fact betraying some prejudice of his own, expressing an opinion based on his views of Beck’s political leanings?

He [Dr. King} hoped that even in the direst circumstances, we could overcome our differences and replace bitter conflicts with greater understanding, reconciliation and cooperation.

I believe that that is true, but Dr. King understood, as does Mr. Beck, that this kind of understanding does not come easily, and open discussion of differing opinions enables such understanding. Dr. King understood that before compromise, some confrontation must take place. Dr. King forced that confrontation and lead the way through non-violent protest and civil disobedience. Mr. King is confusing (as so many do) compromise with capitulation. It seems to me that Mr. King, while acknowledging Mr. Beck’s right to express himself, is really wishing he would just go away, as many of his father’s opponents certainly did.

If the civil rights movement taught us anything it is this; that nothing changes unless we force that change. Mr. Beck sees problems in this Nation, and has set out to try and change them. His supporters believe in his cause and have rallied to his support to try and effect those changes, exercising their Constitutional rights of free assembly and free speech. I like to think Dr. King would approve.