推荐阅读：我们都知道，马
我们都知道，马丁·路德·金是美国的民权运动领袖，他为黑人谋求平等，甚至献出了自己的生命，被誉为是“黑人的麦加”。而与此同时，马丁·路德·金也是一名卓越的反战斗士，他关心的不仅仅是“小我”的权利，而且还有“大我”的和平、自由。如果你一直以来只是把马丁·路德·金看成一个黑人运动领袖，那么下面的这篇演讲相信会让你对他有新的认识——马ぢ返隆そ鸬奈按笕烁裰档梦颐敲恳桓鲅鍪幼鹁础?br>本演讲发表于1967年4月4日，是马丁·路德·金在“忧世教士和俗人协会”的一个反越站的集会上的演讲，集会的地点是纽约著名的河边大教堂（riversidechurch）。我之所以跨入此间宏伟的教堂，是因为我的良心让我别无选择。我加入你们的集会，则是因为我对这个聚合我们的组织——“忧世教士和俗人协会”关注越南——的工作和主旨非常认同。我对你们执委会最近的声明深有同感，当我阅读到它的开场白的时候就甚有共鸣：“这是一个‘沉默即是背叛’的时刻。”icometothismagnificenthouseofworshiptonightbecausemyconscienceleavesmenootherchoice.ijoinyouinthismeetingbecauseiamindeepestagreementwiththeaimsandworkoftheorganizationwhichhasbroughtustogether:clergyandlaymenconcernedaboutvietnam.therecentstatementsofyourexecutivecommitteearethesentimentsofmyownheart,andifoundmyselfinfullaccordwhenireaditsopeninglines:"atimecomeswhensilenceisbetrayal."演讲全文：atimetobreaksilencebymartinlutherking,jr.icometothismagnificenthouseofworshiptonightbecausemyconscienceleavesmenootherchoice.ijoinyouinthismeetingbecauseiamindeepestagreementwiththeaimsandworkoftheorganizationwhichhasbroughtustogether:clergyandlaymenconcernedaboutvietnam.therecentstatementsofyourexecutivecommitteearethesentimentsofmyownheart,andifoundmyselfinfullaccordwhenireaditsopeninglines:"atimecomeswhensilenceisbetrayal."andthattimehascomeforusinrelationtovietnam.thetruthofthesewordsisbeyonddoubt,butthemissiontowhichtheycallusisamostdifficultone.evenwhenpressedbythedemandsofinnertruth,mendonoteasilyassumethetaskofopposingtheirgovernment'spolicy,especiallyintimeofwar.nordoesthehumanspiritmovewithoutgreatdifficultyagainstalltheapathyofconformistthoughtwithinone'sownbosomandinthesurroundingworld.moreover,whentheissuesathandseemasperplexedastheyoftendointhecaseofthisdreadfulconflict,wearealwaysonthevergeofbeingmesmerizedbyuncertainty;butwemustmoveon.andsomeofuswhohavealreadybeguntobreakthesilenceofthenighthavefoundthatthecallingtospeakisoftenavocationofagony,butwemustspeak.wemustspeakwithallthehumilitythatisappropriatetoourlimitedvision,butwemustspeak.andwemustrejoiceaswell,forsurelythisisthefirsttimeinournation'shistorythatasignificantnumberofitsreligiousleadershavechosentomovebeyondtheprophesyingofsmoothpatriotismtothehighgroundsofafirmdissentbaseduponthemandatesofconscienceandthereadingofhistory.perhapsanewspiritisrisingamongus.ifitis,letustraceitsmovementsandpraythatourowninnerbeingmaybesensitivetoitsguidance,forwearedeeplyinneedofanewwaybeyondthedarknessthatseemssoclosearoundus.overthepasttwoyears,asihavemovedtobreakthebetrayalofmyownsilencesandtospeakfromtheburningsofmyownheart,asihavecalledforradicaldeparturesfromthedestructionofvietnam,manypersonshavequestionedmeaboutthewisdomofmypath.attheheartoftheirconcernsthisqueryhasoftenloomedlargeandloud:"whyareyouspeakingaboutthewar,dr.king?""whyareyoujoiningthevoicesofdissent?""peaceandcivilrightsdon'tmix,"theysay."aren'tyouhurtingthecauseofyourpeople,"theyask?andwhenihearthem,thoughioftenunderstandthesourceoftheirconcern,iamneverthelessgreatlysaddened,forsuchquestionsmeanthattheinquirershavenotreallyknownme,mycommitmentormycalling.indeed,theirquestionssuggestthattheydonotknowtheworldinwhichtheylive.inthelightofsuchtragicmisunderstanding,ideemitofsignalimportancetotrytostateclearly,anditrustconcisely,whyibelievethatthepathfromdexteravenuebaptistchurch--thechurchinmontgomery,alabama,whereibeganmypastorate--leadsclearlytothissanctuarytonight.icometothisplatformtonighttomakeapassionatepleatomybelovednation.thisspeechisnotaddressedtohanoiortothenationalliberationfront.itisnotaddressedtochinaortorussia.norisitanattempttooverlooktheambiguityofthetotalsituationandtheneedforacollectivesolutiontothetragedyofvietnam.neitherisitanattempttomakenorthvietnamorthenationalliberationfrontparagonsofvirtue,nortooverlooktheroletheymustplayinthesuccessfulresolutionoftheproblem.whiletheybothmayhavejustifiablereasonstobesuspiciousofthegoodfaithoftheunitedstates,lifeandhistorygiveeloquenttestimonytothefactthatconflictsareneverresolvedwithouttrustfulgiveandtakeonbothsides.tonight,however,iwishnottospeakwithhanoiandthenationalliberationfront,butrathertomyfellowed[sic]americans,*who,withme,bearthegreatestresponsibilityinendingaconflictthathasexactedaheavypriceonbothcontinents.sinceiamapreacherbytrade,isupposeitisnotsurprisingthatihavesevenmajorreasonsforbringingvietnamintothefieldofmymoralvision.*thereisattheoutsetaveryobviousandalmostfacileconnectionbetweenthewarinvietnamandthestrugglei,andothers,havebeenwaginginamerica.afewyearsagotherewasashiningmomentinthatstruggle.itseemedasiftherewasarealpromiseofhopeforthepoor--bothblackandwhite--throughthepovertyprogram.therewereexperiments,hopes,newbeginnings.thencamethebuildupinvietnam,andiwatchedthisprogrambrokenandeviscerated,asifitweresomeidlepoliticalplaythingofasocietygonemadonwar,andiknewthatamericawouldneverinvestthenecessaryfundsorenergiesinrehabilitationofitspoorsolongasadventureslikevietnamcontinuedtodrawmenandskillsandmoneylikesomedemonicdestructivesuctiontube.so,iwasincreasinglycompelledtoseethewarasanenemyofthepoorandtoattackitassuch.perhapsthemoretragicrecognitionofrealitytookplacewhenitbecamecleartomethatthewarwasdoingfarmorethandevastatingthehopesofthepoorathome.itwassendingtheirsonsandtheirbrothersandtheirhusbandstofightandtodieinextraordinarilyhighproportionsrelativetotherestofthepopulation.weweretakingtheblackyoungmenwhohadbeencrippledbyoursocietyandsendingthemeightthousandmilesawaytoguaranteelibertiesinsoutheastasiawhichtheyhadnotfoundinsouthwestgeorgiaandeastharlem.andsowehavebeenrepeatedlyfacedwiththecruelironyofwatchingnegroandwhiteboysontvscreensastheykillanddietogetherforanationthathasbeenunabletoseatthemtogetherinthesameschools.andsowewatchtheminbrutalsolidarityburningthehutsofapoorvillage,butwerealizethattheywouldhardlyliveonthesameblockinchicago.icouldnotbesilentinthefaceofsuchcruelmanipulationofthepoor.mythirdreasonmovestoanevendeeperlevelofawareness,foritgrowsoutofmyexperienceintheghettoesofthenorthoverthelastthreeyears--especiallythelastthreesummers.asihavewalkedamongthedesperate,rejected,andangryyoungmen,ihavetoldthemthatmolotovcocktailsandrifleswouldnotsolvetheirproblems.ihavetriedtoofferthemmydeepestcompassionwhilemaintainingmyconvictionthatsocialchangecomesmostmeaningfullythroughnonviolentaction.buttheyask--andrightlyso--whataboutvietnam?theyaskifourownnationwasn'tusingmassivedosesofviolencetosolveitsproblems,tobringaboutthechangesitwanted.theirquestionshithome,andiknewthaticouldneveragainraisemyvoiceagainsttheviolenceoftheoppressedintheghettoswithouthavingfirstspokenclearlytothegreatestpurveyorofviolenceintheworldtoday--myowngovernment.forthesakeofthoseboys,forthesakeofthisgovernment,forthesakeofthehundredsofthousandstremblingunderourviolence,icannotbesilent.forthosewhoaskthequestion,"aren'tyouacivilrightsleader?"andtherebymeantoexcludemefromthemovementforpeace,ihavethisfurtheranswer.in1957whenagroupofusformedthesouthernchristianleadershipconference,wechoseasourmotto:"tosavethesoulofamerica."wewereconvincedthatwecouldnotlimitourvisiontocertainrightsforblackpeople,butinsteadaffirmedtheconvictionthatamericawouldneverbefreeorsavedfromitselfuntilthedescendantsofitsslaveswereloosedcompletelyfromtheshacklestheystillwear.inawaywewereagreeingwithlangstonhughes,thatblackbardofharlem,whohadwrittenearlier:o,yes,isayitplain,americaneverwasamericatome,andyetiswearthisoath--americawillbe!now,itshouldbeincandescentlyclearthatnoonewhohasanyconcernfortheintegrityandlifeofamericatodaycanignorethepresentwar.ifamerica'ssoulbecomestotallypoisoned,partoftheautopsymustread:vietnam.itcanneverbesavedsolongasitdestroysthedeepesthopesofmentheworldover.soitisthatthoseofuswhoareyetdeterminedthatamericawillbeareleddownthepathofprotestanddissent,workingforthehealthofourland.asiftheweightofsuchacommitmenttothelifeandhealthofamericawerenotenough,anotherburdenofresponsibilitywasplaceduponmein1954**[sic];andicannotforgetthatthenobelprizeforpeacewasalsoacommission--acommissiontoworkharderthanihadeverworkedbeforefor"thebrotherhoodofman."thisisacallingthattakesmebeyondnationalallegiances,butevenifitwerenotpresentiwouldyethavetolivewiththemeaningofmycommitmenttotheministryofjesuschrist.tometherelationshipofthisministrytothemakingofpeaceissoobviousthatisometimesmarvelatthosewhoaskmewhyi'mspeakingagainstthewar.coulditbethattheydonotknowthatthegoodnewswasmeantforallmen--forcommunistandcapitalist,fortheirchildrenandours,forblackandforwhite,forrevolutionaryandconservative?havetheyforgottenthatmyministryisinobediencetotheonewholovedhisenemiessofullythathediedforthem?whatthencanisaytothevietcongortocastroortomaoasafaithfulministerofthisone?canithreatenthemwithdeathormustinotsharewiththemmylife?andfinally,asitrytoexplainforyouandformyselftheroadthatleadsfrommontgomerytothisplaceiwouldhaveofferedallthatwasmostvalidifisimplysaidthatimustbetruetomyconvictionthatisharewithallmenthecallingtobeasonofthelivinggod.beyondthecallingofraceornationorcreedisthisvocationofsonshipandbrotherhood,andbecauseibelievethatthefatherisdeeplyconcernedespeciallyforhissufferingandhelplessandoutcastchildren,icometonighttospeakforthem.thisibelievetobetheprivilegeandtheburdenofallofuswhodeemourselvesboundbyallegiancesandloyaltieswhicharebroaderanddeeperthannationalismandwhichgobeyondournation'sself-definedgoalsandpositions.wearecalledtospeakfortheweak,forthevoiceless,forthevictimsofournationandforthoseitcalls"enemy,"fornodocumentfromhumanhandscanmakethesehumansanylessourbrothers.andasiponderthemadnessofvietnamandsearchwithinmyselfforwaystounderstandandrespondincompassion,mymindgoesconstantlytothepeopleofthatpeninsula.ispeaknownotofthesoldiersofeachside,notoftheideologiesoftheliberationfront,notofthejuntainsaigon,butsimplyofthepeoplewhohavebeenlivingunderthecurseofwarforalmostthreecontinuousdecadesnow.ithinkofthem,too,becauseitiscleartomethattherewillbenomeaningfulsolutionthereuntilsomeattemptismadetoknowthemandheartheirbrokencries.theymustseeamericansasstrangeliberators.thevietnamesepeopleproclaimedtheirownindependence*in1954*--in1945*rather*--afteracombinedfrenchandjapaneseoccupationandbeforethecommunistrevolutioninchina.theywereledbyhochiminh.eventhoughtheyquotedtheamericandeclarationofindependenceintheirowndocumentoffreedom,werefusedtorecognizethem.instead,wedecidedtosupportfranceinitsreconquestofherformercolony.ourgovernmentfeltthenthatthevietnamesepeoplewerenotreadyforindependence,andweagainfellvictimtothedeadlywesternarrogancethathaspoisonedtheinternationalatmosphereforsolong.withthattragicdecisionwerejectedarevolutionarygovernmentseekingself-determinationandagovernmentthathadbeenestablishednotbychina--forwhomthevietnamesehavenogreatlove--butbyclearlyindigenousforcesthatincludedsomecommunists.forthepeasantsthisnewgovernmentmeantreallandreform,oneofthemostimportantneedsintheirlives.fornineyearsfollowing1945wedeniedthepeopleofvietnamtherightofindependence.fornineyearswevigorouslysupportedthefrenchintheirabortiveefforttorecolonizevietnam.beforetheendofthewarweweremeetingeightypercentofthefrenchwarcosts.evenbeforethefrenchweredefeatedatdienbienphu,theybegantodespairoftheirrecklessaction,butwedidnot.weencouragedthemwithourhugefinancialandmilitarysuppliestocontinuethewarevenaftertheyhadlostthewill.soonwewouldbepayingalmostthefullcostsofthistragicattemptatrecolonization.afterthefrenchweredefeated,itlookedasifindependenceandlandreformwouldcomeagainthroughthegenevaagreement.butinsteadtherecametheunitedstates,determinedthathoshouldnotunifythetemporarilydividednation,andthepeasantswatchedagainaswesupportedoneofthemostviciousmoderndictators,ourchosenman,premierdiem.thepeasantswatchedandcringedasdiemruthlesslyrootedoutallopposition,supportedtheirextortionistlandlords,andrefusedeventodiscussreunificationwiththenorth.thepeasantswatchedasallthiswaspresidedoverbyunitedstates'influenceandthenbyincreasingnumbersofunitedstatestroopswhocametohelpquelltheinsurgencythatdiem'smethodshadaroused.whendiemwasoverthrowntheymayhavebeenhappy,butthelonglineofmilitarydictatorsseemedtooffernorealchange,especiallyintermsoftheirneedforlandandpeace.theonlychangecamefromamerica,asweincreasedourtroopcommitmentsinsupportofgovernmentswhichweresingularlycorrupt,inept,andwithoutpopularsupport.allthewhilethepeoplereadourleafletsandreceivedtheregularpromisesofpeaceanddemocracyandlandreform.nowtheylanguishunderourbombsandconsiderus,nottheirfellowvietnamese,therealenemy.theymovesadlyandapatheticallyasweherdthemoffthelandoftheirfathersintoconcentrationcampswhereminimalsocialneedsarerarelymet.theyknowtheymustmoveonorbedestroyedbyourbombs.sotheygo,primarilywomenandchildrenandtheaged.theywatchaswepoisontheirwater,aswekillamillionacresoftheircrops.theymustweepasthebulldozersroarthroughtheirareaspreparingtodestroytheprecioustrees.theywanderintothehospitalswithatleasttwentycasualtiesfromamericanfirepowerforonevietcong-inflictedinjury.sofarwemayhavekilledamillionofthem,mostlychildren.theywanderintothetownsandseethousandsofthechildren,homeless,withoutclothes,runninginpacksonthestreetslikeanimals.theyseethechildrendegradedbyoursoldiersastheybegforfood.theyseethechildrensellingtheirsisterstooursoldiers,solicitingfortheirmothers.whatdothepeasantsthinkasweallyourselveswiththelandlordsandaswerefusetoputanyactionintoourmanywordsconcerninglandreform?whatdotheythinkaswetestoutourlatestweaponsonthem,justasthegermanstestedoutnewmedicineandnewtorturesintheconcentrationcampsofeurope?wherearetherootsoftheindependentvietnamweclaimtobebuilding?isitamongthesevoicelessones?wehavedestroyedtheirtwomostcherishedinstitutions:thefamilyandthevillage.wehavedestroyedtheirlandandtheircrops.wehavecooperatedinthecrushingofthenation'sonlynoncommunistrevolutionarypoliticalforce,theunifiedbuddhistchurch.wehavesupportedtheenemiesofthepeasantsofsaigon.wehavecorruptedtheirwomenandchildrenandkilledtheirmen.nowthereislittlelefttobuildon,savebitterness.*soontheonlysolidphysicalfoundationsremainingwillbefoundatourmilitarybasesandintheconcreteoftheconcentrationcampswecall"fortifiedhamlets."thepeasantsmaywellwonderifweplantobuildournewvietnamonsuchgroundsasthese.couldweblamethemforsuchthoughts?wemustspeakforthemandraisethequestionstheycannotraise.these,too,areourbrothers.perhapsamoredifficultbutnolessnecessarytaskistospeakforthosewhohavebeendesignatedasourenemies.*whatofthenationalliberationfront,thatstrangelyanonymousgroupwecall"vc"or"communists"?whatmusttheythinkoftheunitedstatesofamericawhentheyrealizethatwepermittedtherepressionandcrueltyofdiem,whichhelpedtobringthemintobeingasaresistancegroupinthesouth?whatdotheythinkofourcondoningtheviolencewhichledtotheirowntakingupofarms?howcantheybelieveinourintegritywhennowwespeakof"aggressionfromthenorth"asiftherewerenothingmoreessentialtothewar?howcantheytrustuswhennowwechargethemwithviolenceafterthemurderousreignofdiemandchargethemwithviolencewhilewepoureverynewweaponofdeathintotheirland?surelywemustunderstandtheirfeelings,evenifwedonotcondonetheiractions.surelywemustseethatthemenwesupportedpressedthemtotheirviolence.surelywemustseethatourowncomputerizedplansofdestructionsimplydwarftheirgreatestacts.howdotheyjudgeuswhenourofficialsknowthattheirmembershipislessthantwenty-fivepercentcommunist,andyetinsistongivingthemtheblanketname?whatmusttheybethinkingwhentheyknowthatweareawareoftheircontrolofmajorsectionsofvietnam,andyetweappearreadytoallownationalelectionsinwhichthishighlyorganizedpoliticalparallelgovernmentwillnothaveapart?theyaskhowwecanspeakoffreeelectionswhenthesaigonpressiscensoredandcontrolledbythemilitaryjunta.andtheyaresurelyrighttowonderwhatkindofnewgovernmentweplantohelpformwithoutthem,theonlypartyinrealtouchwiththepeasants.theyquestionourpoliticalgoalsandtheydenytherealityofapeacesettlementfromwhichtheywillbeexcluded.theirquestionsarefrighteninglyrelevant.isournationplanningtobuildonpoliticalmythagain,andthenshoreitupuponthepowerofnewviolence?hereisthetruemeaningandvalueofcompassionandnonviolence,whenithelpsustoseetheenemy'spointofview,tohearhisquestions,toknowhisassessmentofourselves.forfromhisviewwemayindeedseethebasicweaknessesofourowncondition,andifwearemature,wemaylearnandgrowandprofitfromthewisdomofthebrotherswhoarecalledtheopposition.so,too,withhanoi.inthenorth,whereourbombsnowpummeltheland,andourminesendangerthewaterways,wearemetbyadeepbutunderstandablemistrust.tospeakforthemistoexplainthislackofconfidenceinwesternwords,andespeciallytheirdistrustofamericanintentionsnow.inhanoiarethemenwholedthenationtoindependenceagainstthejapaneseandthefrench,themenwhosoughtmembershipinthefrenchcommonwealthandwerebetrayedbytheweaknessofparisandthewillfulnessofthecolonialarmies.itwastheywholedasecondstruggleagainstfrenchdominationattremendouscosts,andthenwerepersuadedtogiveupthelandtheycontrolledbetweenthethirteenthandseventeenthparallelasatemporarymeasureatgeneva.after1954theywatchedusconspirewithdiemtopreventelectionswhichcouldhavesurelybroughthochiminhtopoweroveraunitedvietnam,andtheyrealizedtheyhadbeenbetrayedagain.whenweaskwhytheydonotleaptonegotiate,thesethingsmustberemembered.also,itmustbeclearthattheleadersofhanoiconsideredthepresenceofamericantroopsinsupportofthediemregimetohavebeentheinitialmilitarybreachofthegenevaagreementconcerningforeigntroops.theyremindusthattheydidnotbegintosendtroopsinlargenumbersandevensuppliesintothesouthuntilamericanforceshadmovedintothetensofthousands.hanoiremembershowourleadersrefusedtotellusthetruthabouttheearliernorthvietnameseoverturesforpeace,howthepresidentclaimedthatnoneexistedwhentheyhadclearlybeenmade.hochiminhhaswatchedasamericahasspokenofpeaceandbuiltupitsforces,andnowhehassurelyheardtheincreasinginternationalrumorsofamericanplansforaninvasionofthenorth.heknowsthebombingandshellingandminingwearedoingarepartoftraditionalpre-invasionstrategy.perhapsonlyhissenseofhumorandofironycansavehimwhenhehearsthemostpowerfulnationoftheworldspeakingofaggressionasitdropsthousandsofbombsonapoor,weaknationmorethan*eighthundred,orrather,*eightthousandmilesawayfromitsshores.atthispointishouldmakeitclearthatwhileihavetriedintheselastfewminutestogiveavoicetothevoicelessinvietnamandtounderstandtheargumentsofthosewhoarecalled"enemy,"iamasdeeplyconcernedaboutourowntroopsthereasanythingelse.foritoccurstomethatwhatwearesubmittingthemtoinvietnamisnotsimplythebrutalizingprocessthatgoesoninanywarwherearmiesfaceeachotherandseektodestroy.weareaddingcynicismtotheprocessofdeath,fortheymustknowafterashortperiodtherethatnoneofthethingsweclaimtobefightingforarereallyinvolved.beforelongtheymustknowthattheirgovernmenthassentthemintoastruggleamongvietnamese,andthemoresophisticatedsurelyrealizethatweareonthesideofthewealthy,andthesecure,whilewecreateahellforthepoor.somehowthismadnessmustcease.wemuststopnow.ispeakasachildofgodandbrothertothesufferingpoorofvietnam.ispeakforthosewhoselandisbeinglaidwaste,whosehomesarebeingdestroyed,whosecultureisbeingsubverted.ispeakforthepoorofamericawhoarepayingthedoublepriceofsmashedhopesathome,anddeathandcorruptioninvietnam.ispeakasacitizenoftheworld,fortheworldasitstandsaghastatthepathwehavetaken.ispeakasonewholovesamerica,totheleadersofourownnation:thegreatinitiativeinthiswarisours;theinitiativetostopitmustbeours.thisisthemessageofthegreatbuddhistleadersofvietnam.recentlyoneofthemwrotethesewords,andiquote:eachdaythewargoesonthehatredincreasesintheheartofthevietnameseandintheheartsofthoseofhumanitarianinstinct.theamericansareforcingeventheirfriendsintobecomingtheirenemies.itiscuriousthattheamericans,whocalculatesocarefullyonthepossibilitiesofmilitaryvictory,donotrealizethatintheprocesstheyareincurringdeeppsychologicalandpoliticaldefeat.theimageofamericawillneveragainbetheimageofrevolution,freedom,anddemocracy,buttheimageofviolenceandmilitarism(unquote).ifwecontinue,therewillbenodoubtinmymindandinthemindoftheworldthatwehavenohonorableintentionsinvietnam.ifwedonotstopourwaragainstthepeopleofvietnamimmediately,theworldwillbeleftwithnootheralternativethantoseethisassomehorrible,clumsy,anddeadlygamewehavedecidedtoplay.theworldnowdemandsamaturityofamericathatwemaynotbeabletoachieve.itdemandsthatweadmitthatwehavebeenwrongfromthebeginningofouradventureinvietnam,thatwehavebeendetrimentaltothelifeofthevietnamesepeople.thesituationisoneinwhichwemustbereadytoturnsharplyfromourpresentways.inordertoatoneforoursinsanderrorsinvietnam,weshouldtaketheinitiativeinbringingahalttothistragicwar.*iwouldliketosuggestfiveconcretethingsthatourgovernmentshoulddoimmediatelytobeginthelonganddifficultprocessofextricatingourselvesfromthisnightmarishconflict:numberone:endallbombinginnorthandsouthvietnam.numbertwo:declareaunilateralcease-fireinthehopethatsuchactionwillcreatetheatmospherefornegotiation.three:takeimmediatestepstopreventotherbattlegroundsinsoutheastasiabycurtailingourmilitarybuildupinthailandandourinterferenceinlaos.four:realisticallyacceptthefactthatthenationalliberationfronthassubstantialsupportinsouthvietnamandmusttherebyplayaroleinanymeaningfulnegotiationsandanyfuturevietnamgovernment.five:*setadatethatwewillremoveallforeigntroopsfromvietnaminaccordancewiththe1954genevaagreement.partofourongoing...partofourongoingcommitmentmightwellexpressitselfinanoffertograntasylumtoanyvietnamesewhofearsforhislifeunderanewregimewhichincludedtheliberationfront.thenwemustmakewhatreparationswecanforthedamagewehavedone.wemustprovidethemedicalaidthatisbadlyneeded,makingitavailableinthiscountry,ifnecessary.meanwhile...meanwhile,weinthechurchesandsynagogueshaveacontinuingtaskwhileweurgeourgovernmenttodisengageitselffromadisgracefulcommitment.wemustcontinuetoraiseourvoicesandourlivesifournationpersistsinitsperversewaysinvietnam.wemustbepreparedtomatchactionswithwordsbyseekingouteverycreativemethodofprotestpossible.*aswecounselyoungmenconcerningmilitaryservice,wemustclarifyforthemournation'sroleinvietnamandchallengethemwiththealternativeofconscientiousobjection.iampleasedtosaythatthisisapathnowchosenbymorethanseventystudentsatmyownalmamater,morehousecollege,andirecommendittoallwhofindtheamericancourseinvietnamadishonorableandunjustone.moreover,iwouldencourageallministersofdraftagetogiveuptheirministerialexemptionsandseekstatusasconscientiousobjectors.*thesearethetimesforrealchoicesandnotfalseones.weareatthemomentwhenourlivesmustbeplacedonthelineifournationistosurviveitsownfolly.everymanofhumaneconvictionsmustdecideontheprotestthatbestsuitshisconvictions,butwemustallprotest.nowthereissomethingseductivelytemptingaboutstoppingthereandsendingusalloffonwhatinsomecircleshasbecomeapopularcrusadeagainstthewarinvietnam.isaywemustenterthatstruggle,butiwishtogoonnowtosaysomethingevenmoredisturbing.thewarinvietnamisbutasymptomofafardeepermaladywithintheamericanspirit,andifweignorethissoberingreality...andifweignorethissoberingreality,wewillfindourselvesorganizing"clergyandlaymenconcerned"committeesforthenextgeneration.theywillbeconcernedaboutguatemalaandperu.theywillbeconcernedaboutthailandandcambodia.theywillbeconcernedaboutmozambiqueandsouthafrica.wewillbemarchingfortheseandadozenothernamesandattendingrallieswithoutend,unlessthereisasignificantandprofoundchangeinamericanlifeandpolicy.andso,suchthoughtstakeusbeyondvietnam,butnotbeyondourcallingassonsofthelivinggod.in1957,asensitiveamericanofficialoverseassaidthatitseemedtohimthatournationwasonthewrongsideofaworldrevolution.duringthepasttenyears,wehaveseenemergeapatternofsuppressionwhichhasnowjustifiedthepresenceofu.s.militaryadvisorsinvenezuela.thisneedtomaintainsocialstabilityforourinvestmentsaccountsforthecounterrevolutionaryactionofamericanforcesinguatemala.ittellswhyamericanhelicoptersarebeingusedagainstguerrillasincambodiaandwhyamericannapalmandgreenberetforceshavealreadybeenactiveagainstrebelsinperu.itiswithsuchactivityinmindthatthewordsofthelatejohnf.kennedycomebacktohauntus.fiveyearsagohesaid,"thosewhomakepeacefulrevolutionimpossiblewillmakeviolentrevolutioninevitable."increasingly,bychoiceorbyaccident,thisistheroleournationhastaken,theroleofthosewhomakepeacefulrevolutionimpossiblebyrefusingtogiveuptheprivilegesandthepleasuresthatcomefromtheimmenseprofitsofoverseasinvestments.iamconvincedthatifwearetogetontherightsideoftheworldrevolution,weasanationmustundergoaradicalrevolutionofvalues.wemustrapidlybegin...wemustrapidlybegintheshiftfromathing-orientedsocietytoaperson-orientedsociety.whenmachinesandcomputers,profitmotivesandpropertyrights,areconsideredmoreimportantthanpeople,thegianttripletsofracism,extremematerialism,andmilitarismareincapableofbeingconquered.atruerevolutionofvalueswillsooncauseustoquestionthefairnessandjusticeofmanyofourpastandpresentpolicies.ontheonehand,wearecalledtoplaythegoodsamaritanonlife'sroadside,butthatwillbeonlyaninitialact.onedaywemustcometoseethatthewholejerichoroadmustbetransformedsothatmenandwomenwillnotbeconstantlybeatenandrobbedastheymaketheirjourneyonlife'shighway.truecompassionismorethanflingingacointoabeggar.itcomestoseethatanedificewhichproducesbeggarsneedsrestructuring.atruerevolutionofvalueswillsoonlookuneasilyontheglaringcontrastofpovertyandwealth.withrighteousindignation,itwilllookacrosstheseasandseeindividualcapitalistsofthewestinvestinghugesumsofmoneyinasia,africa,andsouthamerica,onlytotaketheprofitsoutwithnoconcernforthesocialbettermentofthecountries,andsay,"thisisnotjust."itwilllookatouralliancewiththelandedgentryofsouthamericaandsay,"thisisnotjust."thewesternarroganceoffeelingthatithaseverythingtoteachothersandnothingtolearnfromthemisnotjust.atruerevolutionofvalueswilllayhandontheworldorderandsayofwar,"thiswayofsettlingdifferencesisnotjust."thisbusinessofburninghumanbeingswithnapalm,offillingournation'shomeswithorphansandwidows,ofinjectingpoisonousdrugsofhateintotheveinsofpeoplesnormallyhumane,ofsendingmenhomefromdarkandbloodybattlefieldsphysicallyhandicappedandpsychologicallyderanged,cannotbereconciledwithwisdom,justice,andlove.anationthatcontinuesyearafteryeartospendmoremoneyonmilitarydefensethanonprogramsofsocialupliftisapproachingspiritualdeath.america,therichestandmostpowerfulnationintheworld,canwellleadthewayinthisrevolutionofvalues.thereisnothingexceptatragicdeathwishtopreventusfromreorderingourprioritiessothatthepursuitofpeacewilltakeprecedenceoverthepursuitofwar.thereisnothingtokeepusfrommoldingarecalcitrantstatusquowithbruisedhandsuntilwehavefashioneditintoabrotherhood.*thiskindofpositiverevolutionofvaluesisourbestdefenseagainstcommunism.warisnottheanswer.communismwillneverbedefeatedbytheuseofatomicbombsornuclearweapons.letusnotjointhosewhoshoutwarand,throughtheirmisguidedpassions,urgetheunitedstatestorelinquishitsparticipationintheunitednations.*thesearedayswhichdemandwiserestraintandcalmreasonableness.*wemustnotengageinanegativeanticommunism,butratherinapositivethrustfordemocracy,realizingthatourgreatestdefenseagainstcommunismistotakeoffensiveactioninbehalfofjustice.wemustwithpositiveactionseektoremovethoseconditionsofpoverty,insecurity,andinjustice,whicharethefertilesoilinwhichtheseedofcommunismgrowsanddevelops.*thesearerevolutionarytimes.allovertheglobemenarerevoltingagainstoldsystemsofexploitationandoppression,andoutofthewoundsofafrailworld,newsystemsofjusticeandequalityarebeingborn.theshirtlessandbarefootpeopleofthelandarerisingupasneverbefore.thepeoplewhosatindarknesshaveseenagreatlight.weinthewestmustsupporttheserevolutions.itisasadfactthatbecauseofcomfort,complacency,amorbidfearofcommunism,andourpronenesstoadjusttoinjustice,thewesternnationsthatinitiatedsomuchoftherevolutionaryspiritofthemodernworldhavenowbecomethearchantirevolutionaries.thishasdrivenmanytofeelthatonlymarxismhasarevolutionaryspirit.therefore,communismisajudgmentagainstourfailuretomakedemocracyrealandfollowthroughontherevolutionsthatweinitiated.ouronlyhopetodayliesinourabilitytorecapturetherevolutionaryspiritandgooutintoasometimeshostileworlddeclaringeternalhostilitytopoverty,racism,andmilitarism.withthispowerfulcommitmentweshallboldlychallengethestatusquoandunjustmores,andtherebyspeedthedaywhen"everyvalleyshallbeexalted,andeverymountainandhillshallbemadelow,andthecrookedshallbemadestraight,andtheroughplacesplain."agenuinerevolutionofvaluesmeansinthefinalanalysisthatourloyaltiesmustbecomeecumenicalratherthansectional.everynationmustnowdevelopanoverridingloyaltytomankindasawholeinordertopreservethebestintheirindividualsocieties.thiscallforaworldwidefellowshipthatliftsneighborlyconcernbeyondone'stribe,race,class,andnationisinrealityacallforanall-embracingandunconditionalloveforallmankind.thisoftmisunderstood,thisoftmisinterpretedconcept,soreadilydismissedbythenietzschesoftheworldasaweakandcowardlyforce,hasnowbecomeanabsolutenecessityforthesurvivalofman.whenispeakofloveiamnotspeakingofsomesentimentalandweakresponse.iamnotspeakingofthatforcewhichisjustemotionalbosh.iamspeakingofthatforcewhichallofthegreatreligionshaveseenasthesupremeunifyingprincipleoflife.loveissomehowthekeythatunlocksthedoorwhichleadstoultimatereality.thishindu-muslim-christian-jewish-buddhistbeliefaboutultimaterealityisbeautifullysummedupinthefirstepistleofsaintjohn:"letusloveoneanother,forloveisgod.andeveryonethatlovethisbornofgodandknowethgod.hethatlovethnotknowethnotgod,forgodislove.""ifweloveoneanother,goddwellethinusandhisloveisperfectedinus."letushopethatthisspiritwillbecometheorderoftheday.wecannolongeraffordtoworshipthegodofhateorbowbeforethealtarofretaliation.theoceansofhistoryaremadeturbulentbytheever-risingtidesofhate.andhistoryisclutteredwiththewreckageofnationsandindividualsthatpursuedthisself-defeatingpathofhate.asarnoldtoynbeesays:"loveistheultimateforcethatmakesforthesavingchoiceoflifeandgoodagainstthedamningchoiceofdeathandevil.thereforethefirsthopeinourinventorymustbethehopethatloveisgoingtohavethelastword"(unquote).wearenowfacedwiththefact,myfriends,thattomorrowistoday.weareconfrontedwiththefierceurgencyofnow.inthisunfoldingconundrumoflifeandhistory,thereissuchathingasbeingtoolate.procrastinationisstillthethiefoftime.lifeoftenleavesusstandingbare,naked,anddejectedwithalostopportunity.thetideintheaffairsofmendoesnotremainatflood--itebbs.wemaycryoutdesperatelyfortimetopauseinherpassage,buttimeisadamanttoeverypleaandrusheson.overthebleachedbonesandjumbledresiduesofnumerouscivilizationsarewrittenthepatheticwords,"toolate."thereisaninvisiblebookoflifethatfaithfullyrecordsourvigilanceorourneglect.omarkhayyamisright:"themovingfingerwrites,andhavingwritmoveson."westillhaveachoicetoday:nonviolentcoexistenceorviolentcoannihilation.wemustmovepastindecisiontoaction.wemustfindnewwaystospeakforpeaceinvietnamandjusticethroughoutthedevelopingworld,aworldthatbordersonourdoors.ifwedonotact,weshallsurelybedraggeddownthelong,dark,andshamefulcorridorsoftimereservedforthosewhopossesspowerwithoutcompassion,mightwithoutmorality,andstrengthwithoutsight.nowletusbegin.nowletusrededicateourselvestothelongandbitter,butbeautiful,struggleforanewworld.thisisthecallingofthesonsofgod,andourbrotherswaiteagerlyforourresponse.shallwesaytheoddsaretoogreat?shallwetellthemthestruggleistoohard?willourmessagebethattheforcesofamericanlifemilitateagainsttheirarrivalasfullmen,andwesendourdeepestregrets?orwilltherebeanothermessage--oflonging,ofhope,ofsolidaritywiththeiryearnings,ofcommitmenttotheircause,whateverthecost?thechoiceisours,andthoughwemightpreferitotherwise,wemustchooseinthiscrucialmomentofhumanhistory.asthatnoblebardofyesterday,jamesrusselllowell,eloquentlystated:oncetoeverymanandnationcomesamomenttodecide,inthestrifeoftruthandfalsehood,forthegoodorevilside;somegreatcause,god'snewmessiahofferingeachthebloomorblight,andthechoicegoesbyforever'twixtthatdarknessandthatlight.thoughthecauseofevilprosper,yet'tistruthaloneisstrongthoughherportionsbethescaffold,anduponthethronebewrongyetthatscaffoldswaysthefuture,andbehindthedimunknownstandethgodwithintheshadow,keepingwatchabovehisown.andifwewillonlymaketherightchoice,wewillbeabletotransformthispendingcosmicelegyintoacreativepsalmofpeace.ifwewillmaketherightchoice,wewillbeabletotransformthejanglingdiscordsofourworldintoabeautifulsymphonyofbrotherhood.ifwewillbutmaketherightchoice,wewillbeabletospeeduptheday,alloveramericaandallovertheworld,whenjusticewillrolldownlikewaters,andrighteousnesslikeamightystream.
