Cliff LyonThe Hottest Place in Hell
The time has come for America to hear the truth about this tragic war…I agree with Dante, that the hottest place in hell is reserved for those who in the a period of moral crises, maintain their neutrality.
There comes a time when silence is betrayal. The truth of these word is beyond doubt.
The time has come for America to hear the truth about this tragic war.
January 15th, 2007 at 9:49 am
As you probably know, yesterday Senator John Edwards stood at the same podium King used at Riverside Church in Manhattan and said: “Silence is betrayal, and I believe it is a betrayal not to speak out against the escalation of the war in Iraq.” Edwards voted for the October 2002 AUMF but now says he made a mistake. “We need to show we are serious about leaving, and the best way to do that is to start leaving,” he said.
January 15th, 2007 at 11:35 am
Thanks for posting this Cliff. I think one of the most powerful messages of Dr. King’s ministry was that the greatest threat to love and justice is not their active, passionate and violent opposition, but those that stand by, do nothing and look the other way! This was the scathing message of the Letter from Birmingham Jail to his fellow black ministers who thought King was doing too much, too fast and too soon- he called them the impediment to social progress- not the institutions of racism. Powerful!
One more thing that I might add about Dr. King which I think I will discuss on the air tonight- the role of religion, particularly Christianity, in politics. David Wilcox has a song called “Good Man” in which he refers to a pious Christian who uses his Bible “like a dagger”. The song is an apology for the “Good Man’s” poor behavior done supposedly in the nameo f Christ and argues that isn’t what Christ really represented.
Christianity is used in present day politics “like a dagger”. It is used to justify violence, oppression and it is used by politicians (not to name names but we all know who) to polarized and manipulate the American public. Christianity is now used to enforce the “moral” code of one group upon another, and sadly “morals” have become myopic to sexual behavior only.
Dr. King shows us that Christianity does have a place in our politics and public discourse- to promote universal love and justice. To show compassion, to chart the path to nonviolent resolution of conflict. That is the power of Christ’s teachings. Dr. King freely quoted from the Bible in his political discourse- never to condemn- but to inspire and motivate. Dr. King never intended to use the Bible “like a dagger”. He was never pious and used it to justify his moral superiority. He used it to promote love, liberty, peace and justice.
So, for those of you who are turned off by religion in politics and public discourse, I ask for your patience. George W. Bush is not a Christians, though he deliberately professes with his lips. If that is what Christianity really was, I would renounce Christ. But the violence, oppression and intolerance generated by many of our present leaders in the name of Christ, “like a dagger” really isn’t what Christ was about.
Perhaps the greatest American Christian was Dr. King. If you want to know what a real Christian in American politics looks like, look to Dr. King.
January 15th, 2007 at 11:42 am
Cliff,
Thanks for posting this video. Dr. King is speaking to us from the grave. I am going to play the entire speech tonight at the end of our show. People need to hear this.
January 15th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Heck the transmission is stuck in reverse, and I can’t get then damn thing into neutral or even 1st gear. Guess we’ll have to grind ‘em.