Al Sharpton: In MLK's honor, let's strive for dialogue that's passionate but not poisonous
[The writer is president of National Action Network, a civil rights organization.]
The senseless violence in Arizona this past weekend left all of us stunned, but this devastating act hit home for me more than most. I have been a victim of violence that could have cost my life, and I have been involved in controversies that led to violence in which my words were distorted and misused.
As we try to understand the steps that led to the horrors in Tucson, it is not lost on me that the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birth is fast approaching. I hope that we can heal in this moment rather than just take sides and assign blame. Although his house was bombed, he was stabbed, and he lived under constant threats, Dr. King never pointed his finger at others. He sought to be a healer rather than exacerbate tensions.
As a first step, we must reflect on the climate in our public discourse and our personal responsibility.
The issues here are larger than the facts that six lives were senselessly ended and many other people were wounded simply for attending a political event. Those in politics and any other aspect of public life must be more conscious of how their words and actions can trigger anyone, not just those followers they expect might be listening. I raise the dangers of inflammatory rhetoric as a public figure who has been on both sides...
Read entire article at WaPo
The senseless violence in Arizona this past weekend left all of us stunned, but this devastating act hit home for me more than most. I have been a victim of violence that could have cost my life, and I have been involved in controversies that led to violence in which my words were distorted and misused.
As we try to understand the steps that led to the horrors in Tucson, it is not lost on me that the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birth is fast approaching. I hope that we can heal in this moment rather than just take sides and assign blame. Although his house was bombed, he was stabbed, and he lived under constant threats, Dr. King never pointed his finger at others. He sought to be a healer rather than exacerbate tensions.
As a first step, we must reflect on the climate in our public discourse and our personal responsibility.
The issues here are larger than the facts that six lives were senselessly ended and many other people were wounded simply for attending a political event. Those in politics and any other aspect of public life must be more conscious of how their words and actions can trigger anyone, not just those followers they expect might be listening. I raise the dangers of inflammatory rhetoric as a public figure who has been on both sides...