“Hate paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it; Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.”

– Martin Luther King, Jr.

I was only eight years old when Martin Luther King, Jr. was murdered, but I remember the day. Even in my young uninformed brain, I had a positive image of the man. I thought he was good, kind and inspirational.

Later, as I became more informed, I discovered he was human. He had the frailties and weaknesses that we all have, but that did not change my opinion of him.

He was always a Christian, and he followed his Christian principles to the end. He stumbled, he faltered, but I think he repented and prayed and promised his God that he would do better to be the man his Lord wanted him to be.

David of our Old Testament did the same.

King never gave up on his nation. As I became older, it occurred to me that all of his protests took place basically at high noon. He never, ever, formed a protest that lasted into the darkness. That certainly struck a cord with me.

“Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals.”

– Martin Luther King, Jr.

This is an unfair and imperfect world we live in. I don't think any of us doubt that. However, I am firmly of the belief that the vast majority of black Americans believe that the traditional American way is the best way to live a life of fulfillment and happiness. Certainly there is more opportunity here than what we would find in almost all other nations. We're not perfect, but we are trying to do better.

That thought led me to search the INTERNET for the words of today’s black Americans that emphasized that point. It took me only a couple of minutes to come across the gem by Michael Faulkner printed below. He says it better than I ever could. I am convinced there are millions upon millions of black Americans who feel as Mr. Faulkner does. Regarding riots at night: the aspect that struck me as odd while watching the rioters on television, was that the vast majority that I saw on my screen were white.

I also came across a recent poll that was printed by Just The News that 72% of likely voters, including blacks, have a favorable view of their local police department. Hmmmm.