“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy.” Martin Luther King
In honor of Martin Luther King’s upcoming celebration, I am commenting on several of his quotes that mean a lot to me.
It’s easy to talk about your values, about what’s right and wrong when you are standing around the water cooler at the office, or in surroundings where everyone agrees with you. It’s easy to say, for example, that you are not a racist. But what if a friend says something like, “I don’t want my daughter dating a (fill in the blank)”, or “I think that new guy is gay, he probably has Aids.” Do you stand up for what’s right? Do you let the remark pass?
Dr. King’s quote is saying a person’s actions are how we judge them (measure them). Do you live what you value or just talk about it? Do you make a stand against bigotry or remain silent when confronted with it? Are you willing to act on something that’s currently an unpopular view, even if you may suffer some consequences?
