Dear Editor:
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day I try to read at least one or more of Dr. King's speeches or other writings. This year the speech I read was presented to a group of religious leaders meeting at Riverside Church in New York City on April 4, 1967.
Among the many important things Dr. King said were the following:
"I am convinced that we as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values. We must rapidly shift from a 'thing-oriented' society to a 'person-oriented' society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered."
" True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar, it is not haphazard and superficial. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring. A true revolution of values will soon look uneasily on the glaring contrast of poverty and wealth."
" We must find new ways to speak for peace and justice throughout the developing world a world that borders on our doors. If we do not act we shall surely be dragged down the long dark and shameful corridors of time reserved for those who possess power without compassion, might without morality, and strength without sight."
Although spoken more than 50 year ago, Dr. King's plea and warning seem even more pertinent today.