zlacker

MLK gave a speech at Silicon Valley's own Stanford and touched on this subject (the same one with the "riot is the language of the unheard" quote you might have seen circulating).

https://www.crmvet.org/docs/otheram.htm

See the bit starting with: "Now there's another notion that gets out, it's around everywhere. It's in the South, it's in the North, it's In California, and all over our nation. It's the notion that legislation can't solve the problem, it can't do anything in this area. And those who project this argument contend that you've got to change the heart and that you can't change the heart through legislation."

To summarize it, he disagrees with you.

>>evmar+(OP)
It's uncanny how perfectly of this moment many of those quotes are. Of course that's because these are very long-term issues. But it's still uncanny.

>>evmar+(OP)
Can't change the heart with rioting either, and are you sure you know whose hearts need to change, and what change needs to occur? I think you could erase all racism from the hearts of humanity and end up with basically the same world, there's no reconciling the self-celebrating narcissism of moderns with universal love.

Can't take the mote out of your brother's eye until you remove the beam in your own. This applies to everyone, even anti-racists.

>>evmar+(OP)
To spell out the actual argument: "although it may be true that morality cannot be legislated, behavior can be regulated. [...] Even though it may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, it can restrain him from lynching me."

Notice MLK is talking about specific legislature, and the poster above was talking about electing officials. They are correct that merely electing politicians is neither necessary nor sufficient--the laws must change.

>>mooseb+4w
> Can't take the mote out of your brother's eye until you remove the beam in your own.

When there are sympathy protests outside the US, this is exactly what the sympathy protesters are attempting to remind you all. The US has nice ideals, eg "and justice for all"

>>evmar+(OP)
You didn't post the most badass part.

"Even though it may be true that the law cannot change the heart, it can restrain the heartless"

I never read MLK much and just realized how awesome of an orater he was.

>>neonat+ya
Alternatively, it's extremely sad, because it means we haven't made progress on the issues of 50 years ago.

>>nickth+z72
If you have the time to read one more thing, I recommend https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham....

>>082349+721
Here's Bush Jr's take on eyebeams: https://www.bushcenter.org/about-the-center/newsroom/press-r...

(I haven't visited the States since his presidency, but although I found much to dislike about the man, this is an argument I could get behind)