Best Thing I Heard Today 1/20/20

“The way to the future is not just the goals that you seek, but the methods that you use.”

Michael K. Honey

Michael K. Honey is a civil rights historian who has written several notable books about the message of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His most recent book is titled To the Promised Land: Martin Luther King and the Fight for Economic Justice. As I listened to the Laura Coates show on Sirius XM Channel 126 Urban View, I was compelled to write down Dr. Honey’s quote. He was referring to the message of Dr. King as it relates to the strategy of Non-Violent Direct Action. “The way to the future is not just the goals that you seek, but the methods that you use.” I kept repeating it over and over and the depth of that quote became ever so real.

I thought about the nature of man in his attempt to win an argument. The goal is to win the verbal argument. However, when it comes in the form of a verbal attack, filled with expletives and name-calling, the end doesn’t justify the means. I also thought about the current controversy in Major League Baseball. The Houston Astros alleged sign-stealing scheme has been at the forefront of all baseball news. It was revealed in November that the team devised a system to illegally steal signs throughout its 2017 World Series, which by the way they won. The goal was to win a World Series, but the method of cheating has basically devalued, disqualified and disrespected the game of baseball. Once again, the end doesn’t justify the means.

Which brings me to my final thoughts. The 2016 Presidential Election was a heavy weight fight from the primary season until the votes were counted in November. The goal for each candidate was to win an election. Donald Trump decided that the best way for him to win was to attack his opponent, his own party and anyone who disagreed with him. Hillary Clinton decided to take the high road and stand on principle. She lost. Donald Trump won the election with his disparage first strategy. We are fast approaching the 2020 Presidential election. Our vote will not only determine in what direction our country will move politically, economically and socially. It will also determine in what direction we will move morally. I will remind you that we all seek a more perfect union. However, the vote that we cast will either bring us closer together or build walls that separate us more than ever. In the end, how will you justify your vote?