I came upon link regarding how Christians should view Israel and thought it was appropriate considering our discussion in class:
http://blog.beliefnet.com/godspolitics/2008/01/how-should-christians-relate-t.html
Wallis once again, in his article “MLK and LBJ: Movements and Politicians,” stresses the importance of social change preceding political change He comments on how words between Obama and Clinton exploded into racial conflict after comments about MLK Jr. and President Lyndon Johnson were made. Race is not the proper argument that should be used in order to make political gains. Wallis demonstrates that the “great practitioners of change,” such as MLK Jr. and Ghandi knew that replacing politicians does not bring about societal change. It is necessary to “change the wind, transform the debate, recast the discussion, [and] alter the context in which political decision are being made” in order to change the outcomes.
Wallis discuses the story of the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965 whereby President Johnson told MLK Jr. that such a bill would not be politically possible at the time. MLK Jr. was not satisfied with that answer so the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and King started to organize dissidence in Selma, Alabama. This ultimately led to the Montgomery march, an event the whole nation watched. After that month it took only five months to pas the new voting rights act. Yes, Wallis admits, that Johnson was responsible for the response of the march, but it was King, who “painted a vivid picture for the world to see that changed the winds of public opinion.”
This historical account supports the argument of Wallis and the previous posts I have made regarding the importance of social change preceding political change. There will always be restrictions that the candidates or presidents face, but it is the public opinion and mass efforts of citizens that truly get things done.
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