Two quotations from two remarkable human beings whose paths crossed in the struggle for civil rights in 1950's and 1960's America. Martin Luther King remains the defining activist in a movement replete with moral courage, hopeful humanity and the determined patience of those whose silence could not be bought, or enforced.
Abraham Joshua Heschel, a Polish immigrant to the United States just before the Second World War, and a man of profound faith, compassion and commitment to all that enhances human and humane life.
In the picture they are marching together at Selma, Rabbi Heschel the second from the right, garlanded with flowers, and the two of them linked arm in arm, and armed with convictions defining of their faith and humanity:
"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant". (Martin Luther King)
"For many of us the march from Selma to Montgomery was about protest and prayer. Legs are not lips and walking is not kneeling. And yet our legs uttered songs. Even without words, our march was worship. I felt my legs were praying! (Abraham Joshua Heschel)
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