“First, I must confess that over the last few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Council-er or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says “I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can’t agree with your methods of direct action;” who paternalistically feels he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by the myth of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait until a “more convenient season.”
Shallow understanding from people of goodwill is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.”
Letter from Birmingham Jail
By Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., 16 April 1963
During my time in politics, the issue that MLK talks about here was probably the most frequent issue seen in response to political actions, especially from TV and print news. Whenever there is a union strike, the news is overwhelmingly focusing on the ‘inconvenience’ it causes, instead of the issues at hand. There is barely any coverage of why they are striking except for a small message running across the bottom of the screen.
This issue I think is still at the very heart of our societies now. Constant criticism of actions, by people who are unwilling to take action, and complain only when it affects them. Standard armchair politics, who talk of justice but would do nothing to see it through, and then vocally oppose it when direct action inconveniences them.
Place of the White Blog 