“Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever. The urge for freedom will eventually come” This is a quote from Martin Luther King Junior’s “Letter from the Birmingham Jail”; his words were like thunder across a stormy sky daring our humanity not to listen. The legacy he left, a reminder to the community, too always do what is just no-matter how off the society and his idea conflicted at the time. The booming references to the solidarity in an oppressed people who are in the action phase of their non-violent issue pushes forth a raw ethos in Dr. King’s letter. The struggle he is in the midst of is one that has become rife for change, and one of which he has become the chosen leader thereof. Dr. King’s investment and loyalty in his work was reflected in the steadfastness of his spirituality and compassion for his fellow man. Ending in his death; I bet you he was smiling and cursing. I too have aspired to be a voice for those in our community, my brothers and sisters who have kept silent during their time, a message from beyond the grave for some, the telling of their suffering in a chaotic world labeled, pursued, attacked, and buried everyday. In this country which would not have them, for they had lived off the grid fending off the inevitable run in with the Authority while keeping enough motivation to find serenity and satisfaction on a day to day basis. I do not liken or compare my self to Dr. King for his shadow far diminishes any that I have created. I will say the voice of those people being oppressed is still there, that the need for justice is still a noble goal, and that the oppressed will eventually cry out for freedom. I have just been making that cry heard. Let the truth out. The game is full of pain, pleasure, suffering and, cycling or ending with rebirths or deaths. The numbers tell the real story. Remember each one is a life, a life that is going on or passed. I think of all the years I have seen in this war, all the lives that have been forever changed by the infiltration and introduction of crack cocaine and symbiotically the drug war in 1984’. A generation has passed with no end in sight for the epidemic or the oppression of all who exist, have ventured into, or speak openly about. I shake off these chains of self doubt that betray my fear and embrace a change that inevitably will come about. Once again good men have stood by to long while the wicked have bared the way for a peaceful end to this conflict on our streets so we can begin to heal those who are struggling and suffering with their disease. America
He opens his letter which is addressed to a select audience, an audience whom which he considers his equals of for they are all men of god, and pillars in their community. Firstly, he lets his audience know why he is in jail; furthermore, why he is in Birmingham. The answer he gives is simple, injustice. At one point he gives the four social steps to creating a non-violent movement. 1. The injustice must be present. 2. The need for or attempts at negotiation must be made. 3. The purification of those who will take part in the final step. 4. Action. He continues to give responses to the allegations of being an extremist by relating his actions to extremists of the past such as Jesus and Paul, who he feels to be in fine company with. A special dissertation which takes several paragraphs’ is then relayed to his readers; it is about the churches doctrine and teachings which call for speaking out against suffering and its removal wherever it exists. He furthermore calls them to action as good men; for, he says it is their duty as men of god. Dr. King speaks of the brutalities suffered by those with him in vivid fashion dispelling any falsities’ portrayed by the media and puts the truth front and center. His call for action was evident in his own stance and of those who suffered and toiled by his side. The letter many pages long says over and over there is need for change and supports this fact with all forms of argument logos, pathos, and ethos each driving home his intent repeatedly like a great sledge hammer.
Again I am not Dr. King. The story I tell and the voice of those who live in the world I give insight to are real. The oppression of our fellow American in the counter culture or any one associated with the Drug world and as well the squandering of the massive amount of funds used to fight this war is a on going blight on the American people. Peace-UP has graduated from just a message to a movement. Dragon is a call for the purification of self. For ten years I have been an ardent voice and an active player in the message and movement of Peace-UP. My action is my personal evolution, my tribute, my song to the American people.
I give you Peace-UP VI Dragon, may Dr. King’s letter from Birmingham Jail be resurrected to serve as a seed sprouted of his words.
I have waited a year. Results take time to measure. The results are well defined and prominently give heed to new strengths. The aspect of addressing the mind while using…? I will tell you later when I have spent some time in my recovery mind, clean.
Peace-Up “Thor”
I dedicate this writing to all those who have suffered in their pains, prisons, and disease over the last 25 years. Most of all this is for those who died in this world may we as a community remember their sacrifice, AND
Do something different
For different results.
Reconciliation.
I am about four in “Dragon Years” now. The changes I have under gone and the speed that I accomplished them has been amazing to me at times. I have newer and more detrimental fields where my battles are now being fought. I have a grand amount of faith at this point. I wish I could just reach out and share it, yet at least I will give a picture through my eyes of what battles are won for me on this final battle field. I know I am in a fight for my life. In a way I have already won.
Present day THOR
