Tuesday, April 4th 2017

Veterans in the U.S. remember Dr. King’s “Beyond Vietnam” Speech on 50th Anniversary

April 4, 2017:  veterans in the U.S. and in Viet Nam acknowledge the 50th anniversary of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s powerful and courageous speech at the Riverside Church in New York, entitled Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence.  In that remarkable speech, Dr. King publicly spoke out eloquently and passionately in opposition to the continuing war in Viet Nam.  He confronted the deeply rooted racism, militarism and materialism of the United States. Dr. King described the United States as the greatest purveyor of violence in the world.

In the U.S., in remembrance of Dr. King’s groundbreaking speech, chapters of Veterans For Peace planned public readings across the country.  In Viet Nam, later this month we plan to host a public discussion of the important message which Dr. King conveyed to the nation on that date a half century ago.  Copies of Dr. King’s speech will be made available in English and  Vietnamese.

For the past 32 years, Veterans For Peace have called for the abolishment of war as an instrument of national policy.

“U.S. global policy of endless war and filling the coffers of an already bloated military budget has merged into a global response of violence. We need a global response that meets human needs and aspirations. Militarization is not the foundation on which to build peace. U.S. efforts have proven that war is the breeding ground for more violence and hatred. We need increased spending in social programs here at home, including significant resources dedicated to our veterans who are suffering devastating effects as a result of their service. We need an increase in diplomacy to end the wars. We need to dedicate resources to helping bring relief to the refugee crisis resulting from endless war.

“We, as veterans, know that peace is possible, but only if resources are directed towards caring for one another, not perpetuating militarization across the globe.”

                     Excerpted from VFP Statement Regarding Military Budget

4 April 1967 
Beyond Vietnam** 
New York, N.Y.

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Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, I need not pause to say how very delighted I am to be here tonight, and how very delighted I am to see you expressing your concern about the issues that will be discussed tonight by turning out in such large numbers. I also want to say that I consider it a great honor to share this program with Dr. Bennett, Dr. Commager, and Rabbi Heschel, some of the most distinguished leaders and personalities of our nation. And of course it’s always good to come back to Riverside Church. Over the last eight years, I have had the privilege of preaching here almost every year in that period, and it’s always a rich and rewarding experience to come to this great church and this great pulpit. Tiếp tục đọc “50th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “Beyond Vietnam” speech” →