April 13, 2008
“I am convinced that if we are to get on the right side of the world revolution, we as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values. We must rapidly begin the shift from a “thing-oriented” society to a “person-oriented” society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.
A true revolution of values will soon cause us to question the fairness and justice of man of our past and present policies. On the one hand we are called to play the good Samaritan on life’s roadside; but that will be only an initial act. One day we must come to see that the whole Jericho road must be transformed so that men and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed as they make their journey on life’s highway. True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it is not haphazard and superficial. It comes to see that edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.”[1]
Why does King signify on the parable of the good Samaritan? This Biblical story occurs in the Gospel of Luke; Chapter 10 verses 25-37. At the conclusion of King’s argument against the war in Vietnam, he denounces the “giant triplets,” known overtly as the things of racism, materialism, and militarism. He calls America to shift to a “person-oriented” society. And then, out of nowhere, King’s carefully crafted speech turns to the Bible. King assumes that this stock of stories holds some mysterious power for Americans. It is quoted here to bolster the authority of King’s message. However, he flips this story on its head. Not only are Americans not being good Samaritans. What’s more it is good to be a good Samaritan. But is it not enough? King’s answer is no. King signifies on this parable by suggesting that we need to look at the underlying causes at why the Jericho road keeps getting folks robbed and beaten. The analogy should not be missed: the systemic violence of America needs major restructuring. America needs to open their eyes to its deeply unjust societal structures. Why does King signify on the parable of the good Samaritan? All religious language is hyperbole. Religious language is one way that humans register their deepest pains and anguish. King masters this language world and uses the Bible to voice the cries of the marginalized.
[1] Martin Luther King Jr. A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King Jr. Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silenc. Sanfrancisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1986. 240-41.