on 5/1/1992, the most unlikely philosopher made, in my mind, the most epic statement for the 20th century: “can we all get along?”
ancient philosophers have been memorialized for a number of prouncements. rabbi hillel has been known for the the following saying “(1) “if i am not for myself, who will be for me? and being for myself, what am ‘i’? and if not now, when?” and (2) the expression of “that which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. jesus has been known for the golden rule, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.
up on that pantheon of great philosophers with hillel and jesus, rodney king? yes. rodney king. in a moment of crises, and in a moment of great personal pain, rodney king rose above his situation and was the better person. i thank mr. king for his statement. i will remember it the rest of my life. when i speak to others who remember the moment, we are all grateful that there was a mr. king. there is a calmness and hope when his words are discussed.
when society needed an adult, he was there. again. thank you mr. king.
one may ask, why is this the subject to a ten commandments’ blog? in fact, talking about mr. king’s statement is everything about the ten commandments. the ten commandments are part of the solution that will help us all get along.
The Ten Commandments Project 