Please project (or print off) to share the following quote:
If desired, you can share the full quote:
“The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy, instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it.
Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth.
Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate.
Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Class Discussion:
1. How can we apply Dr. King's quote to things happening here at school? Or in your own life?
2. Sometimes we think of major changes that we could make to improve things, but the more effective changes are the little adjustments that we make in our daily routines. What sort of little adjustments can you make to "drive out darkness/hate" in our school? (Saying hi, smiling to people you don't know, opening the door for someone, inviting someone to sit with you at lunch, etc.)
3. What is the "darkness" that Dr. King is talking about here? And what could be the "light" that drives it out?
4. How would you summarize Dr. King's message? And what does his overall message mean to you?
