fandomhigh | Quantum Physics 225: Wednesday, Fifth Period

Better mood, same Doctor.

"Righto, so, the civil rights movement. I hope you all did a bit of research for this, as today, we're going to discuss and debate, WITH EACH OTHER, comparative ways of advancement during this period. The issue I posed to you was synopsised in two men, and while it's never exactly this simple, the fundamental question remains. Which works better: non-violent civil disobedience or an eye for an eye?

"You're probably wondering what this has to do with Quantum Physics. As usual. I'd like to remind you that this question echoes ~~in eternity~~ in almost every place in space and time that faces great social change. It's important for you to understand it, not only if you're to be a traveller, but also to understand your own personal motivations...because no culture seems to be without this problem.

"So, tell me, tell each other--who was more successful? Malcolm or Martin? And if neither or only one of them had been assassinated...how would history have changed?"

He smiles a little. "Your homework for next week, by the way, is to research one woman and one man who were key to the subject area you're interested in. Tell me why you chose them and what they did. Women might be harder to find, but if you don't...your grade will suffer for it. And Jack, I need to see you after class."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"In that same vein, it becomes very hard to compare King and Malcolm X because of the way they governed themselves and how their movements were governed. Dr. King is associated with being non violent in most terms. There was violence during the Civil Rights movement, of course, but Dr. King seems to be associated with peaceful protests. Malcolm X is often described as militant.

In terms of success...it's so hard to say. I tend to lean towards Dr. King. His teachings are well known, are studied, followed, and still used as precedents for protests to this day. He advocated peaceful protests and won the Nobel Prize for that. Malcolm X was successful himself but Dr. King seems to have accomplished more in a wider range of areas."

"Exactly," Sam nodded. "Protests based on Dr. King's protests seem to be more inclusive, as opposed to Malcolm X's speeches, which have been used many times to divide a community along racial lines, even today."

"Not that militant is always bad. Sometimes, there is one person who is at the root of the problem--the villain of the piece. If that person can be removed from the equation, sometimes the problem can be fixed."

"Right, right." John nods. "They both accomplished many, many things but, I think, Dr. King's teachings are more widely used because they teach tolerance through peace and demonstration. While our world will probably never be free of violence, Dr. King attempted to change history through peaceful practices. In a world of violence, he chose peace. Malcolm X fought for equality but his teachings had the ability to raise tensions among the races. He was blunt and outspoken and that sometimes cost him."

"Being blunt and outspoken on any issue has the tendency to do that," Sam said, dryly. "On the other hand, they were both viewed as threats by our government, not one over the other. Both were assassinated for trying to instigate or continue a change that the establishment was afraid of."

"Well, of course being outspoken will win you critic," Joh nods, "but Dr. King was outspoken as well. His speeches didn't commandeer as much as outcry as Malcol X's because of how outspoken and how blunt Malcolm X was. Malcolm X's speeches sometimes consisted of discrimination against other races. He was censured by the Nation of Islam for his outspoken and sometimes uncomfortable speeches. The way they got their word out makes them different and makes them history makers.

Quantum Physics 225: Wednesday, Fifth Period

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