Compare And Contrast Mahatma Gandhi And Martin Luther King

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Former President John F. Kennedy once said, “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable” (Brainyquote.com). John F. Kennedy was a man who believed in a better America, and inspiring quotes like this are exactly what Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi used to help change their country. Both men had a vision of a better tomorrow and through peaceful protests, and similar tactics both men were able to achieve their end goal. During this time, these leaders may have also conquered some personal issues. Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. both had an end goal of civil rights and equal treatment for their people. Both men experienced peaceful protest, negative reception, and personal effects. …show more content…

Some people may not be aware or may not fully understand what the person is fighting for, so they form a negative opinion or have a negative reception about the subject at stake. During these times of protesting and struggling both Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi had received a negative reception -from people -for what they were fighting for. Everyone no matter what country they are from has probably heard about Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a Dream” speech, a speech filled with inspiring words, hope and an overall message of a better tomorrow for America. Many people praised this speech and nothing more, it gave them a sense of hope that no matter what happens to them things would get better. However, this is not the way it has always been. “Reactions to the speech immediately following its delivery, were mixed, and some praised the speech, while inexplicably others completely ignored it” (Duffy,185). The negative reception that followed King’s speech only fueled his passion to continue fighting for his people and his country. Gandhi had gone through similar situations when fighting for Indian Independence. The British rule did not appreciate what Gandhi was fighting for in order to gain independence for his people, and “by accepting the punishments and negative reception imposed on him, he confronted his captors with their own brutalization” (Tharoor). When Gandhi …show more content…

Being a leader is not an easy job, especially when the leader is known worldwide. When Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi said they would lead their people to correct treatment they knew what they were getting themselves into. We as the followers really saw some of the effects the movement laid upon the leaders. Through times of struggle and stress when fighting for what is right, these protests had personal effects on these men. Martin Luther King Jr. was a man of faith, a father, a reverend, and a leader; during these times of protest, he was arrested and put in jail, many people threw objects at them while marching and it sometimes effected them. When people do not truly understand what you are fighting for and just ignore and put your message down, it sometimes makes you question if this is even worth your time. However, according to Clayborne Carson when Martin Luther King Jr. experienced these moments of doubt he resorted to prayer and family and continued to see that the injustice in America would continue to grow unless someone stopped it. When it came to effects on Mahatma Gandhi, his were more physical. He was a big advocate of peaceful protest and an inspiration for Martin Luther King Jr., however, “when British rule imposed punishment of suffering upon him” (Nathanson,3), he threw it right back at them. Upon himself, “he went on hunger strikes, he

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