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I don't believe Dr. King advocated violence - I think he discussed what would happen if peaceful means of redress of the oppression and discrimination in The South failed. It didn't happen and whatever his personal shortcomings, Martin Luther King is still a great American simply because thanks to his efforts and millions who rallied to his side, he left America better off than when he was born into it. His "I Have A Dream" speech is the greatest single piece of oratory in the last century and it captured perfectly for an entire generation of idealistic Americans about the kind of country we should - and want to become. Complete equality between the races still hasn't been achieved but we're making progress every day to create a better life for every American no matter what the race hustlers and poverty pimps like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, who make living off racial division, try to argue otherwise. I am one of those who maintains King's Dream isn't impossible for America; its what America is all about for every one of us alive and those generations yet to be born.

I agree with you in the main: King accomplished much good. But I still think the comments I attributed to King (quite accurately, although not a quote), which were for a specific occurence, could be interpreted as incitment. He could have instead used it as an occasion to caution against violence. He did not. And yes, his "I Have a Dream" speech was great oratory which, unfortunately, his self-appointed torch-bearers (the Jacksons and the Sharptons) did not take to heart, as you correctly pointed out.