King was a world figure, and he acted and thought accordingly. It affirms that each nation is an absolute sovereign unit acknowledging no control save its own independent will. Today we hear much talk of national “sovereignty,” an old and honorable-enough concept that can be, and often is, perverted into horrible abuses. King felt there was a need in his time for prophetic vision in public life. The need is even greater now, the vision as clouded as it has been in a long time.

Source: Washington Post January 20, 2019 23:24 UTC