To those who insist that justice must wait for a more convenient season, I write this letter out of a deep concern for the moral direction of our nation. We live in an age in which many proclaim their support for equality and justice, yet urge gradualism whenever injustice meets resistance. People remain outspoken about societal concerns on social media platforms and in the comfort of their homes, yet turn a blind eye when they see resistance manifest in the streets. These very actions protect and perpetuate the structures that continue to deny justice for all in the United States. This prioritization of comfort, order and tolerance has pushed America into a state of stagnation, which I argue is the leading moral problem in our republic. It is this troubling spirit of moderation that compels me to write today.
Moderates’ calls for patience often preserve the very injustices they claim to oppose
In our contemporary moment, the moderate is an individual who claims to support justice while resisting actions that would produce change. It echoes Dr. King’s famous description of the “white moderate” as a greater obstacle to racial justice than those groups and systems that openly oppose it. These individuals recognize the issues at play in our society but remain silent, offering rhetoric of moderation: “Now is not the right time.” “Change must be fought for gradually.” Or: “We should avoid too much disruption.” This apprehensive mindset safeguards unjust systems no differently than politicians who defend the discriminatory agendas of powerful public figures.
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Deep concern.’ The danger of the moderate in times of injustice | Opinion
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