On this day in 1517, Martin Luther nailed 95 theses to the door of the Wittenberg church. Wittenberg was relatively free from direct papal subjugation, but Luther’s message was meant for Rome. Europe responded to his nearly suicidal courage by widely disseminating his scathing critique of political and religious authority, changing the old world forever.
Some 490 years later, ruling powers are more insidious, but no less corrupt. We live in relative peace and safety, but such words have no application in Darfur or the Congo, not to mention most of the Middle East.
Where is Luther? More to the point, where is the culture that mass marketed the theses?
Like the converse of Tom Sawyer’s whitewash techniques, freedom of speech has dulled our response to injustice. New York Times v. Sullivan gives Americans the right to trash talk authority, but there aren’t many modern Luther’s, few are listening, and very few are acting on what they hear.
This inaction is not conscionable or sustainable. Sooner or later, someone will fill the gap. What are you waiting for?
