They Say, I Say

They Say, I SayEntering the ConversationIntroduction

They SayCan we summarize the Clergymans message?Wait and let the courts handle the issue of civil rights.

While confined here in the Birmingham city jail, I came across your recent statement calling my present activities unwise and untimely. Seldom do I

I think I should indicate why I am here in Birmingham, since you have been influenced by the view which argues against outsiders coming in.

But more basically, I am in Birmingham because injustice is here.

King responds to what he has read.King uses the Clergymans words.King gives his reason.They Say, I SayYou deplore the demonstrations taking place in Birmingham.Let with no other choice = the cause.You may well ask: Why direct action? Why sit-ins, marches and so forth? Isnt negotiation a better path?Tension necessary for growth refers to Socrates.

They Say, I SayWhy didnt you give the new city administration time to act?While new mayor is kinder, he is also a segregationist and maintainer of the status quo.You express a great deal of anxiety over our willingness to break laws.Just and unjust laws exist. Ones right and moral obligation to disobey unjust laws.They Say, I SayIn your statement you assert that our actions, even though peaceful, must be condemned because they precipitate violence. Questions logic with examples.You speak of our activity of Birmingham as extreme.Counters with other examples of men being labeled extreme.

They Say, I SayI have heard numerous southern religious leaders admonish their worshipers to comply with a desegregation decision because it is the law. Points out the fakeness in the conspicuousness of church members and leaders adhering to the law.You warmly commended the Birmingham police force for keeping order and preventing violence.Counters with contrary evidence Kings thesis: defending civil disobedience is necessary. AnaphoraThe intentional repetition of beginning clauses in order to create an artistic effect. For instance, Churchill declared, "We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on the end. We shall fight in France. We shall fight on the seas and oceans. We shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air. We shall defend our island, whatever the cost shall be." The repetition of "We shall..." creates a rhetorical effect of solidarity and determination.Anaphora

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles DickensIt was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way- in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

EpistropheRepetition of a concluding word or word endings.For example, What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny compared to what lies within us." EmersonHourly joys be still upon you!Juno sings her blessings on you. [. . .]Scarcity and want shall shun you,Ceres' blessing so is on you. Shakespeare, The Tempest (4.1.108-109; 116-17)We are born to sorrow, pass our time in sorrow, end our days in sorrow.

HomeworkRead They Say, I Say pgs. 17-26 (Chapter 1)Read A Modest Proposal by Jonathan SwiftRead Dont Make English OfficialBan It Instead by Dennis BaronAll readings are attached in engrade.com on the calendar feature. E-mail me if you have trouble accessing any of the readings.