Passage:
"While confined here in the Birmingham City Jail, I came across your recent statement calling our present activities "unwise and untimely." Seldom, if ever, do I pause to answer criticism of my work and ideas ... But since I feel that you are men of genuine good will and your criticisms are sincerely set forth, I would like to answer your statement in what I hope will be patient and reasonable terms."
Response:
I like this passage because it opens straight into the complaint. This allows the remainder of the text to be used to appropriately respond to the complaint.. I also like that M. L. King, Jr. points out how important this issue is to him, since he seldom answers criticism and thinks of these particular critics so highly. The third thing that impresses me about this passage is that even while disagreeing with the clergymen, M. L. King, Jr. still finds a way to complement them and in turn draw them in, as opposed to insulting them because of their opposing viewpoint. He even calls their criticisms "sincerely set forth," showing that he does not feel that they are disagreeing with him with malicious intent and this also harbors good will towards the clergymen in an attempt to draw them in more to hearing him out.
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