Looking back on Martin Luther King Jr.'s writings and speeches you can see he was a man of depth and introspection, an American philosopher who has expanded and expounded upon our bedrock principals.

Of course, on this day when we celebrate his birth and influence, it's hard for some young people in L.A. to grasp King's arguments. Even though he's still practically a contemporary, a lot of things have changed since his death in 1968.

For one thing, we communicate in shorthand now, via Twitter.

We decided to translate some of the reverend-doctor's more prescient quotes so that the Twitter generation can understand them:

“I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.”

= IDK, like, I think #BurningMan be coo fo sho. Prolly nex year.

You see, it's all starting to make sense, kids. And so …

“Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time … “

Becomes:

Mellow out, #Bieber fans. Jus chil, k? #WTF.

“The time has come for us to civilize ourselves by the total, direct and immediate abolition of poverty.”

= If every1 had iPad wuld be like hella sik.

And, of course:

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

= Gosh, hatrz, get some glowstix already.

Of course, we kid. And if you want to use this as a teaching moment, absorb the full breadth of his words here.

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