January 21, 2008 is a legal holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It is a day in which we should take a moment (or longer) and pause…and think of the teachings of
Dr. King. His legacy, his goals and how he affected our society will be remembered forever.
What if Dr. King were alive today? What would he think of the USA or San Jose? The war in Iraq? What more could he have done—would have done? Could he have accomplished more?
Below are quotes by Dr. King:
“A right delayed is a right denied.”
“All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.”
“All progress is precarious, and the solution of one problem brings us face to face with another problem.”
“Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better.”
“I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
“It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that’s pretty important.”
“Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary.”
“That old law about ‘an eye for an eye’ leaves everybody blind. The time is always right to do the right thing.”
“The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict.”
“We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”
“Something is wrong with capitalism as it now stands in the United States. We are not interested in being integrated into this value structure. A radical redistribution of economic and political power is necessary if we are to meet the needs of the poor in America.”
If you don`t like something, change it. If you can`t change it, change your attitude, don`t complain.
Maya Angelou
It’s very sad to me that our young people don’t know more about the struggles of the late great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was a brilliant man who gave his life to end the inequality of the poor, African Americans, and so much more. He was anti- war, and he was a man of great vision, and integrity. If it had not been for him, our young and old a like would not have the opportunities they now take for granted and enjoy. And we certainly never would have had the first Black man or woman running for President today. We have a lot to be grateful for to this incredible man, and his legacy. May he rest in peace, and be remembered for his great works in this country, or else he will have died in vain. Work that has made the United States the best country in the world to live in. Please, take the time to teach your children, your grandchildren, your nephews, and nieces about the contributions to our freedoms this man has made so they too can know and love him as many of us do.
I like his question” CHAOS OR COMMUNITY ?
Think about it? He said this in 1967.
I think if he were alive today he would have lost popularity since he was taking on divise topics like the war and poverty. Almost everyone agreed that the treatment of blacks was unjust but the other topics did not have consensus.
#4- Actually he did loose his popularity when he took stands on other important issues, that had nothing to do with racism, and inequality. Sad but true. I think his views on those things today, would actually have gained him support he didn’t and couldn’t garner support on back then.
The title of his subject is “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community”. In this subject he talks about Poverty, Power, and Procrasation. This subject is very alive in the Country today, just look at what happened in New Orleans. This subject could be applied in San Jose today. This man was a genius, way ahead of his time.
Just take the time to read his points and think about them a little bit.
Today in San Jose we suffer from Power in many ways. Power of Control!
Kathleen #5 is quite correct—many so-called black leaders soundly criticized MLK for taking positions an anything other than the oppression of black people in the USA.
#7- JMO- Didn’t he also lose the support of big politicans like President Johnson, and others, when he spoke out on non race related issues?
#* KF—Yes. On MLK Day, KPFA ran a number of MLK’s speeches, as well as historical commentary about how so many wanted him just to stick to issues re black exploitation.
#8 Kathleen and #9 JMO – Too bad politicians back then did not have a crystal ball so they would know how important those issues would be today. Perhaps if they did, things would be very different….
Jean #10—politicians remain the problem, not the solution.
We will be bombarded for the next ten months with inane posturing, promises that will/can never be kept, and tens of millions of devalued $$$$ paid to political consultants to elect a new President, who will be heolden to a few powerful contributors, not the people.
In the end, little will change, except a few names on a few doors in D.C.
#11- JMO- I think you raise some very vaild points in your post. I have never really understood why people believe campagin promises. Our President does have the power to change things to a very small degree. Other things, major changes, must go through the Senate, and Congress to pass. That means a majority vote. These people can’t even get the budget in on time, so how can we expect them to do anything as major as solving the housing, health care, or create a fair tax system? :-(
Kathleen #12—any expectation of significant change is naive, at best.
Absent another Boston Tea Party, we are at the mercy of the military industrial complex of major campaign contributors.
Also, since often the people keep the separation of powers intact by maintaining Congress and the President from different political parties, we remain at a standstill as a nation, absent global war.
Bush has threatened to veto bills if the “earmarks” (that’s D.C. speak for PORK) are not reduced by 50%. What’s wrong with 100%? It would never happen. If 25% are eliminated, I’d be pleasantly stunned.
#13 – JMO – I am sure our President is talking about “earmarks” for Democratic legislators more than the ones for his Republican legislators. Why do you think the number he wants to reduce them by is “50%”? He needs to help them get elected somehow. I guess it is all in how the ‘ruling party’ defines “pork”….
Jean #14—you may be even more cynical than I.
#15 – JMO – Me? Cynical??!!?? No way man!……………
Seriously, have you ever noticed that is how it works? The President/Congress will point out the opposing party’s weaknesses, ohh and ahh over how horrible the offenses committed by the opposing party are, and vow to stop those abuses, only to ignore the VERY SAME abuses by their party members! Newt Gingrich rose to power in part because of problems with the democrats – I think the democrat chair abused power somehow – my memory is fuzzy – and some years later, they -the republicans – were committing the same problems they accused the democrats of doing! It is not about integrity, or representing the people – it is about party loyalty. When Zoe or Mike comes back to the area to speak, they talk (or used to) about what horrible things the republicans are proposing – not about the proposals themselves. Instead of talking about the proposal, alot of what they talk about is party loyalty. I understand why this might be necessary on some level, but come on!