Free Republic

[...] The Disneyified version of Dr King begins and ends with his role as a civil rights leader, who summoned Christian teachings, as well as Gandhian tactics, and told us of his dream that “one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.’” [...] Martin Luther King Jr was a part of a much wider movement, standing alongside socialists such as Ella Baker, Bayard Rustin, and A Philip Randolph in not just attempting to dismantle the Jim Crow system, but...

The human animal seems hard-wired for tribalism, and the ties that bind are shaped by our compelling need to group together, obeying calls for loyalties and exclusions. Some groupings not only contribute to the gratifications of bonding, whether in family, clubs, choirs or loyalty to sports teams, but also provide the glue that holds a community together. But tribes become the "factions" that former President George Washington warned against in his Farewell Address, heightening differences and rivalries that the Founding Fathers hoped to dilute through checks and balances in the three branches of government. In the age of the internet,...

Detroit hip-hop station 105.1 The Bounce says it's pulling Kanye West songs off of its Morning Bounce playlist following a recent string of erratic episodes from the rapper, including West saying he believes slavery was a "choice." The station made the announcement on its Facebook page on Thursday morning. "We feel like Kanye has gone too far with his latest statement declaring that 'slavery was a choice.' We are over it," the station wrote on Facebook. "We don't want to hear Kanye's music, we don't want to play Kanye on our show, we don't want to talk about Kanye anymore....

This week includes Easter as well as the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. On Easter, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. On this anniversary, we reflect on King's message, work and legacy. Recognizing both in the same week has led to additional reflection. My takeaway? Don't worry, be happy and focus on others while doing God's will. Understand that, even in the darkest of times, there is hope, light and an opportunity to make progress. All people are God's children -- even those who disagree with you. Growing up in rural Georgia,...

At the 32nd Annual State of Minnesota Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration in St. Paul, Gov. Mark Dayton discussed the need for more progress in combating racism. This year's theme for the ceremony, held at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul, was based on a statement the activist once made: "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'" State Rep. Ilhan Omar (DFL) and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter both served as keynote speakers. During the ceremony, Dayton expressed his concerns that indecency was gaining the upper hand. "Here in...

RUSH: You know, I went back to the archives. Sometimes things in the news jog my memory and I go back to the archives. I keep an archive of pretty much everything I use in show prep, in a number of different ways, and I have found excellent keyword search techniques to be able to recall things. If I can’t remember who wrote it, if I can’t remember the website, keyword search. I pretty much have a fair amount of success when I have a vague memory of something. And I went back. This is a Washington Post story. It...

Al Sharpton hit President Donald Trump for his weight during comments marking Martin Luther King Jr., Day in Harlem, quipping he should order three Big Macs instead of two. According to New York Times writer Shane Goldmacher, Sharpton complimented New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D.) as a "national celebrity" and, perhaps alluding to potential White House ambitions, said Trump should "get your best gloves out" before making the joke about Trump's fondness for fast food. It's a noteworthy comment from Sharpton, given his former obesity. The now slimmed down-Sharpton once weighed more than 300 pounds. In 2014, the New York...

Washington - (CNN) It will be impossible to adequately explain in decades to come just what it was like to be alive in the exhausting first year of Donald Trump's presidency. From the moment he trampled the unifying conventions of the inaugural address by decrying "American carnage," Trump shattered political normality, tearing at racial and societal divides, the limits and decorum of his office, even raising doubts about his fidelity to the nation's founding values. Trump is like a raging storm that never blows itself out, as his early morning Twitter rants injected into the nation's central nervous system trigger...

This doesn’t seem random … NY Times full-bore … Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. To celebrate the day, over the long weekend the New York Times dedicated not one, not two, but three pieces to declaring President Donald Trump a racist. First up we have “Donald Trump’s racism: The definitive list.” Then there’s Charles M. Blow’s piece, “Trump is a racist. Period.” This piece has the helpful URL “trump-racist-shithole.” Then there’s “The heartbeat of racism is denial.” The last one is great: If you deny you are a racist, it means you are one. Flake-out … When Josef...

California Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters celebrated Martin Luther King Jr Day by claiming the civil rights leader would have encouraged people to march for the impeachment of President Trump. “If MLK was alive today, he’d be marching not only for civil rights & protecting voting rights, but to urge Members of Congress to accept their responsibility to save the U.S. from a dangerous man who has no respect for our Constitution & no concern for strengthening our democracy,” Waters wrote on Twitter on Monday.

A CNN piece published Monday heralded Martin Luther King Jr.'s views on issues beyond civil rights, including his support for democratic socialism. CNN's John Blake wrote about "Three ways MLK speaks to our time," published as a straight news article rather than an opinion piece. Blake wrote that on the holiday honoring his legacy, King's commitment to socialism, role as an "environmental hero," and congeniality towards his opponents ought to be considered alongside his racial advocacy.

Civil rights were very much in the forefront in America during the 1960s and early 1970s. As the issue unfolded, I sometimes found myself under fire from both sides, extreme conservatives castigating me for doing too much and extreme liberals blaming me for not doing enough. In reality, both groups tended to stand aloof from our evangelistic Crusades, but those people who actively supported us understood very well our commitment to doing what we could through our evangelism to end the blight of racism. Early on, Dr. King and I spoke about his method of using non-violent demonstrations to bring...

Now, let us begin by answering the question which our sermon topic raises: Can a Christian be a communist? I answer that question with an emphatic “no.” These two philosophies are diametrically opposed. The basic philosophy of Christianity is unalterably opposed to the basic philosophy of communism, and all of the dialectics of the logician cannot make them lie down together. They are contrary philosophies. Now, there are at least three reasons why I feel obligated as a Christian minister to talk to you about communism. The first reason grows out of the fact that communism is having widespread influence...

In the coming period when travel to the Soviet Union is more usual, I believe the American people will expect committed leaders to get information by serious personal inquiry rather than to rely upon secondary sources. Among some of the more specific lines of inquiry I wish to pursue are those which would illuminate the reasons for the continued existence of religious conviction among millions of Soviet citizens, all of whom have been subjected to varying degrees of oppression and discouragement by powerful agencies of propaganda and anti-religious education. This tenacity to spiritual commitment is worthy of careful study for...

In 1964, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. appeared on a BBC news show. The host asked King about Attorney General Robert Kennedy's prediction, an audacious one at the time, that a black man could be elected president in 40 years. King thought it would not take that long: "There are certain problems and prejudices and mores in our society which make it difficult now. However, I am very optimistic about the future. Frankly, I have seen certain changes in the United States over the last two years that surprise me. ... On the basis of this, I think we may...

upcoming Academy Awards telecast may be caught between Chris Rock and a hard place. The comic actor is facing pressure to bow out as host of the 88th annual Oscars — with less than six weeks to go before the Feb. 28 telecast — over the mounting calls for boycotting the awards in response to the lack of diversity among the Oscar nominees. On Monday’s holiday celebrating Martin Luther King Jr., both Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith announced they would not be attending the Academy Awards to protest a second straight year without a black actor receiving a single...

There are moments in our national history that have called Americans to bend the arc of history towards justice. Each moment has required exceptional leadership. Today, we commemorate one such leader who illuminated our nation by his courage and dedication to the truth. Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. understood the American potential more fully than it was actualized at the time. He challenged the distorted conventional acceptance of a "separate but equal" citizenry. Instead, he drew upon that promise of our founding that every person is "endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights." Reverend King reminded communities across the...

Today, we honor a man whose words agitated, illuminated, inspired and liberated millions. Martin Luther King Jr. was a civil rights warrior with weapons, not of blade or bullet, but of ideas. In 2016, those ideas are spoken by many, yet followed by few. We're a nation still obsessed with the hue of our skin (hello #BlackLivesMatter movement), while ignoring the more valuable substance that lies within. To our own detriment, we often judge a book by its glossy cover. Martin Luther King Jr. was no different. He became enamored with the facade of Planned Parenthood and its glossy cover...

Editor's note: This column is an excerpt from Crystal Wright's new book, "Con Job: How Democrats Gave Us Crime, Sanctuary Cities, Abortion Profiteering, and Racial Division."When was the last time anyone heard the "Reverend" Al Sharpton give a sermon? I mean a real one, not a rant that incites racial unrest. Ever since Sharpton came to the defense of Tawana Brawley in 1987, knowing she HAD lied in accusing white men of raping her, he's been a professional race profiteer. Not only did Tawana lie, she lied big time: spreading dog feces on herself then hiding in a trash can...

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Wednesday that he wants lawmakers to end the state's practice of commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. and Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee on the same day. Speaking to reporters, Hutchinson said the Legislature should give King his own holiday when they meet for their next regular session next year. Arkansas is one of three states to jointly celebrate the black civil rights icon and the white leader of the Confederate Army on the third Monday in January, and a proposal to end that practice failed repeatedly before a House committee last year. ...