True, and it isn't everyone.
But it's more than enough around here.
Posted on 01/19/2004 4:12:01 PM PST by Tall_Texan
A local Austin radio station is reporting about a suburb that chose to officially recognize today not as "Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday" but as "Civil Right Day". This is the middle-class City of Cedar Park, northwest of Austin.
The former mayor, who is black, condemns the decision saying it is a "slap in the face" to the memory of Dr. King. The radio station did not offer any quotes from people who supported the more inclusive holiday title.
No. This is a safety issue millions of Americans. When traveling in a strange city you always know to stay away from the area surrounding MLK Boulevard/Street/Avenue. It is as good as any other warning sign.
True, and it isn't everyone.
But it's more than enough around here.
Understood, RDB. But today I just had to weigh in. We're talking about one of the greatest Americans ever, and someone describes his birthday as "Prove you're not a racist day."
What these posters don't realize is that if there's one way to undermine this country from the outside, it's through racism. Malcolm X was just the beginning of what we'll see if we don't continue eradicating the hate.
I'm not saying that the core of our Anglo Saxon culture should be diminished in any way. I'm just saying that we'd best eliminate notions of racial superiority lest it eliminate us. Once the races go at each other's throats here, there won't be much to defend. Now is the time to build goodwill. Now is the time to find common ground. Now is the time for us all to recognize the deep sense of humanity and wisdom MLK had -- when others were saying there was no point. King taught people on all sides to stop hating and find common ground.
We're all Americans, and our races are secondary to our membership in this great land of freedom. We are going to live up to that promise.
One more thing: people like you and mhking are some of the best examples of why MLK was right. People like you have to be strong for all of us, and you know it. You live it every day, setting an example for us all in terms of patriotism and community service. When all is said and done, you're more American than the palest white racist -- by a mile.
Absolutely, Tall-Texan.
Although you're not the offending party, this is another reaction to FR's annual trashing of MLK. It makes no sense.
For example, see post #2. "A slap in MLK's face!!!" What on earth was that?
No one wants to talk about why MLK was needed (and he was definitely needed). They'd rather berate his character, and he did indeed have flaws. No man is perfect.
He's not a personal hero of mine. But I do appreciate him for holding a mirror in America's face and forcing her to realize that she was being a complete hypocrite.
Brave black men fighting and dying in her wars, yet the government they fought for denied them the right to vote and deemed them second-class citizens under the law. Black men and women paying taxes, on the federal and State level, yet these governments took their tax money and then segretated them?
No! That wasn't cool. It was evil. Pure evil.
So FReepers annually trash this man. Yes, he was an adulterer. Yes, he was too friendly with socialism. No one will get an argument from me there. But what about the why behind the movement?
None who berate him in his person want to discuss that.
We're not talking about ancient history here. It's not Revolutionary War era history here. Nor is it the Civil War era history here, either. You have millions upon millions of people who are living today who lived through that time when King lived. Those who knew the evil of Jim Crow, being denied the right to vote, being denied the freedom of association. Those who no matter how honorably and lawfully they lived their lives were still nothing more than niggers in this land. They're still here.
Yet and still, these who berate him seem to have forgotten. Well, I'll remind them.
That was the subject. I did not mean to hijack your thread. If I did, I apologize.
You got it, RDB3. King George III was mild compared to how these people were being treated.
I do believe it's difficult for many young Americans and white Americans who weren't raised in the South to understand just how bad it was back during King's time. I was born in 1957 and raised in Texas and I have many fond memories of that time but I'm sure I would feel differently if I had been exposed to some of the other parts of town and what those people faced on a daily basis. King gave them hope that things would change and slowly they did change. So I understand both those who slam King for what is now presented in his name and I also understand how much he means to some people, particularly those who "were there". No, MLK wasn't perfect but I wonder how many people in history could match his positive impact.
Very few, my brother. Very few.
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