Rumsfeld Likens King to Freedom Fighters in Terror War

American Forces Press Service ^ | Jan. 22, 2004 | By Rudi Williams

[Calpernia]

The nation has made important strides forward in achieving the color-blind society Martin Luther King Jr. envisioned, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told the Pentagon breakfast audience today.

But, Rumsfeld said, "Today, we face another challenge to freedom, one that is truly deadly," referring to the global war on terrorism.

Calling today's terrorist threat more deadly than could be imagined during King's era, the secretary said, "It's a challenge -- not only to the freedom that we enjoy, but also to the very idea of living free. It's a challenge to being able to say what you wish, go where you wish and behave as you wish. We're fighting it by setting in motion the forces of freedom and trying to help make that freedom real to others."

The defense secretary called the breakfast audience "freedom fighters," because, he said, "you believe as he (King) did, in the dream of freedom. In your own way, you're engaged in the great battle to protect and respect freedom."

Rumsfeld said that in Afghanistan, young women, by virtue of their sex, were denied the right to study, practice medicine, or to appear on the street, except in certain dress. "They're now attending school and pursuing careers as equals," he noted.

Turning to Iraq, Rumsfeld said the Kurds and Shia, many of whom were oppressed because of their religion and ethnicity, now have an opportunity to participate fully in the life and government of their country.

Calling King a courageous leader, Rumsfeld said "he was also a freedom fighter. Not just a fighter for freedom, in the sense that he battled evil and segregation and discrimination, but a champion who challenged every American to live up to the promise of freedom. He believed in the promise of America."

Rumsfeld quoted King as saying, "We refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity. So we've come to cash this check. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy."

"It was. And, to an extent, he did – by setting in motion the forces of freedom," the secretary said.

Rumsfeld said he was an economist during the 1960s, and King used to come to the capital and bring a number of civil rights leaders he was working with. He said many people think civil rights legislation happened during President John F. Kennedy's administration.

"But it actually started during the presidency of Dwight Eisenhower in 1958, and was mostly passed during the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson," said Rumsfeld, who served in Congress from 1962 to 1969. "It took a lot of effort by a lot of people. And there were a group of us young congressmen involved."

Rumsfeld also gave a special welcome and expressed thanks to Kendall Cunningham and other King essay contest finalists from Washington's John Tyler Elementary School. Cunningham, a 12-year-old sixth-grader, read his award-winning essay during the breakfast observance of King's birthday.

Each year, DoD sponsors an essay contest for the students at John Tyler, its adopted school. The essays are written on the national theme for the King observance, according to Raymond F. DuBois, DoD's director of administration and management, and director of DoD's Washington Headquarters Services. This year's theme was unchanged from last year's: "Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On, Not a Day Off!"

[Calpernia]

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld tells the audience at DoD's 19th annual Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast Jan. 22 that the nation has made important strides in achieving the completely color-blind society King envisioned. Seated in the foreground is sixth-grader Kendell Cunningham, 12, of Washington's John Tyler Elementary School, winner of DoD's King essay-writing contest. Next to him is U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry Black, a retired Navy rear admiral and former chief of Navy chaplains.

[Calpernia]

[Calpernia]

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld tells the audience at DoD's 19th annual Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast Jan. 22 that the nation has made important strides in achieving the completely color-blind society King envisioned.

Private Mail to be added to or removed from the GNFI (or Pro-Coalition) ping list.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[risk]

bump!

[Clemenza]

OH PUH-LEEZE! Hows does the normally acerbic Rummy reconcile the fact that King was an outspoken critic of the Vietnam war?

Clemenza, btw, likens Mr. King to a womanizing plagiarist lefty.

[cyborg]

This is good. The libs re always co-opting MLK for every pathetic thing they do. Although, if one is talking about freedom fight let's see some freedom fighting on behalf of the millions of christian Africans in the Sudan and farmers in Zimbabwe.

[Clemenza]

Although, if one is talking about freedom fight let's see some freedom fighting on behalf of the millions of christian Africans in the Sudan and farmers in Zimbabwe.

Amen.

BTW: An African will save the Catholic Church from the Europeans. Mark my word.

[cyborg]

yup I agree

[cyborg]

The Roman and the Episcopalian Catholics... don't know which one needs more help right now

[risk]

Of course Rummy's gotta be wrong. Since we can ignore MLK's deep and resonating message of non-violent change, his stirring pleas for us to uphold the very values outlined by our constitution and our declaration of independence, let's focus on his weaknesses as a human being. That way we can blame all the problems caused by the War on Poverty on him, right? Let's not stop to remember which horrors the War on Poverty tried to solve, either. Isn't that right, Clemenza? Clemenza, tell us again what you've done for the human race lately. Tell us what you've done to elevate yourself high enough to criticize a giant of an American like MLK. I'm waiting.