Posted on 08/07/2013 9:06:40 PM PDT by Loud Mime
I realize that's a provocative title, but let's face it, as things stand, the third Monday of January would be better used to celebrate grandmothers or our beloved pets. By devoting a national holiday to Rev. King, we're only highlighting the abyss that exists between his hope that we begin judging one another by our character rather than by our skin color and that inconvenient thing called reality.
As we saw during the entire Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman brouhaha, the majority of blacks see everything in terms of black and white. And why wouldn't they when their so-called leaders, including the man in the Oval Office and the fellow heading up the Justice Department, see America in those same myopic terms?
Recently, when the white students at Georgia State University decided to start a White Student Union, judging by the cries of outrage from the usual suspects, you would have thought the Klan was back burning crosses in the middle of the night.
But why is it racist when white students do what black students have been doing for decades? At GSU, the racial breakdown is split nearly 50-50 between whites and blacks, so it's not even as if there's only a tiny handful of blacks who feel they have to cluster together, the way American tourist groups do in foreign countries.
Besides black student unions, we have black dorms, black lunch areas and even black graduations, not because whites are discriminating against blacks, but because blacks don't object to segregation so long as they're the ones doing it.
Imagine the outcry if Caucasian members of the House formed a Congressional White Caucus. But the Congressional Black Caucus has been around for a long time. And the members are so bigoted that when Stephen Cohen, who is white but represents Tennessee's 9th congressional district, which is 59% black and only 36% white, applied for membership in the CBC, he was -- how else can I say it? -- blackballed.
In order to honor and promote their heritage and culture, many ethnic Americans form societies. There are those for Poles, Italians, Armenians, Chinese and, for all I know, even Canadians looking to preserve dullness. But racial groups are generally frowned upon in civilized circles. The mere thought of them conjures up the likes of Nazis, the Klan and the Aryan Nation. But once again, blacks think they should be the exception.
I just can't help thinking that at a point when racism has nearly vanished from the hearts of white Americans, it has taken hold like a giant parasite in the soul of black America. That whirring sound you hear is Martin Luther King spinning in his grave.
Speaking of which, people who keep calling for Eric Holder's dismissal are really beginning to bug me. It seems to me that if your steak arrives burnt and your baked potato arrives raw, you don't blame the waiter; you blame the chef. That's not to say that Holder isn't a lousy waiter. But firing the waiter isn't going to improve the disasters taking place in the kitchen.
As for the chef, he has said he's very disappointed in Russia because they've given political asylum to Edward Snowden. I, for one, say he's got his nerve. After all, he's the punk who leaned over to President Medvedev and told him to tell his master, Vladimir Putin, that (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) he'd be a lot more flexible after he was re-elected.
So, why is anyone surprised that Putin decided to find out just how far a more flexible Obama was willing to bend over in order to accommodate Mother Russia?
If man should be judged by the content of his character, why do we have affirmative action, where he’s judged by the color of his skin?
The government can’t have it both ways.....wait.....
I’ll go ahead and second that.
America is over race.
We need to move on.
(no I’m not kidding)
Recognizing not all Americans are over race, but enough for us all to proclaim victory and find something else to debate.
I understand why they didn't let a White guy join but they were really mean about it. They basically told him to go F himself for asking.
King had a dream, turns out , that is all it was. I would say now days, about 15% of whites are prejudice while about 80% of blacks are. Just my opinion but wish someone would do a pole on this.
Hey, how about replacing it with “National Plagiarism Day”?
On that day we (and MLKJr) can all claim we thought of the idea first.
--------
MLK wouldn't be spinning in his grave. Instead, if he were alive today he'd likely be shouting about "Justice for Trayvon" and would be denouncing the Supreme Court's Voting Rights decision as a return to Jim Crow.
Nearly all Americans, including Conservatives, latch on to King's famous "content" quote without looking at the totality of King's other writings and actions -- many of which discuss wealth redistribution and guaranteed jobs. Most Americans, including Conservatives, have an almost cartoonish, diety-like image of King. King would likely be taking the same positions as the overwhelming majority of black leaders today.
Yes and restore Washington’s Birthday
Stephen Cohen, who is white but represents Tennessee’s 9th congressional district, which is 59% black and only 36% white, applied for membership in the CBC, he was — how else can I say it? — blackballed.
That commie is my congressman. He knew what would happen. That was a stunt for the black voters in his district who wanted a black Dem to represent them.
Well, either that or a poll.
This will never happen—but if it did, it would be replaced either by Malcolm X’s birthday or Trayvon Martin’s birthday.
I love Burt. He’s correct as always, but there’s a snowball’s chance in Heck anybody would actually do away with the “holiday.”
I had some fun with it. When MLK day first came into being, my company went to a policy of a floating holiday that could be taken during the year (a holiday had to be eliminated, I think it was Good Friday). This was so the black people (if they were so inclined) could take “their” day off while whitey stayed and worked. I also took the day off, to publicly “show my solidarity” with them. Drove ‘em nuts because they couldn’t complain about my horning in on “their” day. Heh.
Is that like the Rosie Ruiz race they used to run in Boston?
How about Karol Józef Wojtyła?
What has always bothered me about MLK day, besides being so illogical is that ALL veterans get one day. ALL presidents get one day.
Now, here we have someone who was a conscientious objector who never held elective political office and he gets one day.
It just does not make any sense whatsoever.
Intersting observations and food for a LOT of thought by everyone.
Unfortunately, there are those in our society who will be certain that this article is racist . . . . . . . . . because they won’t think any deeper than the color of the author’s skin.
Mr. Prelutsky’s comment about the whirring noise is right on target!
MLK Day should never have been a federal holiday, how many non-government get it off besides banks?
I'm not sure that's true. His "content" quote is one of the best lines ever uttered and carries the force of tremendous truth.
However, that doesn't discredit a great quote because we don't like other things about Rev. King. I was around for the whole thing and have forgotten none of it.
But, I am also a big fan of that quote because it applies across all races, colors and creeds.
And, IMO, the kingdom of heaven is open to those who genuinely live and apply that quote.
For some time I have been thinking that we need consistency so that if we have Martin Luther King day, then we get George Washington having a day...if we have Presidents’ Day, then we should have something like Civil Rights Day or other generic type day. I dislike Presidents’ Day which puts Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton on equal status with George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.