[jraven]

What a dumb item. No one has EVER said that MLK was the "most important person" in US history. All some folks are saying, and the holiday indicates, is that he was a major figure in US history. The manner of his death also made him a martyr. I can't think of anything I have read or anyone I have heard (liberal, moderate) who has ever claimed he is the most important person in US history. This kind of tripe gives conservatives a real bad image.

[ctnoell70]

NOT a dumb idea! If Ronald Reagan was rammed downed my throat as Dr. King is year after year, I would complain about that also. Furthermore, MLK has a few skeletons in his closet that are worth imvestigating (his ties to the Communist Party, for one). Such arrogance shown for limiting debate on this issue doesn't exactly help conservatism either.

[John H K]

As much as I agree that SOME stuff on FR gives conservatives a bad image, people aren't really exaggerating on this thread.

It depends on how old you are and where you went to school...

But there are many locales where more will be taught about MLK (and Harriet Tubman, etc.) than Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, JFK, and Reagan COMBINED in elementary school (particularly) but also in Junior and Senior High. The most extreme school districts will add a heavy dose of Malcolm X too but I personally did not experience this in the 70s.

That's an obvious indication that educators BELIEVE MLK was the most important person in US history, even if they don't say so in so many words.

[savedbygrace]

You apparently didn't read past the title.

[montag813]

The manner of his death also made him a martyr

So did Lincoln's. At least to some of us. Evidently not to the P.C. crowd, who mention Lincoln only in an attempt to make jim into some kind of Queer icon, through distortions and lies. Life in "Blue America" is really revolting. I don;t know how long my wife and I can hold out, before moving to the "Red Zone".