Forty years later we focus on the beliefs of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., embraced by our nation immediately after his death.
Prior to his assassination, Dr. King was hated and often despised by the American government which maintained a strong assault on his character throughout his life. Hoover, leading the mission to destroy him, often fed information to the press intended to arouse suspicions about Dr. King, suspicions which aided the government in attempts to portray him, and his opposition to the war, as treasonous. It was one of many awkward characterizations and forms of hatred that Dr. King would always struggle against.
Accordingly and in spite of this, Dr. King's goal was clear and consistently expressed throughout his life of public service. He sought to detoxify our nation, to rid the country of hate, division, and fear along the lines of not only race, but age, gender and all exploitable differences. We can see a progression from the time of his death until today---moving ever closer to the realization of his goal.
1970 - 18 Years Olds Receive the Right to Vote
1974 - New Residency Rules Allow Students and Others to Vote When Living Away From Their Primary Residence
1975 - Bi-lingual Ballots Mandated by Law
1990 -- Accommodations to Assist the Disabled in Voting Mandated by Law
This progression underscores the slow but sure rebirth of America - our shift towards modern democracy - that began in Selma, Alabama driven by the dreams of Martin Luther King. Whites and African Americans, men and women, old and young, now more than ever represent a rainbow of equality and progress. The indecency and barbarism aimed at Dr.King and others of his era are being replaced with decency and meliorism.
But there is yet work to be done. As we face economic struggle caused by our actions abroad and wrestle domestic poverty and unemployment at some of the highest levels to date, it becomes our new work to invest in our society. We witness the trends of investment seeping out of our country. We see guns and drugs coming in. We see taxes going up and wages going down. It's time we witness investment in our society and demand that this investment elicit returns and movement in a new direction.
Both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton represent potential conduits for that return on investment. They recognize the necessity to end this life draining and money draining war. With an end to our involvement, budgeted war dollars can be the preliminary reinvestment in social and economic programs that our nation needs, stimulating education, infrastructure, health care and social welfare.
It is necessary for our leaders to ensure the highest return on this investment by upholding and enforcing civil rights laws and fair lending laws that guarantee all Americans an opportunity to succeed. The current economic crisis in the housing market was the consequence of a system with no regulation and no transparency--in which fair lending was not enforced and therefore not practiced. One half of those suffering from sub-prime loans were actually eligible for prime loans. However, these individuals were pushed towards higher risk/higher reward loans by a financial industry seeking higher profit.
Our current financial struggles are evidence that toxicity remains in America. It should be our work and the work of the next administration to continue to struggle against fear and corruption, and detoxify our country. Again, both Barack and Hillary represent a real conduit for that new, healthy America.
In the 40 years since the death of Dr. King, much has been accomplished in moving toward his hopes and dreams for our nation and its people. But the realization of Dr. King's goal is ongoing, and we have unfinished business.
Senator Barack Obama is not Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. No one could ever be. He was an original, the one and only. Many of us raised our families differently because of Dr. King. He was a gift.
Electing the next President simply because he is minor or she is a woman is insulting to every Americans intelligence. If that is the case, than we should remember there is a large bloc of voters that are senior citizens. They might just vote for the senior citizen who is also a candidate. Perhaps, we should wait and see who his running mate will be and who the democratic nominee is. ; )=)
I scanned this page of the thread for three words: "African" (as in African American), "White", and "Black"
"African" - Jackson, once.
"White" - Jackson once, Nofuzzy twice.
"Black" - Nofuzzy three times.
It's disheartening, to say the least, that such antipathy based on false assumptions still permeates even sites such as this, where the level of intelligent discourse should be of a higher measure.
Keep spreading the word. Hillary or Barack are excellent choices for change. Having a white female president or a minority male president would be good for america. They are both intelligent, experienced and focused on equality, either would be better than a McCain presidency.
Could you be any more obvious?
Wright!
Some years ago, I showed DW Griffith's "Birth of a Nation" to a history class. All but one student watched (I advised the one who walked out to stay as better to know than not know); my point was that what was acceptable to see or print (the endorsement of Wilson appears as text) clearly cannot exist as acceptable discourse in our society like it was in 1913. So, even in the last 40 years, a lot HAS been done, yes. Indeed, let me add to this. In January 2007, Rep John Lewis received an American Historical Association award for public service in part named after Woodrow Wilson. No one mentioned the irony. I chuckled all evening (Wilson is not a favorite of mine): perfect! That'll show 'em! I'd call that progress, too.
Sure much can be done still. Every small step helps!
Think of it -- 40 years. Ten (10) Presidential terms. That is my entire lifetime for this American (born 1967 in Okinawa, Japan).
Jesse, can you imagine TEN more presidential elections with this rate of progress?
When he said that he had been to the mountaintop and knew he would not live to see the Promised Land, that is how you know he communed with God. At some point of his ministry he crossed a line into sainthood.
Or are you defending racists right to be racist, but not named as such for what they are?
The old bit of wisdom goes "Ah.. but to see one's self as others see us..".
Self delusion is a sad mental game to play with one's self.
Honesty is the first step to personal growth.