dagblog - Comments for "MLK III Observing, Not Celebrating Holiday"

Thank you, brewmn. That

WaitWut? — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:36:51 +0000

In reply to MLK III Observing, Not Celebrating Holiday

Thank you, brewmn. That actually means a lot coming from you. I normally don't have to reply to posts because you've already said what I wanted to say.

Very well said. No apologies

brewmn61 — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 23:39:35 +0000

In reply to MLK III Observing, Not Celebrating Holiday

Very well said. No apologies necessary.

Many thanks tao!

oleeb — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:59:02 +0000

In reply to MLK III Observing, Not Celebrating Holiday

Many thanks tao!

Thanks DD!

oleeb — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:58:06 +0000

In reply to MLK III Observing, Not Celebrating Holiday

Thanks DD!

How very shallow of you.

oleeb — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:55:17 +0000

In reply to MLK III Observing, Not Celebrating Holiday

How very shallow of you.

There’s an awful lot of anger

WaitWut? — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:24:51 +0000

In reply to MLK III Observing, Not Celebrating Holiday

There’s an awful lot of anger in a thread about a generally peaceful man.

I prefer to look at great men and women in history as they are. I don’t try to imagine what they would think, say or do. Based upon their work and words, we can all make assumptions, but no one can ever be 100% correct about another person’s behavior. The idea that Mr. King would be less supportive of Pres. Obama because of any issue is an opinion only. To state otherwise is demeaning the intelligence of the man. That he could not, or would not, look at the intricacies of this presidency and understand the unusual demands is selling him short. Maybe he would have something to say, maybe he would disagree with our President on several issues, but would he withdraw his support entirely? Which of you knows that answer? Which of you can actually speak for him?

Arguments such as this remind me so much of the Conservatives I run into on a regular basis that “know” how our forefathers would feel and react to current events. The same ones that “know” our forefathers were good, conservative Christians. Those that deny their failures and shortcomings to raise them up to demigod status.

Why is it that we can’t just appreciate those that spoke for so many of us, stood up for us? Why do we constantly need to claim these poor dead souls as our own to promote our own agendas? Let it be and remember them for who they were, not who they might have been. Use their words as inspiration, of course. But, let their souls rest and support the men and women that are alive today that could possibly be the next generation’s MLK.

As far as those of you that seem to have a serious dislike for our President, that’s too bad. It’s too bad that he hasn’t made all the changes that would make my life simpler. It’s too bad that I could die before I get health care. It’s a shame that my gay friends might not be able to marry in the near future or they won’t be allowed to express their sexuality in the military. Am I going to withdraw my support of the man because he made campaign promises that he found were difficult, if not impossible, to keep? Nope. Just as I never held Bush completely responsible for the 8 years of hell that I went through. I also know that I couldn’t do the job and that there are few people in this country that could. I can almost guarantee no one on this site could.

Bottom line, I know I’m not getting everything I need from this president. I also believe what happens today could be the beginnings of something tomorrow. Ah, yes...optimism. It’s a tough thing to have with what we all face everyday. I’m not saying deny the negatives, but it’s sad to see so many people that I generally hold common ground with focus so much on the negatives. Hell...I can even find positive things to say about Bush (please, don’t ask me to actually do it).

Damn, that was too long. Sorry.

I would say that King would

wendy davis — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:50:28 +0000

In reply to MLK III Observing, Not Celebrating Holiday

I would say that King would read Obama the riot act on Economic Justice issues. That is my major issues with him: his re-treading the Clinton economic team that wreaked such havoc with workers and the Financial Sector becoming what it is today (with help from the Bushies dismantling regulatory agencies).
But I am losing faith that Obama wants much change from the current way business is conducted on Wall Street, and that's huuuuge problem for me. I am pissed purple about it.
And MLK was fully aware of how our Financial Empire was exporting misery to the poor over the planet, and that was THEN, not even now. Oh, my.

Fair enough. I was

brewmn61 — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:34:31 +0000

In reply to MLK III Observing, Not Celebrating Holiday

Fair enough. I was responding to the overall tenor of the thread, which was, as I expected (considering the original source) was a thinly-veiled attempt to bash Obama for not living up to King's ideals.

The sides in this internecine debate are ultimately on the same side. I know that. I am certain that we want the same things for this country. We just think differently about the way forward in the short term.

I have read books, speeches, etc. by and about MLK pretty extensively. The Taylor Branch trilogy in particular is a fantastic, detailed narrative of the Civil Rights movement. The fact that he was a flawed individual, and his life ended with failures on several levels (e.g., the Chicago Freedom Movement), only makes him more of a hero (a word that has been devalued by overuse, but applies here) in my estimation. I'm a firm believer that the Civil Rights movement was perhaps the purest realization of American aspirations, and that King was one of the very greatest Americans in our history.

Which is why I bristle at the appropriation of his legacy to stick a finger in the eye of Obama supporters.

Nihilist

Ripper McCord — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:15:05 +0000

In reply to MLK III Observing, Not Celebrating Holiday

Nihilist

To say MLK would be among the

Dorn76 — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:50:03 +0000

In reply to MLK III Observing, Not Celebrating Holiday

To say MLK would be among the Dems biggest critics is crude politicizing, on the one day of the year set aside to reflect on his legacy.

It's a fine thing to ask us to "observe", but there you are reveling in more criticism of the Dems.

Thanks for the links though, and the suggestion to see MLK's legacy more broadly...I just disregard your conclusions though, and think for myself. I hope others will do the same.