Thoughts Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

by: Dennis Shulman

Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 01:59:44 PM EST

Promoted from the diaries -- Juan

I was seventeen years old when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed. April 4, 1968 is one of those too-many days from that period that are seared into my memory.

As a young man, I of course knew what King had done to help our country restore its soul and to move us closer to reaching its destiny to be one nation, united and indivisible.

But it was not until later that I understood the depth and breadth of Dr. King?s sweeping vision for our country and for ourselves as a people. It was not until later that I understood Dr. King?s central message to all of us, irrespective of race or religion: that we are better than this, that we can do better, that our problems, no matter how intractable they may seem, no matter how enmeshed with our history, are solvable.

On this, the observance of what should have been Dr. King?s 79th birthday, I thank Dr. King and the many who fought for justice at his side, for having the courage and the wisdom to be our inspiration and our guide.

His time may have been too short, but his message is eternal.

Dennis Shulman :: Thoughts Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Thoughts Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. | 2 comments

way too short (4.00 / 1)

but definitely eternal.

activist for hire.

by: Jay Lassiter @ Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 20:39:24 PM UTC

In remembering Dr King... (4.00 / 1)

We can't let his message get dumbed down. Dr King was not a popular person during his time. He was being investigated by the FBI and was considered very dangerous by the status quo.

As King brought his message into the anti-Vietnam movement and then into a radical critique of the American economic system, he was considered more and more dangerous.

He was making the connections between racial inequality, war and militarism, workers' rights and justice as a whole. King was working to create a real people's movement. A movement that would have been transformative for our society.

In our world of sound bites and one liners, Dr King's message is being homogenized to be something general and turned into a political commodity. We have to remember all of the work he did outside of his "I have a dream..." speech.

Remember, he was assassinated while supporting striking sanitation workers in Memphis, TN. He made connections to all movements in hopes of really changing society. I think the best way to honor his legacy is to remember ALL of the work he did.

Now my friends, I am opposed to the system of society in which we live today, not because I lack the natural equipment to do for myself but because I am not satisfied to make myself comfortable knowing that there are thousands of my fellow men who suffer

by: evdebs @ Wed Jan 23, 2008 at 15:48:16 PM UTC