Martin Luther King Jr. Day

**sodakjoe** · 01-18-2010, 02:45 PM

I thought this would be appropriate for today.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbUtL_0vAJk&feature=player_embedded]YouTube - Martin Luther King "I have a dream"[/ame]

**bos** · 01-18-2010, 02:46 PM

I wonder what it would be like if he would have never died. What a great man taken too soon.

**sodakjoe** · 01-18-2010, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by bos

I wonder what it would be like if he would have never died. What a great man taken too soon.

In all reality, his death likely accelerated many of the initiatives started during his lifetime. The unfortunate thing is that a man like this had to die to get those things to happen.

**bos** · 01-18-2010, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by sodakjoe

In all reality, his death likely accelerated many of the initiatives started during his lifetime. The unfortunate thing is that a man like this had to die to get those things to happen.

Yeah, I would say so too. Its too bad thats how it was. There just isnt a leader like him right now. Not a fan of some of the agendas as of late and they would truly dissapoint King Im sure.

**Knownothing** · 01-18-2010, 03:17 PM

Honestly. Double time and a half rules. Sorry had to be said.

**CyValley** · 01-18-2010, 03:25 PM

Originally Posted by sodakjoe

In all reality, his death likely accelerated many of the initiatives started during his lifetime. The unfortunate thing is that a man like this had to die to get those things to happen.

Soda, if I might add my thoughts to yours. There's a passage in Lincoln's second inaugural address, delivered just a few weeks before he was shot on Good Friday 1865, that reminds me why profoundly worthy leaders die:

". . . Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether." . . .

In human events, profound change comes only with painful cost. Change is wrenching, and human blood is the oil by which the mechanism of change is lubricated, it seems to me. There is an equitableness required - blood drawn with the lash is balanced on the scales of justice by blood drawn with the sword.

I don't pretend to have a deep understanding of human life in this regard, but, superficially at least, to me, bursts of significant human social progress can only be fully recognized by what they exact in cost. The deaths of Lincoln and King are lighthouse markers, showing the way by which we will safely avoid the rocks and shoals of national destruction as we move forward on our uncharted American voyage.

**isumellie** · 01-18-2010, 03:32 PM

I could not believe this but my wife works in child care and was told by her boss that she should not do a Martin Luther King Jr. activity with the 2 year olds in her classroom. The boss's reasoning was that you would upset some of the parents that their kids are doing this. It saddens me that there are still people that think this way. I realize that there is only one African American family in this child care center but it should still be very important for all of the children to participate in an activity like that.

Needless to say my wife was going to do the activity anyway, we will see if anything comes of it.

**wesley_w** · 01-18-2010, 03:33 PM

I remember hearing an interview with George Raveling years ago and he said he was on the stage or just off the stage for the "I have a dream" speech and when MLK was done he gave George the speech as he walked by, I mean the paper he was reading from. And it seems to me that George said that line wasn't even in the speech as it was written so he must have ad-libed it.

**sodakjoe** · 01-18-2010, 03:34 PM

Originally Posted by isumellie

I could not believe this but my wife works in child care and was told by her boss that she should not do a Martin Luther King Jr. activity with the 2 year olds in her classroom. The boss's reasoning was that you would upset some of the parents that their kids are doing this. It saddens me that there are still people that think this way. I realize that there is only one African American family in this child care center but it should still be very important for all of the children to participate in an activity like that.

Needless to say my wife was going to do the activity anyway, we will see if anything comes of it.

You would think that educators would understand why our children should learn about a NATIONAL HOLIDAY.

**Knownothing** · 01-18-2010, 03:53 PM

Honestly I don't understand this day. I understand that we should honor him with a day. However there are far more important days that Americans should celebrate and get the day off. Presidents day is one of them. There have been 44 of them and have led our country. I think Abraham Lincoln did more for the country than anyone else and yet we don't take any Abe Lincoln days off.
So my theory is that while King Jr. should get a day to honor him. I don't think it's a take the work off day. In fact it should be a day where everyone goes to work. That is one of the things he was working towards. Every minority should have a right to work the same job.

Oh yeah here is the George Raveling story if your interested.

http://www.time.com/time/nation/arti...478839,00.html

**alarson** · 01-18-2010, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by Knownothing

Honestly I don't understand this day. I understand that we should honor him with a day. However there are far more important days that Americans should celebrate and get the day off. Presidents day is one of them. There have been 44 of them and have led our country. I think Abraham Lincoln did more for the country than anyone else and yet we don't take any Abe Lincoln days off.
So my theory is that while King Jr. should get a day to honor him. I don't think it's a take the work off day. In fact it should be a day where everyone goes to work. That is one of the things he was working towards. Every minority should have a right to work the same job.

Oh yeah here is the George Raveling story if your interested.

Guardian of The Dream - TIME

I completely agree about presidents day.

**wesley_w** · 01-18-2010, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by Knownothing

Oh yeah here is the George Raveling story if your interested.

Guardian of The Dream - TIME

Thanks, I couldn't remember all the details and it's nice to read that story. I miss George because he was always a great interview and always very interesting to listen to.

**fatmoldy** · 01-18-2010, 04:32 PM

*Ok disclaimer here, this website is a comedy website, but it also cites facts and looks at interesting angles on many things that are commonly accepted. If these things are true it is definitely something to think about. Also, this website will exaggerate things for comedic effect.*

5 Great Men Who Built Their Careers on Plagiarism | Cracked.com

I believe he did a great deal for advancing society, but I believe that Lincoln should get this holiday instead of MLK Jr.

**usedcarguy** · 01-19-2010, 12:36 AM

Obviously from the comments here, it is safe to say that there isn't a more misunderstood person in modern history than MLK jr. He was in favor of affirmative action, was against capitalism in favor of socialism, and reparations for slavery.

Hardly the trademarks of someone who would want a color blind society.

**sodakjoe** · 01-19-2010, 02:22 AM

Originally Posted by usedcarguy

Obviously from the comments here, it is safe to say that there isn't a more misunderstood person in modern history than MLK jr. He was in favor of affirmative action, was against capitalism in favor of socialism, and reparations for slavery.

Hardly the trademarks of someone who would want a color blind society.

Being in support of affirmative action in the 1960s was a necessary step to establishing an even playing field for minorities. Is it necessary now? Who knows, he didn't get a chance to live that long.

Being a socialist has nothing to do with race...Sweden is a very socialist nation, and is almost entirely inhabited by Swedes. Not a race issue in the slightest.

I'm really trying to see where you're reaching with this one.

MLK said things that needed to be said at a time when people were too afraid to stand up and say them. For that, he was killed. MLK is an embodiment of the freedoms our nation provides, and should always strive to provide in a better way. Freedom of speech, freedom to assemble, and freedom to petition the government are all principles our country was founded on, and he was a shining example of a good use of all three.