‘The time has come for America to hear the truth…’
By on Jan 21st, 2008 at 2:13 pm
‘The time has come for America to hear the truth…’
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech on “Why I Am Opposed to the War In Vietnam“:
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Well, I happened to post this exact same speech earlier today. It is quite poignant. So, please excuse the shameless self promotion, but here is my post, which has some interesting commentary already.
January 21st, 2008 at 2:20 pmKing’s speech rings even more true today than 40 years ago. The most telling is his “higher ideal than Capitalism or Communism”. Today’s Neo-Cons are a bizarre hybrid of Capitalism and Communism, and the voices that speak truth to power about this today are pushed to the background. History has a way of doing this to visionaries…..Socrates, Galileo, Bruno, Copernicus, Tesla, Joan of Arc, Jesus of Nazareth, Reich, Einstein, Leary, Kucinich. In the 60s, the media was not quite so controlled by the NeoCoNaZionists as they are today. This is why this article is telling about our perhaps last vestige of communication.
http://aconstantineblacklist.blogspot.com/ 2008/ 01/ cia-eyes-internet.html
January 21st, 2008 at 2:36 pmWord of the day: NeoCoNaZionists
Study up for tomorrow’s new word: Conservatron
January 21st, 2008 at 2:51 pmI had the interesting experience of walking through Watts the day after Reverend King was assassinated.
I was walking from my Draft induction physical in downtown L.A. back to where I lived, as I couldn’t afford the bus.
Every street corner was filled with angry people. By the way, I’m White. As I approached, youngsters were sent out to bait me into saying something stupid…I kept my mouth shut.
This played out on nearly every corner for what seemed like miles. My first thought was, ‘my God, Viet Nam isn’t going to kill me, Watts is’.
I realized during that walk that what I was seeing was much the same as when JFK had been assassinated; people angry & despondent over someone they held in high esteem.
I’ll never forget that day. Although only 17, I grew up a lot in 1 hour.
January 21st, 2008 at 2:59 pm“You can’t tell any more the difference between what’s propaganda and what’s news.â€
FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein
15 August, 2006
Comment by plunger — January 21, 2008 @ 2:54 pm
Ain’t that the truth…?
January 21st, 2008 at 3:07 pmPoor MLK. How frustrating it must have been to have seen so clearly and to not have been able to penetrate the veils of those who chose not to see. America wouldn’t recognize the truth if it jumped up and bit us on the ass.
MLK: thanks for the insight.
January 21st, 2008 at 3:08 pmI’ll never forget that day. Although only 17, I grew up a lot in 1 hour.
Comment by Zimzone — January 21, 2008 @ 2:59 pm
Amazing story, Zimzone. Thank you.
I was 8 years old when Dr King was assassinated, and living out of the country. I remember our neighbors, the Townsends, grieving as if a member of their own family had died. And it was true, a member of our human family was murdered that day. Thank goodness we had him with us as long as we did…
January 21st, 2008 at 3:10 pmStop the partisan crap! How many times have we said the DLC and GOP are dividing us!
There are those on the left and right that are trying to change all that…
Join Us!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAWClI8zsH4
January 21st, 2008 at 3:11 pmA call to action to by MLK to all artists - From Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence:
January 21st, 2008 at 3:21 pm“Rationalizations and the incessant search for scapegoats are the psychological cataracts that blind us to our sins. But the day has passed for superficial patriotism.”
January 21st, 2008 at 3:38 pmOh how true, how true.
MLK,jr. was such an insightful thinker and eloquent orator.
His words ring just as true today as when spoken over 40 years ago.
I wrote this three years ago.
Cheers,
January 21st, 2008 at 3:42 pmI was still in high school when King was assassinated. The local police kept a number of squad cars cruising the block around the school all day for the next few days. I was more scared of the pigs than of the blacks.
January 21st, 2008 at 3:42 pmAs I’m an African American my experience was different I wasn’t a young teenager like the comments above I was a grown woman with two kids. I saw and understood what Dr. King was fighting for. I visited the south in the 50’s and saw a black man hanging from a tree. I saw post cards with people having a picnic while watching a black man hang above the tables. So much of the pass I remember but most of all the I had a Dream speech from DC. When you live history it’s different then reading it. Dr. King spoke of united not separation. I wish I had met Dr. King like Hillary did. I wish Senator Obama would talk to those who lived and experienced that time in history he might learn alot more then the books he read. I know Obama thinks just being black is enough but it isn’t. Many White people lost their lives fighting for equal rights for others. Obama came along to benefit what others died for all to have. Colleges had to allow blacks and Obama got that chance, because of both black and white Civil Rights workers.
January 21st, 2008 at 3:44 pmThe Civil Rights Movement started with Vernon Johns who recruited Dr. King to continue the struggle. The Media never reported what was happening in the South. Many black people were put in jail for sitting in the front of the bus long before Rosa Parks.
American Media first reported front page news about what was happening in the South with the murder of
Civil rights workers Michael Schwerner, James Chaney, and Andrew Goodman . Once that hit the front page of every news paper in the US the Civil Rights movement became known. Many things followed but that was the first time all Americans knew what was going on in the South. I see we haven’t learned from the pass even African Americans haven’t learned the words Dr. King spoke. I’ll watch the Media spin this and Obama put himself as the new Dr. King not even knowing what he stood for or what he said.
In honor of MLK, Jr.
If you can watch this sermon and not shed a tear for what is happening now, … today, ….on the ground in multiple nations, not…just America…but,…across all borders of hatred and hatred of nations then you need to rejoin the human family…give up your hatred!!
I wrote the above with his voice and cadence (sp?) in mind. And with great respect. Use the ellipses for the pauses…8-)
January 21st, 2008 at 3:46 pmWhat a brave man.
Comment by justasking — January 21, 2008 @ 3:37 pm
Hard to imagine a COWARD like YOU from a PARTY of COWARDS AND RACISTS would even RECOGNIZE COURAGE! Good for you, CHILD! Now KEEP ON THE PATH, and MAYBE SOMEDAY you’ll FINISH GROWING UP!
January 21st, 2008 at 3:55 pmMLK: “I have a dream”
January 21st, 2008 at 3:59 pmGWB: “I have a scheme”
When a white American can walk down the street, and, on passing a scowling African American in a black leather jacket, think:
‘man that dude is having a bad day’ instead of, man is that dude going to mug me?’, we’ll have come close to realizing Dr. King’s dream.
January 21st, 2008 at 4:03 pmComment by justasking — January 21, 2008 @ 4:03 pm
Crap, the JustAnAss troll is back… the TP horror movie is starting now!! It seems it (JustAnAss) will be running all week..or until the moron leaves…Sorry for the interruption of your regularly scheduled postings…
Ignore this a$$wipe…please….everyone….
January 21st, 2008 at 4:17 pmFrom the link:
MLK was preacher, wasn’t he? Preacher is a term used for a particular type Christian teacher. One who tells the message in bold.
January 21st, 2008 at 4:22 pmComment by justasking — January 21, 2008 @ 4:18 pm
IGNORE THIS TROLL!
January 21st, 2008 at 4:35 pmSort of like Jesus but with less of a marketing team
January 21st, 2008 at 4:58 pm#16, dixie blood
As a white woman in America, the MLK speech brought me to tears at the time; today when I see the video, I have the same reaction.
America lost a great leader and uniter when he was killed . (The racist is blinded from seeing anything beyond the color of the skin.)
I see something of MLK in Barack Obama - he is not perfect, neither was MLK - but I see a person who can lead, a person who has a vision of how things can be, and a person who can inspire all of us to greater heights, and most of all, offers “hope” that, despite the evidence, all has not been lost under Bush/Cheney - perhaps
January 21st, 2008 at 5:15 pmenough of the country I love remains, and America can be resuscitated and restored.
I see something of MLK in Barack Obama - he is not perfect, neither was MLK - but I see a person who can lead, a person who has a vision of how things can be, and a person who can inspire all of us to greater heights, and most of all, offers “hope†that, despite the evidence, all has not been lost under Bush/Cheney - perhaps enough of the country I love remains, and America can be resuscitated and restored.
Comment by Marie — January 21, 2008 @ 5:15 pm
Except Obama thinks Reagan was a great president (better than Eisenhower?), would bomb Iran, and loves to give speeches to AIPAC. Except for Kucinich and MAYBE Edwards, the Democratic side is a smokescreen for the Military-Industrial complex. OK, I will give you him one on Woman’s Rights, Unions, and the Environment. But when the AIPAC lobby likes you…..Watch Out America…
January 21st, 2008 at 5:48 pmFrom reading inconsistency, the hypocrisies and even the exploitation of Dr. King’s speech here, I have no problem recognizing the fact that Dr. King would waste no time pointing out to you that you all are the epitome of those you purport to disdain.
You are the ones who rationalize ignoring the dire poverty in the US, that imposes massive suffering on poor and struggling American citizens, who are black, brown and white, while you make excuses for outsourcing and the excessive use of visas and the turning the blind eye to the massive waves of illegal aliens who willingly collude with corporate interests in displacing American citizen workers. Causing homelessness, and hunger and privation.
Dr. King spoke about judging people on the content of their character, not on the color of their skin. It’s apparent here that you would use the color of someone’s skin to imply that you are not racist, but your hatred and indifference shows that you are no different than those that rationalized slavery. There is also anti-semitism and other intolerance, even the censorship of those who speak truth to your presumption of power.. but that is to be expected by those on the far left.. . after all your heros, the communists, the socialists, the fascists and the nazis censored and practiced all sorts of brutality.
Dr. King also spoke about communism and socialism being the same as slavery, because without individual liberties, rights and freedoms, one is a slave. I’m sure you’ll delete this post as well, because to you and your ilk, Dr. King is someone you feel entitled to use, to twist his words for your own advantage, just as you would exploit and enslave Americans who are black, just as you would do the same to Americans who are brown or white.
January 21st, 2008 at 6:11 pm#31 Jenny– Your comments as to Dr. King’s feelings towards communism and socialism are incorrect. Dr. King had the same feeling about communism that he had about capitalism. And, he was working towards a greater synthesis.
“Communism forgets that life is individual. Capitalism forgets that life is social, and the kingdom of brotherhood is found neither in the thesis of communism nor the antithesis of capitalism but in a higher synthesis. It is found in a higher synthesis that combines the truths of both. Now, when I say question the whole society, it means ultimately coming to see that the problem of racism, the problem of exploitation, and the problem of war are all tied together. These are the triple evils that are interrelated.”
It is not a matter of right versus left, of Republican versus Democrat. It is a matter of top versus bottom, of haves versus have nots, of corporations versus people.
January 21st, 2008 at 6:18 pmComment by Jenny — January 21, 2008 @ 6:11 pm
LIAR!
January 21st, 2008 at 6:37 pmThe best thing I’ve seeen today.
January 21st, 2008 at 6:57 pmComment by justasking — January 21, 2008 @ 6:49 pm
IGNORE! TROLL!
January 21st, 2008 at 7:06 pmComment by justasking — January 21, 2008 @ 6:51 pm
IGNORE TROLL!
January 21st, 2008 at 7:07 pmComment by justasking — January 21, 2008 @ 6:54 pm
IGNORE! TROLL ALERT!
January 21st, 2008 at 7:07 pmY’all,
JustAnA$$ is a worthless TROLL! IGNORE THIS BASTARD!
January 21st, 2008 at 7:10 pm#31 Jenny– Your comments as to Dr. King’s feelings towards communism and socialism are incorrect.
How often do you stupid Jenny? Every night, each a.m. or just when your brain explodes?
January 21st, 2008 at 7:17 pmI’m sure you’ll delete this post as well, because to you and your ilk, Dr. King is someone you feel entitled to use, to twist his words for your own advantage, just as you would exploit and enslave Americans who are black, just as you would do the same to Americans who are brown or white.
Comment by Jenny — January 21, 2008 @ 6:11 pm
You cannot find a finer racist comment than this. WTF?? “Your ilk?” That’s ’bout racist as it goes!!!
Jenny is a RACIST! White much?
January 21st, 2008 at 7:23 pmBill Clinton drops off to sleep during MLK commemoration
What’s Billy Boy on these days??????????WOW!!
http://hotair.com/ archives/ 2008/ 01/ 21/ video-bill-clinton-drops-off-to-sleep-during-mlk-commemoration/
January 21st, 2008 at 7:39 pmActually “dixie blood”, I’m Wampanoag, a native person for someone as ignorant and uninformed as yourself. Incidently, my husband is Cape Verdean, Portuguese of African descent.. if that is still over your head, he’s black.
Again, the denizens of this board display their bigotry and prejudice, their disdain for freedoms, whether of speech or free thought.
January 21st, 2008 at 7:51 pmjustasking,
I know that King was a brave man, a hero to us all. I remember seeing Dr. King on television when I was a small child. I remember the day he was assasinated, and how it impacted the people in my community.
January 21st, 2008 at 7:56 pmThe only American “cheese” I have ever seen that wasn’t white was yellow. Let’e hope the arrival of the space aliens will unite us all as apparently we can not do it ourselves
January 21st, 2008 at 10:31 pmTo people like Jenny and the other idiots who like to attack rather than reason, I say, remember 9-11. People like you who hate blacks, forget that the terrorist didn’t stop to see what race the people they killed were on 9-11. They simply wanted to kill Americans regardless of race. For fools like you who hate fellow Americans based on race, you are helping the terrorists. They want us to be divided so they can win and you help them with your hate. What’s the difference between you and terrorist, none. You both use hate as a reason to destroy people you don’t like for no good reason. You are all little people, and when I say little, I mean you couldn’t touch the bottom of Dr. Kings shoes if you stood on the highest mountain in the world.
January 21st, 2008 at 10:55 pmJenny, reading your comments and I have to say…
Your perception of the left, passionate as it is, seems to me to be based mostly on bullsh!t.
You accuse the left of ignoring the poor - which political alignment is trying to bring about universal healthcare? Which political alignment is pro social welfare? Which political alignment is pro public schooling?
Which alignment is pro union? Which alignment is pro consumers rights? Which alignment is in favour of government working for you?
Which alignment, when it comes to illegal immigration says punish the guys exploiting illegal labour?
The leftwing. On all of those issues, if you aspouse an ideology in its favour you are taking the leftwing stance.
You talk about communist governments as if they are really leftwing - there is nothing liberal about a government which doesn’t allow freedom of the press, doesn’t allow freedom of religion and doesn’t allow workers’ rights.
You are trying to build a false equivelancy because you want to prevent anything being done about the issues you highlight. By saying “The left is just as bad” you are striving to undermine anybody’s ability to deal with those issues because, when the left proposes a solution that solution gets drowned out under shrieks of “What about XYZ situation.”
You are a moral coward, trying to build this image of the people of this site founded on nothing more than your own wish to make everyone guilty, so that nobody has to pay.
January 22nd, 2008 at 8:24 amAgain, the denizens of this board display their bigotry and prejudice, their disdain for freedoms, whether of speech or free thought.
Comment by Jenny — January 21, 2008 @ 7:51 pm
You’re going to have to include yourself as a denizen, jenny, if all you can come up with are lies and baseless accusations. without the democrats, minorities and women would still be voteless and 2nd-class citizens. republicans as a party have done nothing positive throughout America’s history to help anyone but themselves.
January 22nd, 2008 at 8:56 amLefty
Actually, there was a time when the Republicans did massive amounts of good for America - back when the Republicans were the liberal party.
It would be better to say that conservatism as a movement hasn’t done anything positive throughout America’s history.
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:16 amI think the neo-cons need to hear this. WOW!!! the man was WAY ahead of his time.
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:35 pmTracy2
As opposed to the more expensive model approved by the rightwing: Funding a welfare state for health insurance brokers.
And is best demonstrated by the Blue states having lower poverty levels, higher median incomes and actually costing less on a federal level, than the Red states.
Yeah, and private schools and home schooling doesn’t exist in America already.
Which is a function of the unions making a deal with private industry, and was that a jab at free political speech I detected there?
You mean the way they tell you what you can do with your body if you are female? Or how about who you can and cannot marry if you happen to be Gay? Or how about that whole thing with government forcing a religious worldview on you, you know, with that whole pledge of allegiance you cons are so in favour of.
Yeah, them lib’ruls wanting to give you free healthcare are really the enemy here!
No, conservatives are just for distracting people away from the issue by building a huge fence which won’t work (Because there is this arcane technology called “wire cutters”), to make it look like they take it seriously.
Which is a load of rightwing hysterical BS, which is pretty typical of guys like Tracy who don’t understand taxes, and would much rather pay $20 to have someone rip them off, than $10 to have government provide them with a service.
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:44 am