As I read this pearl of virtual wisdom, my immediate thought was that it is a very clear, very accurate take on the 2012 election process that is currently unfolding before us in the daily news. The end of the political scale that is represented so raggedly by what is left of the Republican Party, and the mislabeled liberal end of the scale who claim to be Democrats, are both engaging in ongoing battles typical of election years, competing to see who can display the deepest ignorance.

The leading candidate for the “loyal opposition” to the party in power, Mr. Romney, seems to have a proclivity for alienating the very people from whom he is trying to win votes; women, immigrants of all faiths, Blacks, Hispanics, animal lovers, Seniors, teachers and students, all have been told, in no uncertain terms, that they matter not at all to him, or to the administration he would create. His plan? We’ll stop taxing the rich altogether, and that will fix everything…. Sometimes I wonder if he is getting all of his information on voter wants and issues of importance from old newspapers from the 1980’s, or the 1890’s,  because he certainly hasn’t a clue as to what is happening in America in this century….

The other party, led by our first Black President, is busy hiding what the left hand is doing by distracting everyone with the tax and healthcare issues, to keep them unaware of how few of the Bill of Rights are left to us. “Executive Orders” signed by the POTUS this year, beginning on New Year’s Eve, while the voters were all busy celebrating the advent of the new year, joined by a Congress on vacation, include provisions that allow police to stop, search, and arrest any citizen of this country whom they suspect of any form of terrorism, or even of protest against the provisions of those orders.

These same police who are arresting their ostensible fellow-citizens are not required to tell ANYONE that they have arrested and imprisoned a citizen, nor are they ever required to provide any evidence of their suspicions in a court of law. Even though there may be no evidence, they can subject these CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY to torture, (!), to obtain a confession, or whatever it is they are after. There is no oversight to these orders; they don’t go before Congress to be approved, nor are they reviewed by the courts. Both of those particular checks on the power of the Executive Branch are completely out of the loop on this…. and they aren’t even complaining about it!

Does it physically hurt to be that stupid? — Smart Bee, aka Anonymous

My guess at the answer to this is, No. It can’t hurt very much to be that stupid, as we continue to go out each time there is an election and vote these same lying, cheating, avaricious assholes back into the same positions from which they have been oppressing the American people for, oh, a hundred or so years now. I’d say that around the time of the Great Depression was when the first real strangle-hold on the national throat was first achieved…. the pure bullshit the government was spewing back then can be seen to have been the first real time that the government’s outrageous lies were swallowed whole by a reluctant public, who had nothing else to eat, and thus nothing else to risk…

“He was born stupid, and greatly increased his birthright.” — Samuel Butler

So, how does it feel? Does it physically hurt to be so stupid as to be part of the crowd that continues to buy into all the bullshit lies that our own government heaps upon us every day? To keep going to the polls, just as if it really matters who gets elected? Get real, folks. You will not find a name on the ballot that belongs to someone who is not a willing tool of the powers of oppression, the money-changers who are the power behind the scenes of every government in the world. Not going to happen; they’ve been the real power in the world for centuries, and they’re not about to give up all they have, just to be nice, or because they’ve all of a sudden grown a heart.

I don’t know about you, but I’m getting pretty fucking tired of being lied to, and cheated, and looked at as just another idiot for them to shit on….. and I’m not going to put up with it for much longer, without some kind of return fire….. Believe it….

I don’t think I am alone in this, either…. No way to tell for sure, but I find it hard to believe that EVERYONE is falling for all of it…. but, even if I’m alone in this, I refuse to knuckle under any further, and can only say that I will do all I can to see things turn in a direction that will return my Rights, and those of the rest of the American people…. or at least those not stupid enough to hand them over without a fight….

“He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.

 In 1955, he received his Ph.D. on Philosophy in Systematic Theology. After school, he became the pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church for five years. After Rosa Park’s heroic refusal to give up her bus seat to a white man, Martin Luther King Jr. aided in a Montgomery Bus system boycott. Elected as the president of the Montgomery Improvement Society, he became the official spokesman for the boycott. He was charged for conspiring to ruin the bus company and was arrested and jailed. Though at the time this seemed like a small step towards racial equality, Martin Luther King had laid down the foundation of a revolution.

A year later, congress ruled bus segregation as unconstitutional. Martin Luther King Jr. proceeded to start the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) to fight segregation and racism. On a speaking tour, King met with President Eisenhower on the racism that affected African Americans. This tour, however, was cut short when King was stabbed by an unruly crowd goer, but this injury was not lethal. In 1959, King resigned from Dexter Avenue Baptist Church to study Gandhi’s work in India.

While in India, Dr. King founded the idea of his essential society, or the ‘beloved community’. For a while, liberal theology attracted him. These principles included keeping an open heart and mind, refusing to abandon a logical decision, and devotion to the truth. He returned a new and determined man. Moving to Atlanta, Georgia with his family, King became the co-pastor at his father’s church, Ebenezer Baptist Church.

He made the connection through his speeches and sermons that children of God committed acts of violence against other children of God. He firmly believed that through the church and God, racism could be overcome. In a sermon, he proclaimed, “I am…the son of a Baptist preacher, the grandson of a Baptist preacher, and the great grandson of a Baptist preacher. The Church is my life, and I have given my life to the Church.” King began to organize sit-in protests in restaurants, demanding to be waited on. He was arrested and sentenced to four months in jail, but was released after President Kennedy and Robert Kennedy appealed for his freedom. Meanwhile, an increased number of threats were being made on Dr. King’s life.  His house was bombed and it seem as though every day he received more and more angry phone calls. On April 13th, 1963, the Birmingham Campaign was launched. The Birmingham campaign was a movement organized by the SCLC to bring awareness to the violent and unfair treatment of African Americans. This proved to be a turning point in the war against racism, as Birmingham, Alabama, was an extremely racially divided city. The goal of the Birmingham Campaign, or Project C, was to organize sit-ins and marches that would provoke mass arrests. The protestors, however, were met with more than just being arrested. The police chief, “Bull” Connor, ordered the fire department to spray protestors, children, and bystanders with high-powered fire hoses. Journalists at the site of the protest published pictures that shocked many Americans and politicians, who reacted by joining in the fight for racial equality.

 In 1964 Dr. King received a mixed acceptance from both blacks and whites. He was named Man of the Year by Time Magazine and appeared on the front cover of the magazine. However, while in Harlem a group of black Muslims attempted to stone him. Dr. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on December 10, 1964. After President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Martin Luther King Jr. began to turn his attention to the socioeconomic conditions of African Americans. He moved into a Chicago slum to protest the impoverished conditions of the blacks living there. On November 17, 1967 Dr. King began the Poor People’s Campaign to protest job and housing discrimination of all races.

Though Martin Luther King Jr.’s protests were promoting peace, April 4th, 1968 showed that peace is sometimes returned as violence. While standing on the balcony of a hotel in Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. King was struck down by a sniper’s bullet. He died within hours of the attack. The killer was found to be James Earl Ray, a convicted criminal. On the day of the funeral, nearly 100,000 people watched the procession as Martin Luther King Jr.’s body was marched through the street. Though a hero has died, his legacy would live on forever.

            Throughout time, racism has affected many countries, and many races of people. Martin Luther King Jr. was able to learn from other activists, and even inspire young men and women to join the protest against racism.

In 1959, Martin Luther King Jr. saw how whites looked at colored people with pure loathing. He saw the violence, the racism, and the hurt. King had heard many times about the peaceful protests of Mahatma Gandhi, so he travelled to India, where he could learn about these methods. While in India, he realized that rather than fight the black oppression with violence, he could use peaceful means to gain peaceful acceptance. Gandhi remained peaceful throughout his protests, no matter who beat him and spat upon him. Through these peaceful means, Gandhi achieved his goals and even inspired others, like King, to live through peace. When King returned to Atlanta, Georgia, he had a new determination to end the white’s hatred with love and non-violence.

            Another black activist, Bayard Rustin, began his work just a few years before Dr. King was born. He believed in non-violent protest, and participated in many of the groups and protests that inspired Martin Luther King Jr.. He influenced King greatly and molded him in to the peaceful man that we know him as today. However, he also advocated for gay and lesbian rights. This fact alone caused many of King’s followers to discourage King from associating himself with Rustin. Though Rustin was most likely criticized more than any other activist of the era, it is known that he greatly furthered the rights and acceptance of black, gays and lesbians.

            After the Montgomery bus boycott, African American students began to grow disgruntled with the way they were treated, and furthermore restless to advocate for their civil rights. A group of four young students, the Greensboro four as they are known today, targeted a store in downtown Greensboro. After buying their groceries at Woolworths, they sat down at the lunch counter and ordered coffee. The lunch attendant, a young black man, uncomfortably explained that he could not serve them, that he would be fired if he did. Eventually the store manager called the police. The policeman paced back and forth behind the counter, but it was obvious that he didn’t know what to do. Eventually he left, and the four stayed until the store closed. This may seem like a simple and small demonstration, but once word spread, black students everywhere flooded to Woolworths to sit at the counter and be served.

White customers spat on them, beat them, and poured flour over their heads, but the students remained passive until they were arrested. Even white students who challenged their parents’ ideals participated in the sit-ins. Eventually, the movement spread to surrounding towns in North Carolina such as Durham, Raleigh, and Charlotte.

            Martin Luther King Jr. had created a domino effect. He was inspired by Gandhi, Rustin, and numerous other philosophers who he had studied. In turn, with every protest, he urged others to join the peaceful fight against racism. Inspiration alone caused the civil rights movement to advance. And still today, Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy inspires us to take a stand and fight for what we believe.

            When comparing modern day society to the early and mid 1900’s, it’s easy to say that we have come a long way from the racism and violence that dominated Martin Luther King Jr.’s era. But this progress was only made because of the dedicated men and women that fought for change, even giving their lives.

Dr. King taught people to accept others of different races as if they were the same; he showed people how to overcome racism. But his work reached beyond just the color of someone’s skin. He taught us how to open our eyes and see not what is most apparent, but what connects two people as humans. Martin Luther King Jr.’s protests urged congress to pass the Voting Rights Act, the Civil Rights Acts, and enforce police protection for black at the voting polls. African Americans began to vote more, gaining influence in society. Blacks were steadily appearing more often in branches of the government, and as their popularity grew, other African American men and women were inspired to participate in congress and town meetings.

 In 1963, Robert C. Weaver was elected as the first black man on the Cabinet of Lyndon B. Johnson. Thurgood Marshall became the first African American on the supreme court in 1967, when he was appointed Supreme Court Justice. All around, progress was being made. Today, it is still easy to see the effects of Martin Luther King Jr.. We have a black president, Barack Obama…this fact alone is proof. Yet without Dr. King, and the racial revolution that he inspired, the oppression would have continued for much longer than the late 1900’s. Eric H. Holder would never have been appointed Attorney General, and schools would still be denying black children the right to learn alongside white children.

But today, with the progress made, and the revolution that has taken place, society has undergone a massive racial reform. Oprah Winfrey has made her livelihood simply because the American society loves her and looks past the color of her skin. Tiger Woods has achieved fame through the support of his fans, a mixed audience of blacks and whites. The United States has become a little more peaceful, simply because one man said, “Enough.”

Martin Luther King Jr.: Transforming

The Civil Rights Movement

            Many aspects of our society provide
us with a constant reminder of Martin Luther King Jr.’s significance in fighting
for African American equality.  Most
urban areas in the United States have named a major street after Dr. King, and
our country has even taken the liberty to name a holiday after him.  But why exactly is Martin Luther King Jr.
given so much credit for the civil rights movement, and the deterioration of
segregation?  The answer is that he
implemented strategies that no one else was willing to try; and as a result,
the national outlook on race, class, and ethnicity was changed forever.

            During the 1950’s a racial war was
raging within the boundaries of America. 
African American citizens, especially in the South, faced unbelievable
oppression of segregation, lynching, and bombing of their structures
(Bermanzohn, 2000).  Much of these
hideous acts were either created or influenced by the white supremacy group
known as the “Ku Klux Klan.”  Perhaps the
most devastating fact of this brutal time period was the U.S. government
failures to implement any kind of force against these hate crimes.      

            Due to the lack of help from the law
enforcement, many blacks in the South were forced to prepare themselves for
self-defense.  In the article Violence,
Nonviolence, and the Civil Rights Movement Robbie Johnson discusses the measures that black families took for
defense:

            “For my family, the greatest fear was a
surprise attack by a group, by the Klan, that

would have
overwhelming force and drag people from the house. To protect

themselves,
families like mine tried to have a lot of sons, and teach them how to

use weapons. My
kinfolk lived in houses that were within shouting distance of

each other, so
they could gather in time of need. Our house was at the end of a

long road that
led off the main highway, and everyone kept dogs in the yard. By

the time anyone
got down that road, everybody knew who they were, what they

were, and why
they were coming. This close network provided a common defense

for ordinary
occasions. But if a concerted effort came against one family, then it

could be a shoot out.”

  Johnson’s
testimony paints a remarkably detailed picture of the urgency felt by the
African American community at the time.

            In 1955 things began to change with
the discovery of a new young leader of the black community.  At this time, Martin Luther King Jr. made his
first effort towards racial equality by leading a bus boycott in Montgomery
Alabama (Bermanzohn, 2000).  The idea was
sparked after local woman, Rosa Parks, refused to give up her seat on a city
bus.  Through the leadership of Dr. King,
African Americans in Montgomery went a full year without riding the city bus,
using any other form of transportation. 

            The significance of this boycott is
that it represented one of the first of many non-violent protests lead by Dr.
King.  Using the demonstrations of
India’s Gandhi, Dr. King decided that non-violent protests were the only way to
effectively show their determination for freedom (Bermanzohn, 2000).  Few considered protesting their oppression in
a peaceful manner, but Dr. King understood that physical acts of retaliation
could further degrade the situation.  From
this point on, the majority of protests during the civil-rights movement were
conducted with non-violent strategies implemented by Martin Luther King Jr.

            According to Barbara Allen, Dr. King
understood constitutionalism and how it affected the freedoms of his
people.  The existing federal
constitution represented a system based on legalities, available for
manipulation, instead of morals (Allen, 2000). 
Dr. King used his movements to convince the American people that a more
covenantal constitution should be implicated. 
Allen states that “The covenant
tradition shows, a commitment to constitutionalism (”the idea of limited
government and limitations on governors”) emerges as a defining political
element of modern covenant-based polities.” 
What this means is that constitutionalism during the 1950’s transformed
into a government with little limitations; which was not its intended purpose.  Dr. King’s goal was to bring America back to
its original intention of allowing freedom from institutionalized constraints.

            Martin
Luther King Jr. held many other protests throughout the late 50’s and early
60’s, but the most significant one was the “March on Washington” in 1963.  During this historical event, Dr. King gave
perhaps the most monumental speech by an African American, known as “I Have a
Dream.”  In this speech he talked heavily
about the importance of the black community to not live in anger, but to
continue to congregate peacefully.  More
importantly, Dr. King reminded America that:

“When the architects of our republic wrote the
magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they
were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir.
This note was the promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men,
would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness.”

This statement relates to Barbara J. Field’s notion
that race is not a physical characteristic, but a social perception.  How? 
By Dr. King reminding us that we are all created equally as humans, but
some groups have manipulated others over time. 

            Since
the time of the Civil Rights Movement and Martin Luther King Jr,, America has
experienced a vast amount of change.  We
now see that schools are no longer segregated and a person of any color is
welcome in any public area.  There has
also been a change in the role of gender. 
Women have become equal to men, and spend just as much time out in the
workforce.  Thus, we can determine that
the efforts of Dr. King and his companions have helped pave the way to the
world that we live in today.

            With
the changes that have been seen in the society of our nation, it is tempting to
conclude that the idea of perceiving someone as different no longer
exists.  Unfortunately, the conflicts of
racial differences are still in effect to this day.  As mentioned in Paul Spickard’s Racial Thinking in the United States,
Americans still put labels on people due to their physical features.  An example of this would be referring to
someone as “black” when they have an African American mother and a White
father.  Sadly these labels, or
perceptions, still create stereotypes which can inhibit one’s ability to get a
job or have a fair trial.  Despite the
existing imperfections in the American society, it is important to remember the
efforts of Dr. King and the improvements that followed them. 

            In
conclusion, Marin Luther King Jr. was an African American leader who fought for
the equality of all humans in America. 
He was one of the first African Americans to use a unique style of large
non-violence protests to persuade the country back to its original
intentions.  Dr. King believed that
American constitutionalism had become to corrupt and that a covenantal style of
government should be enforced to create more individual freedom for
everyone.  He used his leadership in
boycotts to help voice the opinion of the African American community, but his
speech “I have a dream” stopped the country in its tracks.  Now this country has seen the progression of
Dr. King’s dream and minorities can enjoy a positive life.  However, there is still work to do to remove
stereotypical labels that have damaging effects on individual lives.  Most importantly, Martin Luther King Jr.
taught the future generations to pursue their dreams no matter the cost.  We all have a dream, but are we willing to
take the risk?

References

Allen, Barbara. “Martin
Luther King’s Civil Disobedience and the American Covenant      Tradition.” Publius 30.4
(2000): 71-113

Bermanzohn, Sally A.
“Violence, NonViolence, and the Civil Rights Movement.” New
Political Science 22.1 (2000): 31-48.

Fields, Barbara J.
“Ideology and Race in American History.” Region, Race, and
Reconstruction (1983): 143-77.

King Jr., Martin L. “I
Have a Dream Speech.” Essential Documents: I Have a Dream (2009):
1-3

Spickard, Paul, and Reginald Daniel. Racial Thinking
in the United States. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame, 2004

            This is a brief list of the top five Writers on Triond that I admire a lot and truly respect the work they produce. They are the top 5 legend writers of Triond and of course I am nothing special. These are just the opinions of a fellow writer.

            I have also inserted each writers link to their main page for you viewing pleasure.

1.     TonyLeather: (From Lancashire, United Kingdom) 2 of my most favorite articles written by TonyLeather are “The Dream Did Not Die”, which was a tribute to the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and was touchingly crafted through words of heartfelt passion and “Titanic Cover Up”, which went to great detail of that tragic day of April 14th 1912.

http://www.triond.com/users/tonyleather

I believe through the words of TonyLeather you can truly feel his heart. Kudos to You Tony and I am looking forward to reading more.

2.     Ulterman: (Location unknown) Ulsterman is defiantly one of the greats on Triond. His news savvy articles have informed us all. Go to his page and you will learn more than you would have ever thought you would need to learn. Liberal or Conservative? I will leave you to decide (wink).  

http://www.triond.com/users/Ulsterman

3.     Aerith: (Scotland, United Kingdom) Aerith is so incredibly creative it’s hard to describe with plain words. At such a young age Aerith is well on her way to greatness and success! The following are some of my favorite poems/articles that Aerith has written: “Saying Farewell” and “The World is Beautiful”. Read them for yourself and you be the judge.

http://www.triond.com/users/Aerith

4.     Britwalkz: (Virginia, United States) Again, another young writer that has amazed even me. Her ideals and perspectives of writing continually inspire me every time I read one of her articles. Two of which are “How I get Referrals” and “Force Writing *Writer’s Block*” Now, I do not really believe in “Writer’s Block” per-say, but I do believe in “Writer’s Burn-Out”, but the way Britwalkz describes this method of getting out of “Writer’s Block” is geniuses!

http://www.triond.com/users/britwalkz

5.     VisionToPonder: (Idaho, United States) VisionToPonder’s real name is Sammy and she is been writing for quite some time now. 2 of my favorite pieces that she as written are “I’ll Save This Sadness” and “A Dream, a Nightmare, and Reality”. The second one is entry to a school contest and is by far one the most inspiring and crafty written pieces I have read in a long time.

http://www.triond.com/users/VisionsToPonder

Happy Wednesday To All!

Today is the day that we take control of our lives! I thought about Malcom yesterday on the 47th anniversary of his death, I just couldn’t find the words to say. So I’d like to focus today’s Daily Two Cents on doing what is necessary by any means! Martin Luther King once said “If you are not willing to die for what you believe in, then you are not fit to live.” That quote can be interpreted as a little harsh, but sometimes the truth hurts. It is a simple testament to what Martin and Malcom stood for- the ultimate sacrifice of going out on a limb even when the goal isn’t popular to make your dreams reality.

What are you willing to die for? Everyday that HE allows us to continue breathing is a blessing in and of itself. Today, at least try to do what is necessary to become more! 

Do your best then do better! When we push ourselves and let go of our dead weight, we’d be surprised at how far we can climb. No matter what your circumstances are today, HE has given you another shot! Reach out and grab what you deserve by any means necessary!

- Mankine

Malcom & Martin Debate Video: http://realiveinterviews.webs.com/apps/videos/videos/show/15958713-martin-luther-king-and-malcolm-x-debate-

“It is no use saying, ‘We are doing our best.’ You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary.” -Winston Churchill

“Risk is essential. There is no growth in staying within what is safe and comfortable. Once you find out what you do best, why not try something else?” -Alex Noble

“Don’t lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations. Expect the best of yourself, and then do what is necessary to make it a reality.”-Ralph Marston

“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” -St. Francis of Assisi

“There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, heartbreak, and loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time.” -Malcolm X

“A true champion, face to face with his darkest hour, will do whatever it takes to rise above. You must fight, and fight, and then fight some more.” -Kenny Powers

“If you think you can win, you can. Faith is necessary to victory.” -William Hazlitt

“Take the first step, and your mind will mobilize all its forces to your aid. But the first essential is that you begin. Once the battle is startled, all that is within and without you will come to your assistance.” -Robert Collier

I’m praying that the culture will wake up and take a stand. They should hug and love one another and leave the violence be. Its time to act with intelligence and make something out of nothing. Growth is what is needed and I’m quite disappointed at the lack of pride in our culture. Hating one another and not knowing why is just obsurb. Be humble and let the world know that you are here and have something to offer. Stop sitting back and blaming all your down falls on white America. Take a stand and take it today.

You can be something look at Tyler Perry, Denzel Washington, Maya Angelou or Fred Price. Come on people if there’s no jobs lets create them. Hire the experience but help your brothers or sisters out. Its time to make our presence known. I agree with diversity but guys its our month and I’m trying to encourage my people to feel proud of it. Walk with your head up and not down because your rent is behind. Pray and ask God to give you strength to carry on. African American is nothing I’m ashamed of. Some may not like being called African American. I’m proud of where we are today. Thank God no more water hose spraying of dog attacks on our people. I know that there is some sort of racism going on but not like it use to. Its time to stand up tall!

A little dedication to my people and encouragement for them that’s all I’m saying. They need some encouragement because many have given up and don’t believe they are wise and important. We are good people and will bring change! And please don’t believe that Obama did not bring any change because he did and he will continue too. Thanks for reading and stay blessed!

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.-One Dream Still Waiting for Be Fulfilled

One of the most famous speeches from Martin Luther King Jr was on August 28th 1963, where he had professed his dream that all people no matter which race would be considered equal. A dream which was the noble of thoughts and a dream that really still has not been yet to fulfilled to the extent that Dr. King may have envisioned.

In many ways, we have come a long way since the 1960s, but in other ways, society still is rather not equal for many ways. There is still a great deal of mistrust regarding certain races, which can lead to discrimination. Even if we just sit right inside the bubble of the United States and do not rather go outside of the borders, there are going to be a lot of issues involving discrimination.

People of a different skin color might not have to use a separate water fountain or move to the back of the bus any longer, but it would be foolish to think that there is not some form of discrimination going on in this country.  We might be all humans, but pride tends to be a downfall where we cannot truly admit our equality.  

And when we extend beyond the United States, then we really hit a powder keg of insanity involving racism. And going beyond the color of skin, there are religion, wealth, and many other things that people are judged upon, that indicates that equality and freedom is not something that is going to come across rather easily. Most certainly here in the United States but elsewhere around the world.

And equality is something that most do want, but the problem is, relations tend to be tense at best between different races. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said that he had a dream and it is a dream that is shared by many. It is one dream that will keep people reaching for the stars, for some golden promise, that has ambitious lofty aims, perhaps too much so.

In the end, for all of the advancements that people have made, we still are rather stuck in our ways. We are all share the fact that we are living breathing people. Yet that fact is lost on some.

That is the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., where we will be all equal.

Is that dream still alive?

A question that may never be answered properly I’m sure.

Monday, January 16, 2011 will be the twenty-sixth celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the United States. The holiday was first celebrated on January 20, 1986 following the bill that was signed three years earlier by President Ronald Reagan. In 1992, President George H. W. Bush proclaimed the holiday to be held on the third Monday in January. Surprisingly, it wasn’t until January 17th of 2000 that the holiday was observed by all fifty states. The last states to recognize the holiday were Utah, Arizona and New Hampshire.

Many people have a vague knowledge of his role in the civil rights movement, and most have heard parts of his famous, “I Have a Dream” speech. What many people aren’t familiar with are the many awards and acknowledgments of respect that were bestowed upon Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during his life. He was awarded over fifty honorary degrees from colleges, both in the United States and overseas. He was given the American Liberties Medallion by the American Jewish Committee and the Margaret Sanger award by the Planned Parenthood Federation. Perhaps the culmination of his award path was his being the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis and was posthumously awarded a Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. But it could be said that none of the awards or laurels he has received rise to that of the national holiday in recognition for his service to the country. Take a moment on the third Monday in January to learn a bit about this great American and understand his contribution to the people.

Image via Wikipedia

Born in Atlanta, Georgia on January 15th, 1929, King was destined for greatness from the very beginning, it seems. By the time he was 15, he was already going to college. By the time he was 26, King was already an ordained pastor and had earned a doctorate in theology.

Married at 24 to Coretta Scott, the King family consisted of Dr. and Mrs. King and four children.

Though the degrees King held and at what age he earned them, these are minimal accomplishments compared to his place in our nation’s history. In the short time that King led the civil rights movement, more of an impact was made than in the entire time period prior.

“On the 25th anniversary of the King Federal Holiday, we still have work to do to realize Dr. King’s dream.  MLK Day of Service is the perfect time for Americans to answer Dr. King’s challenge to do something for others.  Just as Dr. King set big goals and focused relentlessly on results, we need sustained citizen action to address today’s social challenges.”

Just as he did in his life, the holiday honoring his service is our nation’s call to action for individuals. This Day of Service has grown into an organized and important day for Americans to do something to help in their communities and make the country better overall.

“The MLK Day of Service is a way to transform Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and teachings into community action that helps solve social problems. That service may meet a tangible need, or it may meet a need of the spirit. On this day, Americans of every age and background celebrate Dr. King through service projects that strengthen communities, empower individuals, bridge barriers, and create solutions.”

If you’re interested in finding projects to do on this national day of service, you can easily find projects to participate in for your community.

Dr. King participated in numerous non-violent protests in the name of civil rights, including bus boycotts, protesting the arrest of Rosa Parks, and countless other non-violent protests. He was pivotal in turning the civil rights movement into results. Because of his deication to civil rights, he was arrested a total of 30 times.

Toward the end of his life, his goals encompassed more than only civil rights.

His most famous speech is, “I have a dream,” which can be found online on the American Rhetoric web site. Full text and audio are available for Dr. King’s most famous speech.

“While Dr. King preached about justice, empowerment, love and peace, in the final months of his life, his attention was turned to fighting poverty. Sadly, more Americans live in poverty today than during Dr. King’s lifetime. Forty-seven million Americans currently fall below the poverty line.”

I’m sure that King would’ve had the same impact on the United States and the world had he not been assassinated, but the details of his death drive his point and message home with a force to be reckoned with. On April 4th, 1968, a white segregationalist named James Earl Ray shot Dr. King in cold blood. Ray was too late – King had already made an unstoppable impact and changed the course of history before his death, and his assassination just made him a more beloved leader.

“During the less than 13 years of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s leadership of the modern American civil rights movement, from December 1955 until April 4, 1968, African Americans achieved more genuine progress toward racial equality than the previous 350 years had produced.” (From The Martin Luther King Jr. Center)

This is amazing progress by any standards, and Dr. King is the man responsible for pushing the movement in a forward direction to making a difference in society and the American culture. A successful, wise, and strong person from the very start. Dr. King is an integral part of our history and worked to drive his message home to everyone, raising the sympathy, understanding, and values of society.

The best way to honor Dr. King and his incredible impact on our lives is to participate in a community service or volunteer project on Monday, January 16th, which marks the 25th anniversary of the holiday.

       These are very inspiring words emphasizing that hate can never drive out hate. Hatred can be vanquished only by love. We must get rid of this very pernicious emotion  that has caused so many wars. There are numberless  ancient epics in almost all parts of the world,  where  we find that hatred of one person toward another has resulted in a lot of  bloodshed. 

In the 20th century,  some of  the most tragic murders-  the assassination of  Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., President John F. Kennedy, Mrs. Indira Gandhi and her son

Image via Wikipedia

 Gandhi- are testimony to the brutal fact that we are living in a barbarous age. These world-famous dignitaries were murdered due to hatred. This is absolutely certain that unless we control the emotion of  hatred, we will never get inner peace. If you hate any person, you are in fact saddening your life  much more than that of  your adversary. Dr.Martin Luther King Jr aptly says: “We’ve learned to fly the air like birds, we’ve learned to swim the seas like fish, and yet we haven’t learned to walk the earth as brothers and sisters.”

It will be very useful if keep in mind these noble words by the Nobel Laureate W. B. Yeats: “”And intellectual hatred is the worst,/ So let her think opinions are accursed.” This is a very impressive advice by the poet to his daughter. “For arrogance and hatred are the waves / Peddled in the thoroughfares.”