For those of us who were vibrant and much more than virile in 1968 we vividly recall the tragic events of the Sixties. First, it was the assassination of Martin Luther King followed a few months later with that of Bobby Kennedy. Sad times indeed.
The election of 1968 saw massive rioting but not over the policies of the Republicans. It was the hated Democrat leaders who felt their wrath. The Viet Nam War, Johnson's War, gave Richard Nixon the election. The war and a segregation policies dating to 1955 were brought to a head as we entered the election season of '68.
So, today, January 18, we are celebrating the birthday of Dr. King. I was wondering how he would fit into America's landscape if he were alive. He did preach non-violence. The people, Black and White together, did march for equal civil rights. The marches were a necessity brought on by the Birmingham church bombings and the dastardly attacks of Blacks brought on by Bull Conner with the approval of Alabama Gov. George Wallace. It is so difficult for me to believe that, during my lifetime, Black men and women were not allowed to sit with Whites in restaurants, to use restrooms on an equal basis and had German Shepherd's unleashed on their Black citizenry for trying to exercise their God-given rights..
If you have the time look up and listen to Dr. King's "I Have A Dream Speech". It is dynamic. It is seventeen minutes of the very best of American History. It ranks with the Gettysburg Address. The speech was spoken on the Washington Mall in August of 1963 to over two hundred thousand Americans, Black and White together s one..
Why is it the last seven years has seen a decline in not getting along? Race relations are seemingly at their worst since the 60's. I blame this on a lack of leadership coming from the top. I can recall only one time in the tenure of Barack Obama when he tried to calm a volatile racial situation and it was one brought on by his ill-chosen words. A Harvard professor was locked out of his house. The police say a Black man ( as it turned out a college professor and friend of Obama's) was attempting to 'break in'. The police officer involved stopped and questioned the man. The prof screamed racism. Mr. Obama went on television and told the country the "police acted stupidly".
Mr. Obama then tried to cover his behind by calling for a 'Beer Summit' so the police and the professor could hammer out their differences. As much as I've tried I cannot recall any other episode in which our president has tried to bring the Black and White races together.
I would hope that one day we can find a common ground in recalling the principles or Martin Luther King. Our nation and the people comprising it would be far better off than what we are now experiencing.
In conclusion, I'd like to ask you to give three minutes of your time watching and listening to King's last speech given the night before he was assassinated. .(History says James Earle Ray pulled the trigger. He may have but I am firmly convinced the murder was orchestrated by others http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/275-42/16784-how-the-government-killed-martin-luther-king-jr ). It is his prophetic "I've Been To The Mountaintop" speech. It will leave you with chills. http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+ml+king+speech+'i've+been+to+the+mountain+top&view=detail&mid=3CED8DDE7333B349AF133CED8DDE7333B349AF13&FORM=VIRE4
Where oh where is a Dr. King today? We are anxiously awaiting your return as illustrated by a quote you won't hear today from any Demcrat-Liberal-Progressive-Communist leader:
‘A Just Law Is a Man-Made Code That Squares With…the Law of God'
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