Happy MLK Day

William Haskins · Jan 14, 2007

"Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see. "
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., The Measure of a Man, 1958

"On some positions, Cowardice asks the question, "Is it safe?" Expediency asks the question, "Is it politic?" And Vanity comes along and asks the question, "Is it popular?" But Conscience asks the question "Is it right?" And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must do it because Conscience tells him it is right." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

billythrilly7th · Jan 14, 2007

He was truly a great man.

'Nuff said.

CBeasy · Jan 14, 2007

Awesome reason for a thread Haskins. Tomorrow is truly and underrated holiday and MLK is an underrated man. It's only very rarely the world is treated to a being of his caliber, and unfortunately we're usually robbed of them too soon by some nut job. Apparently, this is society's way of reacted to anyone who pushes us to uncomfortable confrontations with our belief structure and our actions. The rest of can only hope to follow their example and perhaps our combined efforts might make half the splash they did by alone.

William Haskins · Jan 15, 2007

Unique · Jan 15, 2007

>''<

Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.
~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Jean Marie · Jan 15, 2007

A great man before his time.

dancingandflying · Jan 15, 2007

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
Martin Luther King, Jr.

A truly unappreciated day and man. Many people, when asked about Martin Luther King, Jr., all they know is that "he had a dream." He did so much fighting for liberty and justice to make everyone a little more free. We should all follow in his footsteps when we see something unjust. And yet, we usually just let it go.

Alice.

William Haskins · Jan 15, 2007

it's funny how, as a culture, we throw around the term "courage" when some spoiled celebrity admits to an addiction, or a pro athlete plays with pain...

this man had courage that most people lack the capacity to even measure.

i can only hope history preserves that fact and that he can inspire such courage as humanity moves forward through its hateful and bloody evolution.

dancingandflying · Jan 15, 2007

William Haskins, amen.

Alice.

paprikapink · Jan 15, 2007

The underappreciation may be generational. My kids (9 and 12) are so into Martin Luther King, Jr. The think it's particularly uncool if their teacher happens to be unfair in the week leading up to the MLK 3-day weekend.

In San Francisco's Yerba Buena Gardens there's a beautiful tribute to MLK. My mom lives near there and it's one of our special stops when we visit Grandma. It's a fountain that you walk under -- water is rushing and roaring all around you as you stroll along a walkway lined with the words to the I Have a Dream speech. By the time you've walked through and read, the splashing water makes good cover for your tears.

SpookyWriter · Jan 15, 2007

William Haskins said:
it's funny how, as a culture, we throw around the term "courage" when some spoiled celebrity admits to an addiction, or a pro athlete plays with pain...

this man had courage that most people lack the capacity to even measure.

i can only hope history preserves that fact and that he can inspire such courage as humanity moves forward through its hateful and bloody evolution.

And after fifty thousand years you'd think we would be past the need to differentiate between peoples of any color.

Kate Thornton · Jan 15, 2007

Bravo, Mr. Haskins.

I posted a message about MLK & writers on my blog today. He changed my world.

tourdeforce · Jan 15, 2007

A great man at just the right time.

While tragic and unforgiveable, I wonder if his death was more valuable to his cause than any work that he could have done in later years.

Maybe it was the sobering wake up call that America needed in order to get serious about living together.

Jcomp · Jan 15, 2007

Have a happy day all. I shouldn't be here, I should be at our city's annual MLK march, but it's 30-something degrees out, & I'm just conquering a cold. Sorry Martin...

William Haskins · Jan 15, 2007

tourdeforce said:
While tragic and unforgiveable, I wonder if his death was more valuable to his cause than any work that he could have done in later years.

interesting that you should mention that. my 8 year old son was watching over my shoulder when i posted the original thread and asked: "what do you think the world would be like if he was still alive today?"

it was a good question and, upon reflecting on it, the cynic in me said that things might actually be worse as regards race relations.

his assassination, as you say, was tragic and unforgiveable, but it was a symbolic wake-up call in a very important way.

anyway, thanks for the responses. as a white kid in louisiana during a time when jim crow still cast a long shadow, learning about dr. king was pivotal for me.

Jcomp · Jan 15, 2007

tourdeforce said:
While tragic and unforgiveable, I wonder if his death was more valuable to his cause than any work that he could have done in later years.

I think it achieved some short term galvanization, but in the long run we'd definitely be better off if he had lived on. My opinion.

William Haskins · Jan 15, 2007

Jcomp said:
I think it achieved some short term galvanization, but in the long run we'd definitely be better off if he had lived on. My opinion.

there can be no doubt that he still had great things in him. i just wonder if time would have eroded his message and he would have suffered, rather than physical assassination, character assassination. like so many great people who die too young, he will forever be a man of his time and represent a unique moment in history.

SpookyWriter · Jan 15, 2007

William Haskins said:
there can be no doubt that he still had great things in him. i just wonder if time would have eroded his message and he would have suffered, rather than physical assassination, character assassination. like so many great people who die too young, he will forever be a man of his time and represent a unique moment in history.

The greatness of what never happened in a way continues to inspire the thoughts of those who wonder "What if he had lived today?".

Unique · Jan 15, 2007

The greatness of what never happened - is our responsibility today.

tourdeforce · Jan 15, 2007

William Haskins said:
i just wonder if time would have eroded his message and he would have suffered, rather than physical assassination, character assassination.

I have no doubt that he would have been the repeated target of smear campaigns and subject to scandals both real and manufactured.

SpookyWriter · Jan 15, 2007

Unique said:
The greatness of what never happened - is our responsibility today.

Let's not forget the dream, ever. And take his message into our daily lives. The precept of humanity should never be colored with hatred and division; without a dream, or an affirmation to each other that we are all brothers and sisters in the cause of a common destiny.

NeuroFizz · Jan 15, 2007

Maybe Little Fizzy and Fizzette's generation will get it right. Or at least make it better. MLK pointed the way.

Bravo · Jan 15, 2007

was MLK's greatness recognized at the time by the media?

anyone know how he was perceived?

William Haskins · Jan 15, 2007

check out the second pic in the OP.

Bravo · Jan 15, 2007

i know.

im thinking mainstream though.

after all, protesters before the iraq war were able to gather those sorts of crowds also, doesnt mean they were perceived well.

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