What I Am Doing Today To Honor Dr. King

[Dinger]

I am a fourth grade teacher in northern Wisconsin. My class watched Dr. King's speech, and then wrote their own "I Have A Dream Speech." We had a discussion on the civil rights struggle of the Sixties, and today (I left *'s name out, but it was obvious that it was happening under this misadministration).
We also talked about what civil rights are. At the end of today, the kids will read their speeches, and I will post some here. They are great kids.

P.S. I wore head-to-toe-black because of the deaths of the freedoms under the bu$h "administration," and the future deathsof freedoms that will happen in the next 4 years and beyond.

P.S., P.S. On Thursday, I will give out back ribbons to other teachers . . . you know why

[NVMojo]

1. I am meeting with some Native American people who represent a tribe

that is working to preserve their cultural and sacred sites from a Canadian mining company that recently flew Gale Norton and her other Bush lackeys to the Bilmor in Arizona to tell them how great it is for the feds to give oil, gas and gold mines all the public lands they want with no environmental assessments, limited user fees and let them slip the profit out the asshole of America into their foreign banks.

This tribe remains land locked on tiny colonies throughout Nevada and NV Congressman Jim Gibbons wants to hand YOUR public lands over to the filthy rich oil, gas, and mining industries for next to nothing ...in spite of the fact that the Indians in Nevada have never been given land or any decision making in the process of allowing foreign corporations to rape the land ....sigh ...

[hlthe2b]

2. I pray they will have success in fighting back the greedy exploiters....

but, clearly, they have an uphill battle. If you are a lawyer or other representative for them, bless you and your efforts. I've seen so little justice prevail for native tribes and little interest in their issues, unless there is gambling $$ or something else to exploit. In memory of MLK and his example, I won't say what I am really thinking about gale norton and her ilck. However, may their karma catch up with them, before they destroy all of us....

[NVMojo]

10. the more I learn the more injustice I see ...

you are right, hlthe2b ..

[Dinger]

3. Student Population here is About 40% Native American

Stickbridge-Munsee band of Mohican Indians

[Lisa]

6. it makes me so angry when Canadian corporations do this

As a Canadian, I find it reprehensible. Destroying our neighbour's environment and society, plus disrespecting the First Nations as well. Perhaps some pressure on Canadian politicans might help? If you and your associates let these members of the opposition know what's going on, they could bring it up in Parliament and force our Prime Minister to act on his promise to prosecute corporate criminals, improve our relationship with Americans, and protect the environment. The PM realizes that his government is in a precarious situation, so he'd be more receptive to pressure.

http://ndp.ca/positivechoice

Jack Layton and Ed Broadbent, in particular, have been known to speak out on these kinds of issues.

[NVMojo]

11. Lisa, this is good info and I will pass it along ..

a few of these companies are based out of Vancouver, BC ...

thanks again for your help. This is more helpful than I can say at this point.

Peace!

[hlthe2b]

4. Good job, Dinger.... I also hope that some teachers of the upper grades...

will focus on the speeches of the later years-- AAR has been playing quite a bit this morning. His speeches on the war, social injustice, poverty, and the consequences of a nation spending its fortunes on military rather than its people are so resonating today. Yet, these speeches from 1964 to his death are rarely heard.

While King should be remembered for his contributions towards civil rights, he was in fact, such a visionary and represented so much more. As one who grew up in a time when many whites feared the civil rights movement-- and seeing that the remnants of bigotry still survive in the thinly veiled comments from the "right," I'd dearly like for us to teach the whole of MLK and move beyond the icon that has been created. I never came to understand or totally appreciate MLK until much later in life, as it took some time to move beyond the propaganda that had been diseminated for so long. For that lack of enlightenment in my earlier years, I am truly regretful.

MLK's influences included Gandhi, and like Gandhi, he wanted to see equality and social justice prevail for all, not merely for one segment of the nation's (or the world's) population. Whle MLK spoke out on so many issues throughout his life, it seems that, in death, his contributions "ended" with the "I Have a Dream" speech and ignore the latter 5 years of considerable message and even his earlier contriubutions. To me, that thin sliver of his message does not do true justice to his lifetime contributions and philosophy which so resonates today. That so much of the world looks to King for motivation, for inspiration, for a role model, speaks to the more comprehensive depiction of the man. Sadly, I believe this comprehensive understanding and appreciation for 'the whole of the man' is not widely held by Americans, black or white. I hope some of our teachers will work to reverse that among our youth.

[tgnyc]

5. Great. Also you could talk about his anti-Vietnam War stance.

A montage honoring his stance and relating it to today's events can be seen at www.intelligencesquad.com/id101.html

[FrenchieCat]

7. Dinger.....

I salute you!

Sounds like a great day and great work.

just your humble fan here to recognize a great teacher!

For me, I wasn't so constructive. The Gropernator of California messed up my MLK celebration plans when he chose my church to visit as his only appearance today....him and Jerry Brown (currently Mayor of Oakland). My husband still wanted me to go, but I didn't want to add one more body to whatever crowd was going to be there. I don't like Arnold....and that's that.

On the local news this evening, they showed Arnie kissing a little bit of Oakland black bootey for MLK day. However, I will say that most of my comrades who attended and were interviewed for the news report said that him coming to their church didn't impress them at all.....and that they know that he's still going to cut programs that affect them. Hubby, a Deacon and the personal assistant to the pastor there, took a pic with Arnie and Jerry. He sure is proud of himself (yuk!)(too bad that photo will never find a frame).


WE SHALL OVERCOME....SOME DAY

[Dinger]

8. Thanks Frenchie

My "humble fan"? I am the one who is humbled! Lots of great posters here, many a lot better than me, you are a prime example of that:)

[progressiveright]

9. my friends at work (EMTs)

joked that today all white people should take black people out to dinner.

[NVMojo]

12. actually this was not too bad of an idea....