"A time comes when silence is betrayal." MLK 1967

[cantstandbush]

http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/45a/058.html

It took me four attempts to get a site that posted this speech by MLK. Everytime I linked to other sites if locked up my computer.

It's time to send copies of this speech to our Dems in Congress. It's time to have some paid ads in major newspapers that will post this speech. It's time for our military men and women to READ this speech. IT'S TIME TO BREAK THE SILENCE!!!

[JuniperLea]

1. So many have forgotten the true essence of MLK's dream

Are the Dems so afraid of the power wielded by The Bush Regime that they think they would suffer personal consequences if they spoke out? Aren't there more Democrates in this Nation than Republicans?


There is something wrong with this picture.

[Straight Shooter]

2. I have that political button and will be wearing it tomorrow.

I was hiking last year and came across it, lying on the ground. Could not believe my eyes. I keep it in my plain sight in my office.

I do not give one holy damn if Martin Luther King had feet of clay. He is my hero because he had a passionate soul and a heart of gold, and he gave every ounce of his being for his people. Courage. Strength. Love.

[cantstandbush]

3. You said it all. n/t

[hippywife]

12. Feet of clay?

I don't get this statement in reference to Dr. King.

[Straight Shooter]

13. Martin Luther King was not faithful to his marriage vows.

Understandable, considering his charisma, but not wise of him to indulge in such pleasures, particularly concerning his "Reverend" status. Hoover threatened to release proof of King's adultery.

This is what I mean by feet of clay. I honestly don't believe humans have any other kind. :)

[hippywife]

14. I was under the distinct impression that

the whole infidelity thing was a smear campaign drummed up by Hoover and was not accurate. Has proof ever been provided by any reliable source?

[Straight Shooter]

15. The accusations of being a communist were a smear campaign.

But as for the infidelity charges, I never cared one way or the other whether it was true or not; it just didn't matter to me enough to investigate. It isn't something I think of when he comes to mind. Perhaps there is a reliable biography of him which would cover this point.

It's hard to ever be certain with such a famous and charismatic personality, because chances are good that anyone who loves him is going to protect his reputation. Even if I knew personally that he did, I would lie and say no, he didn't.

[robbedvoter]

17. Then WTF even bring it up? As relevant to me as Clinton's.

Why is it that only dems/progressives have their bedrooms stalked - and some of us feel the duty to be defensive about it?
NOYFFB!
None of your f*ing business who's sleeping with whom - OK?
God, I loathe this fishwife mentality - and how easy the wingnuts get us because of it!

[Straight Shooter]

18. Thank you for your calm, reasoned response. n/t

[robbedvoter]

20. Just thought it jarring to bring up such stuff on an homage thread

In fact, it was damn inappropriate and hypocritical. I know a backhanded compliment when I see one. Sorry if I can't abide patronizing attitudes toward MLK!
Also, did I mention you manage to bring down an inspirational topic to base open door for freepers?

[hippywife]

26. Well, then...

why even bring it up in the first place?

I'm not trying to be snotty about it but, given your stream of consciousness on this, I just don't see the point in mentioning it to begin with. :shrug:

[no_more_rhyming]

19. Adultery is a lie.

Although it doesn't have any bearing on a cause, it does reflect poorly on the honesty and integrity of the leader.

[robbedvoter]

22. Glad you dropped by DU to kick MLK! I am sure your perfection

entitles you to such judgements - and we're not worthy!


Thanks for airing your dysfunctions - we truly needed to know about you! In fact, I propose we rename this thread - I'd like to know more about your hystory with adultery. And leadership, of course.

[no_more_rhyming]

23. I am light years from perfect.

I'm only saying that if a person lies to their spouse, they will lie to ANYBODY.

[robbedvoter]

24. And this pile of...mud, is your MLK contribution. Nice to know ya!

Again. so moved you came all the way to DU to share....

[peacebuzzard]

4. Kick for inspiration

[cantstandbush]

5. Thanks and kick again!! n/t

[Terran1212]

6. Listen to it:

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkatimetobreaksilence.htm

[Sydnie]

10. Thank you Terran1212 n/t

[DeepModem Mom]

7. Thank you. nt

[Terran1212]

8. And watch THE BOONDOCKS tonight

King's going to be on it.

There's a clip of it on the boondock's official site. Looks amazing.

[robbedvoter]

25. I did. Mixed bag. Moments of genius with some warbled stuff.

Still, better than other Boondocks.

[Marleyb]

9. Here is a MP3 collection

of the same speech set to peter gabriel's "passion". It's really powerful. Also a partial transcript.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x144376

[Sydnie]

11. thanks for the link. n/t

[peekaloo]

16. "silence means security, silence means approval

on Zenith on the TV, tiger run around the tree
follow the leader, run and turn into butter".

r.e.m.

not meant to be off topic but that quote stirred up those lyrics in my head.


:kick:

[Clara T]

21. "They must see Americans as strange liberators"

They must see Americans as strange liberators. The Vietnamese people proclaimed their own independence in 1945 after a combined French and Japanese occupation, and before the Communist revolution in China. They were led by Ho Chi Minh. Even though they quoted the American Declaration of Independence in their own document of freedom, we refused to recognize them. Instead, we decided to support France in its reconquest of her former colony.

Our government felt then that the Vietnamese people were not "ready" for independence, and we again fell victim to the deadly Western arrogance that has poisoned the international atmosphere for so long. With that tragic decision we rejected a revolutionary government seeking self-determination, and a government that had been established not by China (for whom the Vietnamese have no great love) but by clearly indigenous forces that included some Communists. For the peasants this new government meant real land reform, one of the most important needs in their lives.

<snip>

They watch as we poison their water, as we kill a million acres of their crops. They must weep as the bulldozers roar through their areas preparing to destroy the precious trees. They wander into the hospitals, with at least twenty casualties from American firepower for one "Vietcong"-inflicted injury. So far we may have killed a million of them -- mostly children. They wander into the towns and see thousands of the children, homeless, without clothes, running in packs on the streets like animals. They see the children, degraded by our soldiers as they beg for food. They see the children selling their sisters to our soldiers, soliciting for their mothers.

<snip>

At this point I should make it clear that while I have tried in these last few minutes to give a voice to the voiceless on Vietnam and to understand the arguments of those who are called enemy, I am as deeply concerned about our troops there as anything else. For it occurs to me that what we are submitting them to in Vietnam is not simply the brutalizing process that goes on in any war where armies face each other and seek to destroy. We are adding cynicism to the process of death, for they must know after a short period there that none of the things we claim to be fighting for are really involved. Before long they must know that their government has sent them into a struggle among Vietnamese, and the more sophisticated surely realize that we are on the side of the wealthy and the secure while we create hell for the poor.

http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/45a/058.html