John Lewis: What would Martin Luther King Jr. say to President Obama?

[flpoljunkie]

He would say that Obama’s election represents a significant step toward laying down the burden of race, but that this task is not yet complete. The election of 2008 was a major down payment on Dr. King’s dream, but it did not fulfill it. When one member of Congress calls the president a “tar baby” on a radio show and when another cries out “You lie!” during a State of the Union address, it is more than clear that we still do not understand the need to respect human dignity despite our differences.

Dr. King would tell this young president to do what he can to end discrimination based on race, color, religious faith and sexual orientation. He would say that righteous work makes its own way. There is no need to put a finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing. There is no need to match each step to the latest opinion poll. The people of this country recognize when a leader is trying to do what is right. Take a stand, he would say. Go with your gut. Let the people of this country see that you are fighting for them and they will have your back.

There will be opposition, and it might become ugly. Dr. King faced frequent threats on his life and the bombing of his home, and he and his family were in constant danger. He had no protection beyond his faith. But he believed in the power of the truth to expose what is wrong in America. He often quoted the notion that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” And the reason it does is because of the central goodness of humankind.

Martin Luther King Jr. believed that once people heard the truth, their tendency to bend toward what is right would pave the way for goodness to prevail. And it still can.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/what-would-mlk-say-to-president-obama/2011/08/25/gIQAPmwygJ_story.html

[david_vincent]

1. Self delete

[ladjf]

2. "Stop supporting the "rich" and start looking out for the interests

of all the other Americans." nt

[racaulk]

3. That's my Congressman!

:applause:

K&R!

[Empowerer]

4. So many people feel qualified to talk about what Dr. King would say or would do.

Our beloved John Lewis, a great and humble man, is one of the few people on earth with the authority to actually do so.

Thank you, Congressman.

[cherokeeprogressive]

5. Anyone who thinks they can speak for Dr. King should be shunned by the press and then banned

from coverage forever.

The very notion that someone thinks they can speak for one of the most influential men who ever lived is the height of arrogance and ignorance.

"Dr. King would tell..." fuck that makes me want to vomit.

[Empowerer]

6. Do you know anything about John Lewis?

I think if you did, you might not respond in this way.

[cherokeeprogressive]

7. I have all the respect in the world for Rep. Lewis. Always have.

I just chafe at the notion that ANYONE can speak for someone else as if the words coming out of their mouth were actually coming from the mouth of the dead.

It's been 40+ years since Dr. King's death. No one alive could know what would be in his mind today well enough to say "Dr. King would tell him...". I'll stand by that, no matter what John Lewis says.

[Number23]

8. Ye Gods. I actually agree with you

They really need a "fainting dead" smiley around here...

[cherokeeprogressive]

9. See, there is hope for me yet... n/t

[Empowerer]

11. I understand you disagreeing with Rep. Lewis, but am surprised that anyone who respects him

would accuse him of being "arrogant and ignorant" and would use the language you used in your post in reference to him.

You might believe that no one, including Rep. Lewis, should speak for Dr. King, but I think your attack on him is over-the-top and unwarranted.

[cherokeeprogressive]

12. My words were not intended to disrespect Rep. Lewis in any way.

I've seen many times where this person or another makes a comment and acts as if it can be construed as "what Dr. King would say". The intent was to state my belief that no one could know what might be in his heart today on any subject.

I apologize to Rep. Lewis and anyone else I've offended with my choice of words.

I used a broad brush, and accidentally got paint on Rep. Lewis. For that I am sorry.

[Empowerer]

13. That's very gracious of you - and I appreciate your willingness to pull back

I agree with you that most people should not deign to speak for Dr. King - it really gets my hackles up when people do it. And I agree that it usually is arrogant and ignorant to do so.

But Rep. Lewis was a friend, protege and confidant of Dr. King and knew better than most how he thought and approached things, so I actually value his insights on this. But I can see how someone else might feel differently and think that no one, even Rep. Lewis, should do this.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

14. DUers do it all the time.

At least John Lewis put his life on the line for the civil rights movement.

[midnight]

10. He would say.... End discrimination against main street...

Let everyone enjoy a steady stream of income...

[LuckyLib]

15. This is what progressive are trying to tell Obama: "Let the people of this country see that

you are fighting for them and they will have your back." Not the bankers, wall-street theives, oil companies, and corporate money influence in DC.

[Supersedeas]

19. Who are these progressives?

[Bake]

16. The truly righteous - the prophets - always face death every day.

But our President is neither truly righteous nor a prophet, unlike MLK.

Bake

[Empowerer]

17. kick

[Ter]

18. To stop being such a warmonger

And to get the Hell out of Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya.