01-19-2004, 09:27 AM | #1 |
I am Freddie/UNDERCOVER/ Founder of The Great Continent of Entmoot
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Plainsboro, NJ
Posts: 9,431
|
Happy Martin Luther King Day
Today is Martin Luther King Day - so I thought people could post their thoughts here.
Although we may not be perfect. I think the US has come a long way since Martin Luther King. Is there any possible way of overcoming racism completely though - from BOTH sides? We really don't need people like Sharpton and Farakahn who are repeatedly racist and we don't need the the KKK and White Supremicists and others to try and cause problems. But if we ignore the extremes - are most people color-blind in todays society? I think we are mostly a color-blind society. I do not think it is as bad as it once was. Is there more to do? Of course there is. But nothing will get better if people continue with the divisive and and us versus them attitude. [EDIT]I find it ironic that there seems to be this attitude that we should be interpective and all this on Marin Luther King Day - when Washington's Birthday is only represented by store sales and discounts. Same with 4th of July which all anyone thinks about is fireworks and picnics. It would be nice if people thought about the meaning behind those holidays too. Without the 4th of July and Washington - there would be no United States of America. We also don't even celebrate Washington's Birthday anymore - it's just lumped into stupid President's Day - which I will never call it. The holiday will always be Washington's Birthday for the reason I stated above and should never have been changed.
__________________
Come back! Come back! To Mordor we will take you! "The only thing better than a great plan is implementing a great plan" - JerseyDevil "If everyone agreed with me all the time, everything would be just fine"- JerseyDevil AboutNewJersey.com New Jersey MessageBoard Another Tolkien Forum Memorial to the Twin Towers New Jersey Map Fellowship of the Messageboard Legend of the Jersey Devil Support New Jersey's Liberty Tower Peacefire.org AboutNewJersey.com - New Jersey Travel and Tourism Guide Last edited by jerseydevil : 01-19-2004 at 09:34 AM. |
01-19-2004, 11:05 AM | #2 |
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: I have no idea.
Posts: 5,441
|
I don't think it's a matter of not seeing the color of someone's skin, but rather knowing that what's beneath it is the same as what's beneath your own skin. Everyone loves, hates, cries, laughs, learns, works, etc. No one group because of the color of their skin has a monopoly on anything connected to being human. And that's what we all are, human. The amount of melanin in our skin does not make for differences in who we are.
A reflection on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Of course I didn't know who he was when he was alive, but I'm sure everyone has studied or learned about him in some respect. He was an advocate of equal rights in a turbulent time when there were still places that segregated whites and blacks (or African-American, which ever you prefer). When I say segregation, I mean on public buses, bathrooms, water fountains, not just schools. He was born to a Baptist minister and his wife on Jan 15, 1929. He attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA and then went on to "Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pa., winning the Plafker Award as the outstanding student of the graduating class, and the J. Lewis Crozer Fellowship as well. King completed the coursework for his doctorate in 1953, and was granted the degree two years later upon completion of his dissertation" (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/mlk...biography.html). After he finished his doctorate, he became a minister of a church in Montgomery, Alabama. There he successfully mobilized the black community to boycot the bus lines for over a year. The nonviolent tactics that he and his protestors used worked in their favor when, during a protest in Burmingham, Alabama over the segregation at a department store's facilities, the protesters were brutalized by police. It brought the plight of blacks in America into a new light and won sympathy all over the nation. He was a Nobel Prize winner in 1964. Martin Luther King started his movement in 1957 and continued it until his tragic assassinated in 1968. There is a lot more on his life and the work that he did but I'll let you all read that yourselves. There's plenty online about him. |
01-19-2004, 11:18 AM | #3 |
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: I have no idea.
Posts: 5,441
|
Oh, I forgot something. I wanted to respond to your comment, JD.
I believe that the request to reflect rather than just have the day off from work today is good. I think people really don't reflect on George Washington so much because people don't really know much about him other than he chopped his father's cherry tree down and couldn't tell a lie when his father asked about it, he was the first president of the USA, he was a war hero, and he wore wooden teeth. No one really reflects on George Washington or what he fought for because he is far removed from us today. The 4th of July, or Independence Day, is a celebration of America's Independence. We know people died as a price, and when the Star Spangled Banner is played before the fireworks, we are all somber and sing together in pride. The reflection of those that died for our freedom is on Memorial Day in May. However, we can perhaps connect more with Dr. Martin Luther King and his movement. We can look up black and white photos of the protests and listen to recordings of his speaches. My mom said that she and her fellow classmates staged a march at her school in support and they weren't even Americans. And I still hear about discrimination still going on and it's the year 2004!!! |
01-19-2004, 11:18 AM | #4 | |
I am Freddie/UNDERCOVER/ Founder of The Great Continent of Entmoot
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Plainsboro, NJ
Posts: 9,431
|
Quote:
__________________
Come back! Come back! To Mordor we will take you! "The only thing better than a great plan is implementing a great plan" - JerseyDevil "If everyone agreed with me all the time, everything would be just fine"- JerseyDevil AboutNewJersey.com New Jersey MessageBoard Another Tolkien Forum Memorial to the Twin Towers New Jersey Map Fellowship of the Messageboard Legend of the Jersey Devil Support New Jersey's Liberty Tower Peacefire.org AboutNewJersey.com - New Jersey Travel and Tourism Guide |
|
01-19-2004, 11:23 AM | #5 | |
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: I have no idea.
Posts: 5,441
|
Quote:
|
|
01-19-2004, 11:25 AM | #6 | |
I am Freddie/UNDERCOVER/ Founder of The Great Continent of Entmoot
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Plainsboro, NJ
Posts: 9,431
|
Quote:
__________________
Come back! Come back! To Mordor we will take you! "The only thing better than a great plan is implementing a great plan" - JerseyDevil "If everyone agreed with me all the time, everything would be just fine"- JerseyDevil AboutNewJersey.com New Jersey MessageBoard Another Tolkien Forum Memorial to the Twin Towers New Jersey Map Fellowship of the Messageboard Legend of the Jersey Devil Support New Jersey's Liberty Tower Peacefire.org AboutNewJersey.com - New Jersey Travel and Tourism Guide |
|
01-19-2004, 07:30 PM | #7 | |||
I am Freddie/UNDERCOVER/ Founder of The Great Continent of Entmoot
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Plainsboro, NJ
Posts: 9,431
|
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
I think Martin Luther King Day is treated the way it is - is because people expect it. Like last year what I posted about Toms River school. They were having work done and the school started late so they had to make up days. They had to come to school during Martin Luther King Day AND Washington's Birthday, as well as a couple of other days. The only day that got complained about - was Martin Luther King Day. People were yelling racism and it had nothing to do with it. it had to do with the fact that under NJ state law - the students have to go to school a certain number of days and they had to make up the days. Instead of them making them up all at once in the summer - they cut some holidays. If students were going to school during 4th of July and that happened - people would only complain because it interfered with their picnics. Like I said - no one complained about having to go to school on the celebration of Washington's Birthday.
__________________
Come back! Come back! To Mordor we will take you! "The only thing better than a great plan is implementing a great plan" - JerseyDevil "If everyone agreed with me all the time, everything would be just fine"- JerseyDevil AboutNewJersey.com New Jersey MessageBoard Another Tolkien Forum Memorial to the Twin Towers New Jersey Map Fellowship of the Messageboard Legend of the Jersey Devil Support New Jersey's Liberty Tower Peacefire.org AboutNewJersey.com - New Jersey Travel and Tourism Guide |
|||
01-19-2004, 08:08 PM | #8 |
Saviour of Entmoot Admiral
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: NC/NJ (no longer Same place as bmilder.)
Posts: 61,986
|
In NJ we now get off for Martin Luther Kings day (have for the past several years)
It has replaced Columbus Day - well for getting out of school anyway. I guess it was determined that there were many Native Americans already here and the Vikings and others had other been here - plus he apparently was a rotten guy, its not PC to celebrate that holiday A school day off is a school day off. Just my two cents on Martin Luther King day
__________________
President Emeritus (2000-2004) Private message (or email) me if you need any assistance. I am here to help! "I'm up to here with cool, ok? I'm so amazingly cool you could keep a side of meat in me for a month. I am so hip I have difficulty seeing over my pelvis" - Zaphod Beeblebrox Latest Blog Post: Just Quit Facebook? No One Cares! |
01-19-2004, 08:10 PM | #9 |
Domesticated Swing Babe
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Reality
Posts: 5,340
|
Yeah, Happy day the kids are home!
__________________
Happy Atheist Go Democrats! |
01-19-2004, 09:10 PM | #10 | |||||||
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: I have no idea.
Posts: 5,441
|
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Another famous Amendment, the 19th Amendment, is more than giving women the right to vote... Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
What is your complaint right now. I'm wondering what |
|||||||
01-19-2004, 09:35 PM | #11 | |
Quasi Evil
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Maryland, US
Posts: 4,634
|
I think its pretty cool to witness a new holiday maturing and coming into its own. I can actually remember when it wasn’t a holiday (remember Stevie Wonder’s song “Happy Birthday”?) and when it finally became one (what president was that under?) there were some prominent people who announced outright they wouldn’t acknowledge the day as a holiday because they didn’t like what King stood for. Crazy.
I really like the idea of the day being a day “on” and not a day off. A time to live in the image of King and give back to the community and those in need instead of just kickin back and watching TV all day or going shopping for goodies like so many other holidays. Its true what you sat that that’s all the presidents birthdays have become now. Probably because they are so removed like someone else already said while MLK was a living part of a current generation. Quote:
__________________
"People's political beliefs don't stem from the factual information they've acquired. Far more the facts people choose to believe are the product of their political beliefs." "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." |
|
01-19-2004, 11:17 PM | #12 | |||
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: I have no idea.
Posts: 5,441
|
Quote:
Why would anyone not honor this holiday? What was it that he stood for that was so offensive? Quote:
I didn't say it as an insult to anyone (about G. Washington's b-day). I hope everyone takes it as just an explanation, or a reason. Quote:
|
|||
01-19-2004, 11:25 PM | #13 |
Saviour of Entmoot Admiral
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: NC/NJ (no longer Same place as bmilder.)
Posts: 61,986
|
im sorry, but the best thing teens like about mkl day (including me) is that we get off from school for it.
__________________
President Emeritus (2000-2004) Private message (or email) me if you need any assistance. I am here to help! "I'm up to here with cool, ok? I'm so amazingly cool you could keep a side of meat in me for a month. I am so hip I have difficulty seeing over my pelvis" - Zaphod Beeblebrox Latest Blog Post: Just Quit Facebook? No One Cares! |
01-20-2004, 12:34 AM | #14 | ||
Quasi Evil
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Maryland, US
Posts: 4,634
|
Quote:
Quote:
__________________
"People's political beliefs don't stem from the factual information they've acquired. Far more the facts people choose to believe are the product of their political beliefs." "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." |
||
01-20-2004, 12:40 AM | #15 | ||
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: I have no idea.
Posts: 5,441
|
Quote:
That's good that the NFL took the superbowl someplace else. Quote:
I have friends of all colors, it doesn't matter, that woman never gave me the idea that everyone who was black was like her, racist. |
||
01-20-2004, 02:09 AM | #16 |
Slacker
Warrior Admin Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Alabama
Posts: 2,759
|
If anyone gets the chance to visit the Center for Nonviolent Change and MLK museum in Atlanta, it's an excellent place to visit. It's next to a church he preached at and is also in close proximity to his tomb. It's awesome.
__________________
"If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you." Gandalf to Pippin Psalm 107:31 |
01-20-2004, 12:10 PM | #17 | |
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: I have no idea.
Posts: 5,441
|
Quote:
Does the Center for Nonviolent Change also address things in other countries? Or only in the US? Just curious. |
|
01-20-2004, 11:26 PM | #18 |
Slacker
Warrior Admin Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Alabama
Posts: 2,759
|
I don't think it does. I'm pretty sure I remember it being just American Civil Rights. On second thought, I think there might be a small section devoted to Gandhi since he was one of Martin Luther King's biggest influences. There might be other small sections about his other major influences, but the only one I remember was Gandhi.
__________________
"If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you." Gandalf to Pippin Psalm 107:31 |
01-20-2004, 11:58 PM | #19 | |
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: I have no idea.
Posts: 5,441
|
Quote:
|
|
01-21-2004, 12:05 AM | #20 | |
I am Freddie/UNDERCOVER/ Founder of The Great Continent of Entmoot
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Plainsboro, NJ
Posts: 9,431
|
Quote:
[EDIT:] Jonathan - this was my 6660th post.
__________________
Come back! Come back! To Mordor we will take you! "The only thing better than a great plan is implementing a great plan" - JerseyDevil "If everyone agreed with me all the time, everything would be just fine"- JerseyDevil AboutNewJersey.com New Jersey MessageBoard Another Tolkien Forum Memorial to the Twin Towers New Jersey Map Fellowship of the Messageboard Legend of the Jersey Devil Support New Jersey's Liberty Tower Peacefire.org AboutNewJersey.com - New Jersey Travel and Tourism Guide Last edited by jerseydevil : 01-21-2004 at 12:32 AM. |
|
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Visitors Come to Court | Valandil | Writer's Workshop | 56 | 01-27-2010 11:29 AM |
Animal Crossing Fic. | The Ben | Writer's Workshop | 1 | 05-15-2004 04:52 PM |
OLD cartoon theme songs | afro-elf | Entertainment Forum | 50 | 06-04-2003 09:21 PM |
The Third Entmooters Party | Finrod Felagund | RPG Forum | 87 | 03-21-2003 04:26 PM |
Martin Luther King Day | LuthienTinuviel | General Messages | 49 | 02-11-2003 10:29 PM |