I received an e-mail from the good folks at the MLK Memorial organization asking if I'd be kind enough to publicize fund-raising to establish the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the National Mall in DeeSee. Why, yes... yes I would. Here's some verbiage from the web site:
The Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial will be the first on the National Mall to recognize a person of color and a man of peace, not a president or a veteran of war. In 1996 Congress authorized the Memorial Foundation to raise funds to establish a national memorial to honor the legacy of Dr. King on the National Mall. The memorial’s very existence signifies that we as a people believe Dr. King and his legacy deserve this esteemed placement in what can be considered America’s “Hall of Fame.”As my title sez... a worthy cause.
“The Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial will be the first on the National Mall to recognize a person of color and a man of peace, not a president or a veteran of war.”
ReplyDeleteHuh, I always regarded war veterans, as well as the presidents depicted in stone in DC, as men of peace… and I know more than a few of them, vets that is, were people of color.
Also, I do think the national mall should be reserved for our presidents and our war veterans. Nor should the standard be lowered, or based on skin color…no matter the achievements of Dr. King
My 2 cents.
(For any drive byes - yea, yea, I know I'm a racist. Move along.)
Buck, I have to agree with Tim.
ReplyDeleteSo I guess that makes me a racist, too.
Yeah, some other guys beat me to it. I think there is more than one "person of color" on that big black wall thingy dealing with VitNam...and that other deal that Tom Hanks help build out there, etc.
ReplyDeleteBut, I wish 'em well, and will not bitch about a memorial on the mall. It was a "war" of sorts that he waged...he and millions of others. If the folks in charge of the DC Mall think it's okay, well...they are in charge.
Dr. King (though a complex individual that I have complex thoughts about) definitely has his solids in the fabric of the US. Heck, it'd be hard to find anybody that's got more streets named after him in the US.
Maybe President Washington. Maybe. Probably not.
Maybe if they go ahead on and raise the money, and build this memorial to a "person of color," the downtrodden will be satisfied for a while, and I'll be dead before they start building the first one in honor of Barack.
Probably not.
Small-tee and Cat: You guys are free to have your opinions. I have mine and I'm agnostic about the MLK memorial. On the one hand... he most certainly WAS a historic figure and very important in the struggle for civil rights. Perhaps you need to be "of a certain age" (and I know you are, Cat) and have experienced segregation first-hand to appreciate what MLK meant, as both a man and a symbol. I'm of that certain age and I also experienced segregation first-hand in the Old South. It wasn't pretty.
ReplyDeleteAndy: MLK is definitely one of those guys who had clay feet. I have mixed emotions about him, as well, but overall? I'm respectful.
That the man advocated change via peaceful means, while some of his contemporaries were calling for full-scale armed revolution, and that (for the most part) the change was accomplished via the more peaceful means, is enough reason to honor his memory.
ReplyDeleteI do have a problem with the "person of color" verbiage, but only because King was explicit in his statements that forgetting such distinctions was the ultimate goal. It seems to fly in the face of what he stood for.
Buck,
ReplyDeleteI do understand the historical significance of Dr. King, I just don’t think it warrants a memorial at the National Mall…or on Mount Rushmore…or on our currency…
Examples; MLK is equal to what Lincoln meant to “civil rights” for Blacks? Not even close.
MLK is equal to what Washington or Jefferson did for this country. That’s not even worth debating.
MLK is equal to those brave souls who saved us from the Nazis or imperial Japan. Hell, if they hadn’t succeeded segregation would have been the least of our problems. I heard Hitler was, and the Japanese for that matter, were very fond of Blacks.
For me, and others, one can be a historical significant individual yet still not qualify to be honored at our nations capital.
Let’s not lower the bar as it has been in so many parts of our society, but especially in our nations capital.
There, now I’m up to about a dime of my thoughts.
There, now I’m up to about a dime of my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteYou have an unlimited account here, tim.
I do have a problem with the "person of color" verbiage...
ReplyDeleteMe too. The language just reeks of political correctness.
"You have an unlimited account here, tim."
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words, Buck.