August 28th marks the 50th anniversary of the monumental, nation-changing (world changing) speech by Martin Luther King Jr as he stood in the shadow of Lincoln's statue and told the American government that it had failed spectacularly in its commitment to people of color. And that, even though the slaves had been "emancipated" 100 years earlier they were still in slavery. They were enslaved to an ingrained racism which led to an overall slavery in terms of economic justice. They were living in the ghetto-ism of the white man's misconception of their humanity.
It is ironic that President Obama is to stand in exactly the same spot as Dr. King and address the American people and the world in memory of this life-altering speech by a brave, eloquent and impassioned man who lived his life in the heartbeat of deep conviction and spiritual truth.
It is ironic principally because Dr. King said in his speech that they had come to the capital "to cash a check", to sign the "promissory note" that stated the deep abiding belief that people were created equal and were guaranteed the inalienable right of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." He went onto say that in fact, the US government was bankrupt in this regard, and that for people of color, they had written a bad check.
Fifty years later, the American government is still bankrupt and this President, regardless of his color or cultural heritage, has turned his back on precisely the kind of people that Martin Luther King Jr. worked all his life to champion. Yes, this included people of color, but it also included the poor, those that this administration is ghettoizing badly through economic neglect and indifference.
I don't care if you come from the purple tribe with the yellow daisies. If you are turning your back on the poor, the indigent, the infirm and the elderly from every cultural mien, and supporting the status quo and the rich in their stead, then you have no right to stand in the shadow of Lincoln and eulogize a man whose shoes you have failed to walk in.
You should hang your head in shame for attempting to do so.
It is ironic that President Obama is to stand in exactly the same spot as Dr. King and address the American people and the world in memory of this life-altering speech by a brave, eloquent and impassioned man who lived his life in the heartbeat of deep conviction and spiritual truth.
It is ironic principally because Dr. King said in his speech that they had come to the capital "to cash a check", to sign the "promissory note" that stated the deep abiding belief that people were created equal and were guaranteed the inalienable right of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." He went onto say that in fact, the US government was bankrupt in this regard, and that for people of color, they had written a bad check.
Fifty years later, the American government is still bankrupt and this President, regardless of his color or cultural heritage, has turned his back on precisely the kind of people that Martin Luther King Jr. worked all his life to champion. Yes, this included people of color, but it also included the poor, those that this administration is ghettoizing badly through economic neglect and indifference.
I don't care if you come from the purple tribe with the yellow daisies. If you are turning your back on the poor, the indigent, the infirm and the elderly from every cultural mien, and supporting the status quo and the rich in their stead, then you have no right to stand in the shadow of Lincoln and eulogize a man whose shoes you have failed to walk in.
You should hang your head in shame for attempting to do so.
