An American Icon: Martin Luther King

[Zoom]

The first civilian and black leader to be honoured in the National Mall! Breaking the 'racial barrier' and promoting everything Martin Luther King preached. Big ups for putting up a memorial in his name

"I have a dream..."

Great guy! It is sad how he was slain... but that's how the world used to be...

[BigKaboom2]

I'm not sure about the term "passed away" describing MLK Jr., but I'm not exactly sure what you're discussing here. Is there an article somewhere?

[Axel]

Yeah, I think tragically ended would be more appropriate. What he is basically referring to that a statue is being erected in his honor in the Washington Mall. It is not a shopping mall, fyi

[dada]

Someone with knowledge of what happened please clarify.

[Zoom]

A memorial of Martin Luther King will be opened in 2008 in the Spring I believe. Today they held a sort of a service to confrim that the memorial would be finished off by 08.

Also, for your information, the legislation to get this memorial up was Bill Clinton. He signed it off in 1996. So he went to the ceremony today and got a standing ovation from the crowd.

The memorial means that Martin Luther King is officially an American Icon

And passed away does sound a bit weird. Sorry... I think 'slain' is a better word.

[BigKaboom2]

Alright, I got it now. From the thread title I thought there was going to be some playable demo of Sneak King available at the National Mall

[Zoom]

Haha, true man... changed the title.

[Its_asdf]

Big ups for putting up a memorial in his name

That reminded me of him.

[/lamejoke]

[Oznogrd]

*In best ali G impersonation* Booyakasha. As my main man zoom already said "big ups for putting up a memorial" for the man Martin luther King who deserved to be rekognized for his quote "I have a dream. Little white girls and Little black girls. Playing with each other"....Respekt to MLK and the government fin'ly doing somethin right

OK now back to the topic in a more serious manner.

I will never understand why Martin Luther King isnt considered more of a hero. I have watched and studied this man a good portion of my life and i cannot see a single instance where he didnt handle himself with the class and calm required to be a leader. One of the saddest days in american history is when he was gunned down in atlanta on his hotel balcony. Now we just need MLK day to become a national holiday (which i still dont understand why people are arguing against). May this man get any and all respect the universe can give.

On a lighter note....as if we need more proof clinton was actually just a really pale black guy

[benji]

Now we just need MLK day to become a national holiday (which i still dont understand why people are arguing against).

What the hell, did it suddenly become the 1977 in here? It's been a federal holiday since the early 80s.

On a lighter note....as if we need more proof clinton was actually just a really pale black guy

Smells like...racism.

I will never understand why Martin Luther King isnt considered more of a hero.

What? Than who? You act like he's not spoken of, when we're deluged by the guy.

If we're going to discuss all the failings and negatives of people like Thomas Jefferson, however, we should also discuss those of King. He shouldn't be immune to criticism. For balance we must note. He was in favor of "settling historical wrongs" (a.k.a. giving free money to people because of their skin color), was an anti-Vietnam extremist, opposed capitalism and promoted a redistribution of wealth. His death kept him from tarring his legacy too bad after the end of the "Civil Rights Movement"

His efforts also led to the ironically-titled liberty-destroying Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Yeah, he's an American icon, and an important historical figure. But he's hardly a Washington, Jefferson or Lincoln. Of course that fascist FDR also has a memorial...

[Oznogrd]

Benji, in the south, he's not exactly as revered as he should be. South Carolina doesnt even close most of its schools (which i'm not even sure how its legal for them to be open, i guess because they're "state employees" not federal employees) etc. for MLK day, its a constant debate and if its a federal holiday i dont understand why.

About the racist comment: it was a joke, yes i know its still racism, but i'm not the first person who said it. Thats an exact quote from a black guy i know. Which is why i said on a lighter note: it was not meant ot be taken seriously.

About his criticisms: how many people think that people should still get reparations for slavery? I know quite a few. It not as uncommon an idea as one would think. (However if we start giving reparations then every race that isnt european is gonna deserve it but thats a whole new issue) As about the anti vietnam extremist-with what he preached, wouldnt he have been anti any war? Opposing capitalism? Hell, i'm not exactly all the way for capitalism. There are many things wrong with it and communism is a great idea on paper. Maybe he had the faith that people wouldnt be greedy ass power hungry motherfuckers and communism could actually work for once? Redistribution of wealth, if that means what i think it does: an interesting concept although would be highly unethical/fucked up to do to the rich people in this country (since most of them have worked hard to get where they are)...but there is definitely something wrong with 10% of the population controlling approximately 90% of the money in the country.

[cyanide]

If we're going to discuss all the failings and negatives of people like Thomas Jefferson, however, we should also discuss those of King. He shouldn't be immune to criticism. For balance we must note. He was in favor of "settling historical wrongs" (a.k.a. giving free money to people because of their skin color), was an anti-Vietnam extremist, opposed capitalism and promoted a redistribution of wealth. His death kept him from tarring his legacy too bad after the end of the "Civil Rights Movement"

Other than the giving free money to people of color, which is hypocritical, why is it a flaw to be opposed to the Vietnam war, capitalism, and the idea of a redistribution of wealth? There's a lot of people that are opposed to war and capitalism but I wouldn't consider that a flaw.