I suppose it is naive to hope that the holiday celebrating Martin Luther King’s birthday would offer more than a day off work. For my generation, King was a compelling icon. In the 50s and 60s, he was the passionate pacifist demanding social justice for all. But then, as the Vietnam War dragged on, he was increasingly viewed as white America’s more palatable alternative to the fiery Malcom X.
BTW – why isn’t there some memorial somewhere in the area dedicated to Malcolm X? He grew up here as Malcolm Little after the Ku Klux Klan chased them here.
By the time he was assassinated, however, MLK was poised to regain the moral high ground, by demanding an immediate end to the Vietnam War and an end to poverty at home, which he argued were inextricably intertwined. Does anyone even talk about such things today?
The good news is that Joey Ess does. He YouTube video reminds us that the “Dirty F@#*ing Hippies Were Right.”
Well said, Bonnie. We do need to talk about the yearly drain on our treasury by the Pentagon. Not only do we need to talk about it, we need to do something about it.
Listen to Lansing Online News Radio WLNZ 89.7 every Monday night at 7 p.m. Or come here to watch our Webcast on Ustream.tv - Monday, May 7 - Feminists/activists Penny Gardner and Susan Masten and new Lansing Online News contributor Becky McKendry
George Goehl of National Peoples' Action says progressives need to re-envision the economy and suggests a strategy for activists attending the 2012 Michigan Summit in Lansing on May 12, 2012.
Kevin Kamps of Beyond Nuclear talks to the Peace Education Center about Ontario, Canada's plans for a deep underground dump (DUD) for nuclear waste on the Great Lakes.
"I never thought I'd see the day I would be fighting my grandmother's fight..." said Melissa Osborn in addressing the United Against the War on Women rally in Lansing.
Kathie Kuhn of the Peace Education gives a spoken word performance of "Hey, Now" at the United Against the War on Women rally in Lansing.
"Let Freedom Ring - P.A. 4 Emergency Manager Act Forum" was a public forum on Michigan’s local government takeover law that directly assaults American democratic liberties. Rev. Edward Pinkney of Benton Harbor was the keynote speaker, followed by a panel discussion and audience Q&A. This is the recording Rev. Pinkney's keynote address.
Well said, Bonnie. We do need to talk about the yearly drain on our treasury by the Pentagon. Not only do we need to talk about it, we need to do something about it.
thanks for posting this.
j.