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.”
Bonnie Bucqueroux retired from Michigan State University's School of Journalism to experiment with online publications, including Lansing Online News. She is also co-president (with Susan Masten) of Lansing Area NOW.
One response to “WWMLKD today? Joey Ess says we need to think peace”
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.
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The Lansing organizer for the "Move to Amend" movement discusses a "Corporate Personhood" resolution proposal before the Lansing City Council on August 6, 2012.
Are corporations persons, too? The "Move to Amend Barnstorming Tour" featuring David Cobb visited Lansing on June 28, 2012. Cobb provided an accessible, fast-paced analysis of the history of "Corporate Personhood" in the U.S.
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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.
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.