Popular view of King ignores complexity

Associated Press ^ | Sun Jan 20, 6:56 PM ET | DEEPTI HAJELA,

[fweingart]

Due to the sinister associates of MLK and his continuing to consort with them knowing full well they were card-carrying communists, a holiday to honor him was a ridiculous decision. His infidelities should have disqualified him, but then they didn't disqualify Billy Goat Clinton.

Those close associations with known communists should have sunk any scheme to create a national holiday for one so undeserving.

Honor George Washington Carver without whose scientific efforts Jimmy Carter would be just another cracker dirt farmer.

[Sherman Logan]

MLK’s private life was also essentially that of Bill Clinton or JFK. Nothing admirable at all there.

[BenLurkin]

Honor George Washington Carver

Agreed!

[what's up]

Nothing admirable at all there.

Especially since he was a Reverend.

[kipita]

Some wiki excerpts from an article on Thurgood Marshall....

“Marshall was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 2, 1908. His original name was Thoroughgood but he shortened it to Thurgood in second grade. His father, William Marshall, instilled in him an appreciation for the Constitution of the United States and the rule of law. Additionally, as a child, he was punished for his school misbehavior by being forced to read the Constitution, which he later said piqued his interest in the document. Marshall was a descendant of slaves.”

“During the 1950s, Thurgood Marshall developed a friendly relationship with J. Edgar Hoover, the director the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In 1956, for example, he privately praised Hoover’s campaign to discredit T.R.M. Howard, a maverick civil rights leader from Mississippi.”

I therefore tend to think he was much, much more influential in White America accepting Black Americans based on one’s character than MLK and all of the Civil Rights leaders combined.

[fweingart]

The vilification of the honorable Senator Jesse Helms was a real hatchet job! He knew what credentials the plagerizing MLK was weighted down with.

[raybbr]

But he took on issues of poverty and militarism because he considered them vital "to make equality something real and not just racial brotherhood but equality in fact," Sitkoff said.

Militarism and equality? Does that mean he fovored everyone's being equal? Or, does that mean he meant to use military tactics to gain "equality"?

[quadrant]

King was one of those rare individuals: men who achieve fame rather early in life, then have the misfortune (or perhaps fortune) to die before the inevitable tarnishing of reputation that comes when success turns sour.

[raybbr]

King was one of those rare individuals: men who achieve fame rather early in life, then have the misfortune (or perhaps fortune) to die before the inevitable tarnishing of reputation that comes when success turns sour.

Not sure what you're saying regarding his notion of militarism and equality.

[ClearCase_guy]

If you haven't read the text of MLK's speech "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence", you should. It is a rather vicious anti-American rant that promotes radical Marxism pretty shamelessly. It doesn't get talked about very much because it would seriously damage his reputation.

As far as I'm concerned, the guy wasn't all bad. But he was mostly bad.

[BenLurkin]

"issues of poverty and militarism"

Translation: He favored international Marxism.

[raybbr]

If you haven't read the text of MLK's speech "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence", you should. It is a rather vicious anti-American rant that promotes radical Marxism pretty shamelessly. It doesn't get talked about very much because it would seriously damage his reputation.

Thanks, I will try to find the time.

I am really tired of the hype surrounding this guy.

[CyberSpartacus]

Let’s Honour the man who really won black civil rights - Fredrick Douglas.

[Don Corleone]

“....The Gods can also destroy!”

[redstateconfidential]

“Translation:He favored international Marxism”.

And thus set the tone for the soft sell Marxism that would deform and define the inner city(Democrat robot vote) mentality for the next 50 years.

Also, I see Huckabee favoring international Marxism with his “feed the poor(Tha perr!),tax the rich,open the borders,” hey all we white guys are gonna be a minority some day(Right Jorge Abusta)”! Pucker up Hugo, I gots kisses for jou!

[JimRed]

King was of the “stopped clock is right twice a day” ilk. Who could argue with content of character outweighing color of skin, and nonviolent protest as a means to the end? And his willingness to face the possibilty of death for his cause was admirable.

His personal life and belief in socialist systems are another matter. Overall, I rate him more positive than negative. (and you all know how much they pay for MY ratings!)

[gunnedah]

If his life is so admirable why will they not release the FBI files on him until the generation that lived through it is gone. Simply put, our government has a way of covering up for who they wish and they create legends like the Clintons.The longer America stands the uglier she looks.I love my country but I have no respect for our leaders any longer. We have become a nation like Hollywood we are legends in our own minds.

[BunkDetector]

“Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” -—MLK

[BenLurkin]

Those are beautiful words which echo Biblical principals.