Thanks for posting this whole speech. It's unfortunate that today, MLK is largely reduced to the last, "I have a dream" segment, when there's actually so much more to this speech than that, so much that almost never gets played because it remains controversial. It's both amusing and depressing, the political figures today who gush about how much they admire King, claim to want to emulate him, and who embrace his spirituality, but who also conveniently forget the very secular, very political struggles he fought and the positions he took. Glenn Beck fawns over King, but at the same time rails against churches that work for social justice, one of the fundamental ideas of King's life and work.
King is dead now, dead and gone long enough that just enough time has passed that many Americans' notions of King are warm, fuzzy and non-threatening. But most of those same leaders who try publicly to associate themselves with his supposed ideas and legacy -- dumbed down and sanded smooth for wide consumption -- wouldn't be seen anywhere near King if he were alive today, nor endorse his actions and objectives.
Thanks for posting this whole speech. It's unfortunate that today, MLK is largely reduced to the last, "I have a dream" segment, when there's actually so much more to this speech than that, so much that almost never gets played because it remains controversial. It's both amusing and depressing, the political figures today who gush about how much they admire King, claim to want to emulate him, and who embrace his spirituality, but who also conveniently forget the very secular, very political struggles he fought and the positions he took. Glenn Beck fawns over King, but at the same time rails against churches that work for social justice, one of the fundamental ideas of King's life and work.
ReplyDeleteKing is dead now, dead and gone long enough that just enough time has passed that many Americans' notions of King are warm, fuzzy and non-threatening. But most of those same leaders who try publicly to associate themselves with his supposed ideas and legacy -- dumbed down and sanded smooth for wide consumption -- wouldn't be seen anywhere near King if he were alive today, nor endorse his actions and objectives.
Thanks Andy.
ReplyDeleteAs the parent of a six month old child, I'm looking forward to the day when I can sit down and watch this with her.
And don't get me started on Glenn Beck's theology ;-)