What are you prepared to do?

"The Negro is not struggling for some abstract vague rights but for concrete improvement in his way of life. Special measures for the deprived have always been accepted in principle by the U.S. It was the principle behind land grants to farmers who fought in the Revolutionary Army and other measures that the nation accepted as logical and moral." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 1963

As we approach yet another so-called King holiday, I sit here on a slow simmer watching the buildup.

Monday, some will gather together, sing that repulsive song as they make that short symbolic march. Listen to a few speeches. And then go back and participate in the very thing that he was fighting.

This past week in Cincinnati, we had a young black man shoot a police officer. And while no one is condoning his actions, many so-called negroes in this city immediately started the "Let's lock them all up" talk within hours of the incident. One City Council member, a former officer himself, said "WE WILL SHOOT BACK". "If somebody is to the point where they are going to take pot shots at officers and not care, the only thing you can do about that is much more aggressive enforcement. If I approach that car, and I feel uncomfortable, I put my gun down by my leg until I feel comfortable," he said. "It's those veteran kind of tactics." said City Councilman Cecil Thomas, himself a former city officer. Cops: We'll shoot back And the very next day accepted an award in conjunction with King day celebrations. Honoree: Few feel King's 'dream'

I never met Dr. King but, I doubt he would advocate shooting back as the solution to the root causes that got that young man to that point. It is definately too late for that particular young man but "agressive enforcement" is a police reaction and tactic that will solve nothing and possibly led to another Roger Owensby. Outside Expert: Police Officer Killed Roger Owensby

The Dr. King that I watched and read about would probably have had issues with a covert government operation that was responsible for the crack cocaine epidemic that we face. The Dr. King that I admired would have issues with a government that does everything it can to take from its citizenry and give nothing in return. A government that is complicite in closing off most avenues for a person to rise up from despair. A nation that now uses the codeword of "being tough on crime" for what it wants to do to black and poor people. He would be out there doing something to bring about change, not saying lock their asses up and throw away the key. He would have been on the forefront of true economic change which would have included reparations.

Don't think so? Well consider this. I have a dream was the conclusion of the speech. He went to Washington to cash a check written to the desendants of slaves that this nation bounced. And before you say that was so long ago, there are still folks alive today whose parents WERE slaves. Daughter of Freed Slave Celebrates 100th Birthday

So go and march, sing that song and accept the awards. But at some point realize that action will be required. He did. What are you prepared to do?


All I'm trying to say is, our world hinges on moral foundations. God has made it so! God has made the universe to be based on a moral law. So long as man disobeys it he is revolting against God. That's what we need in the world today--people who will stand for right and goodness. It's not enough to know the intricacies of zoology and biology. But we must know the intricacies of law. It is not enough to know that two and two makes four. But we've got to know somehow that it's right to be honest and just with our brothers. It's not enough to know all about our philosophical and mathematical disciplines. But we've got to know the simple disciplines, of being honest and loving and just with all humanity. If we don't learn it, we will destroy ourselves, by the misuse of our own powers. "Rediscovering Lost Values"