40 Years Ago Today

Somewhere in Memphis, Tenn., Dr. Martin Luther King gave his final speech in support of striking sanitation workers.

Dr. King's star had fallen to some degree. He was opposed to the war in Vietnam. He was focused on the issue of poverty and economic inequity. Those stands had made him unpopular and a pariah.

But this night so long ago, Dr. King told his flock he had been to the mountaintop and that he would not fear any man. Dr. King was shot dead on a Memphis hotel balcony the next day.

Words ring hollow at this point, but the true measure of any person is the good they do for others.

Dr King's words are all that need to be said.

A truly brilliant man who never really backed down, in my opinion.

What a year that was. King shot dead in April, Kennedy shot dead in June, and college students beaten by rioting cops in August.

It was an awful time-- my Mexican friend across the street told me King had been shot, and warned me to stay inside. Just a few years before, I had been to a civil rights march in San Francisco, with my mom and dad, after Bull Connor had unleashed dogs and fire hoses on high school kids who only wanted equality under the law.

A few months later, the man who would have been the next President of the United States lay dying on the kitchen floor of a hotel in Los Angeles. Had he lived, he would have exited Viet Nam. Instead, we got an escalation into Laos and Cambodia. Still guts me to this day.

I was at my grandmother's house when the Chicago police riots broke out; she called me to watch as she was watching the news unfold on TV-- she couldn't believe it.

What a year; altered the course of American history in ways that should never have happened.

good data

Comrade Shampanyov wrote: ....and college students beaten by rioting cops in August.

I was at my grandmother's house when the Chicago police riots broke out; she called me to watch as she was watching the news unfold on TV-- she couldn't believe it.

"rioting cops" "police riots"

Don't you think you're letting Abbie Hoffman and the Yippies off a little easy? It would seem there was plenty of blame to go around - on both sides.

Tex wrote:

Comrade Shampanyov wrote: ....and college students beaten by rioting cops in August.

I was at my grandmother's house when the Chicago police riots broke out; she called me to watch as she was watching the news unfold on TV-- she couldn't believe it.

"rioting cops" "police riots"

Don't you think you're letting Abbie Hoffman and the Yippies off a little easy?

Why? Did they remove their badges and club people senseless too?

went over to atlanta a few years ago and theres plenty to remind you of the man,

respect.

dreams never end.

Well, he wasn't an official reverand, he heavily plagarized his papers in school; so some would say he really wasn't a 'Doctor', and his real name was Michael. What's left?

I don't know about him, seems to me the media and schools try pushing him hard, kinda like Columbus... the image is a good image to cherish, but somehow I have a feeling there's a whole lot of skeltons in that closet.... guess we'll have to wait until 2027 to find out, eh?

my dad was an officer working for the secretary of the navy in DC when king was assassinated. he sat on his roof the night of april 4 and watched the city burn. it was then that he made a connection between the vietnam protests and the civil rights movement--described so perfectly by muhammad ali when he refused the draft and said 'no vietcong ever called me 'ni**er.'

AgentWood wrote: my dad was an officer working for the secretary of the navy in DC when king was assassinated. he sat on his roof the night of april 4 and watched the city burn. it was then that he made a connection between the vietnam protests and the civil rights movement--described so perfectly by muhammad ali when he refused the draft and said 'no vietcong ever called me 'ni**er.'

Do you know why "no vietcong" ever called Cassius Clay the n-bomb? Because he was never around any vietcong. I'm guessing if Cassius ever met a real vietcong in the field, being called the n-bomb would be the least of his worries. And, by real vietcong I don't mean some perfumed envoy on the DC cocktail circuit.

he must of had a big cock

Tex wrote:

AgentWood wrote: my dad was an officer working for the secretary of the navy in DC when king was assassinated. he sat on his roof the night of april 4 and watched the city burn. it was then that he made a connection between the vietnam protests and the civil rights movement--described so perfectly by muhammad ali when he refused the draft and said 'no vietcong ever called me 'ni**er.'

Do you know why "no vietcong" ever called Cassius Clay the n-bomb? Because he was never around any vietcong. I'm guessing if Cassius ever met a real vietcong in the field, being called the n-bomb would be the least of his worries. And, by real vietcong I don't mean some perfumed envoy on the DC cocktail circuit.

I hear no Vietcong ever called W, Dick Cheney, Dan Quayle, Newt Gingrich, Phil Gramm, Rush Limbaugh, Pat Buchanan, Clarence Thomas, Geoge Will, Bill O'Reilly, William Kristol, and every other chickenhawk "crackers" either.

I was at Atlanta Airport at Christmas. There's a big exhibition there but nobody seemed to be looking at it.

America have a funny relationship with guilt don't they?

Jeffari-al-Texani wrote: Whatever...LBJ did more for civil rights than MLK ever did...

but he's a cracker, so nobody wants to admit that...

eh...

that's a very white male definition of accomplishment. Like, the only thing that counts is signing shit into law. I agree tho that too many people diminish Johnson's contributions to Civil Rights especially because of vietnam--oh yeah and he's white

Biggest Thing on Two Wheels wrote: I was at Atlanta Airport at Christmas. There's a big exhibition there but nobody seemed to be looking at it.

America have a funny relationship with guilt don't they?

no it's just only black people care because it doesn't affect anyone else's day to day life. Except in February and on MLK day and things like that when white people have to pretend this shit matters in their lives more than just philosophically.

Chrissy wrote:

Jeffari-al-Texani wrote: Whatever...LBJ did more for civil rights than MLK ever did...

but he's a cracker, so nobody wants to admit that...

eh...

that's a very white male definition of accomplishment. Like, the only thing that counts is signing shit into law. I agree tho that too many people diminish Johnson's contributions to Civil Rights especially because of vietnam--oh yeah and he's white

and hillary clinton and her pantsuit

Tex wrote:

AgentWood wrote: my dad was an officer working for the secretary of the navy in DC when king was assassinated. he sat on his roof the night of april 4 and watched the city burn. it was then that he made a connection between the vietnam protests and the civil rights movement--described so perfectly by muhammad ali when he refused the draft and said 'no vietcong ever called me 'ni**er.'

Do you know why "no vietcong" ever called Cassius Clay the n-bomb? Because he was never around any vietcong. I'm guessing if Cassius ever met a real vietcong in the field, being called the n-bomb would be the least of his worries. And, by real vietcong I don't mean some perfumed envoy on the DC cocktail circuit.

that's not really the point though, is it? ali, like many other black (and white) civil rights activists, didn't think it was right for large numbers of young black men to be drafted by a country that treated blacks as, at best, second-class citizens, and at worst like non-humans. it makes a lot of sense to me!

Bloody Hell. He was a great man who stirred the conscience of America and the world.

He was a man and as such a flawed being. Who says that flawed beings can't achieve great things.

well said ronnie

AgentWood wrote:

Tex wrote:

AgentWood wrote: my dad was an officer working for the secretary of the navy in DC when king was assassinated. he sat on his roof the night of april 4 and watched the city burn. it was then that he made a connection between the vietnam protests and the civil rights movement--described so perfectly by muhammad ali when he refused the draft and said 'no vietcong ever called me 'ni**er.'

Do you know why "no vietcong" ever called Cassius Clay the n-bomb? Because he was never around any vietcong. I'm guessing if Cassius ever met a real vietcong in the field, being called the n-bomb would be the least of his worries. And, by real vietcong I don't mean some perfumed envoy on the DC cocktail circuit.

that's not really the point though, is it? ali, like many other black (and white) civil rights activists, didn't think it was right for large numbers of young black men to be drafted by a country that treated blacks as, at best, second-class citizens, and at worst like non-humans. it makes a lot of sense to me!

I may be wrong here but was'nt Ali something of lone voice when he made that somewhat unpopular(to say the least) stance,keeping steadfastly to his own morals and principles,rather than acting as a figure head for blacks in general,in this instance?? It's just that I never read or heard anything from the man about not thinking it was right for large numbers of black men to be drafted.I just thought his personal opinion of that war was that he himself did'nt want any part of it...although obviously Ali has done more over a longer period of time directly,indirectly,wittingly and unwittingly to influence the civil rights movement,and much more..Anyone who has studied him,know that Ali embodies all that is good about the human race left to his own devices..his involvement with Elija Mohammed and every fucker else that used him for their own agendas never corrupted the man's heart,and he was such a fantasic brave fighter,which matters,like it or not

I'd love to meet him..

NOOLigan wrote: Bloody Hell. He was a great man who stirred the conscience of America and the world.

He was a man and as such a flawed being. Who says that flawed beings can't achieve great things.

Seconded, thirded, agreed and Amen.

Noel Edmunds-under-Lyme wrote:

AgentWood wrote:

Tex wrote:

AgentWood wrote: my dad was an officer working for the secretary of the navy in DC when king was assassinated. he sat on his roof the night of april 4 and watched the city burn. it was then that he made a connection between the vietnam protests and the civil rights movement--described so perfectly by muhammad ali when he refused the draft and said 'no vietcong ever called me 'ni**er.'

Do you know why "no vietcong" ever called Cassius Clay the n-bomb? Because he was never around any vietcong. I'm guessing if Cassius ever met a real vietcong in the field, being called the n-bomb would be the least of his worries. And, by real vietcong I don't mean some perfumed envoy on the DC cocktail circuit.

that's not really the point though, is it? ali, like many other black (and white) civil rights activists, didn't think it was right for large numbers of young black men to be drafted by a country that treated blacks as, at best, second-class citizens, and at worst like non-humans. it makes a lot of sense to me!

I may be wrong here but was'nt Ali something of lone voice when he made that somewhat unpopular(to say the least) stance,keeping steadfastly to his own morals and principles,rather than acting as a figure head for blacks in general,in this instance?? It's just that I never read or heard anything from the man about not thinking it was right for large numbers of black men to be drafted.I just thought his personal opinion of that war was that he himself did'nt want any part of it...although obviously Ali has done more over a longer period of time directly,indirectly,wittingly and unwittingly to influence the civil rights movement,and much more..Anyone who has studied him,know that Ali embodies all that is good about the human race left to his own devices..his involvement with Elija Mohammed and every fucker else that used him for their own agendas never corrupted the man's heart,and he was such a fantasic brave fighter,which matters,like it or not

I'd love to meet him..

I was always under the impression that the 'stance' he had was more related to him being on top of his game, not wanting to get out of shape and come back a has-been. More self interested in career then interested in a 'civil rights' agenda.... just worked well with the politics of the day.... he had a 'valid' out to pursue his boxing career, rather than be a Ted Williams.

Trans-Small-Town Order Express wrote:

NOOLigan wrote: Bloody Hell. He was a great man who stirred the conscience of America and the world.

He was a man and as such a flawed being. Who says that flawed beings can't achieve great things.

Seconded, thirded, agreed and Amen.

I'm hesitant on this, only because schools push him as a 'role model' so much and the full truth is never taught. Seems very much like Columbus or other historical figures school systems love to cram down the throat of students.

If there more of his life was taught openly, then I wouldn't have this apprehension.... I just feel like there's some of the story we're just not receiving/

Jeffari-al-Texani wrote: Sooooo...if I decide to run for President...would any of you fuckers vote for me?

if i was american i would vote for you without a doubt

banshee wrote:

Jeffari-al-Texani wrote: Sooooo...if I decide to run for President...would any of you fuckers vote for me?

if i was american i would vote for you without a doubt

I wouldnt. He'd be over for Brit-bumming missions every other week.

Burt Reynolds wrote:

banshee wrote:

Jeffari-al-Texani wrote: Sooooo...if I decide to run for President...would any of you fuckers vote for me?

if i was american i would vote for you without a doubt

I wouldnt. He'd be over for Brit-bumming missions every other week.

there would be plenty fucking takers on here though burt

Comrade Shampanyov wrote:

Tex wrote:

AgentWood wrote: my dad was an officer working for the secretary of the navy in DC when king was assassinated. he sat on his roof the night of april 4 and watched the city burn. it was then that he made a connection between the vietnam protests and the civil rights movement--described so perfectly by muhammad ali when he refused the draft and said 'no vietcong ever called me 'ni**er.'

Do you know why "no vietcong" ever called Cassius Clay the n-bomb? Because he was never around any vietcong. I'm guessing if Cassius ever met a real vietcong in the field, being called the n-bomb would be the least of his worries. And, by real vietcong I don't mean some perfumed envoy on the DC cocktail circuit.

I hear no Vietcong ever called W, Dick Cheney, Dan Quayle, Newt Gingrich, Phil Gramm, Rush Limbaugh, Pat Buchanan, Clarence Thomas, Geoge Will, Bill O'Reilly, William Kristol, and every other chickenhawk "crackers" either.

Don't forget your boy Bill Clinton........

BTW, Phil Gramm was a Democrat before the Reagan Revolution.

Jeffari-al-Texani wrote: Sooooo...if I decide to run for President...would any of you fuckers vote for me?

if i was an american...i don't think so, you'd establish a law to increase the Dr. Pepper factories

Jeffari-al-Texani wrote: Sooooo...if I decide to run for President...would any of you fuckers vote for me?

Two words - Hell. No.

Jeffari-al-Texani wrote: Sooooo...if I decide to run for President...would any of you fuckers vote for me?

Compare your life to what 2 term Pres Texan George W Bush did before he was age 40... you probably are over-qualified job wise and have not gotten drunk enough and sniffed enough coke off the ass of a fucked-up high end prostitute to reach the level of hypocrisy needed to be President... so no. oh what the hell, it's just one vote. sure.

Jeffari-al-Texani wrote:

Trans-Small-Town Order Express wrote:

Jeffari-al-Texani wrote: Sooooo...if I decide to run for President...would any of you fuckers vote for me?

Two words - Hell. No.

You probably aren't even registered to vote, so I'm not entirely worried.

but she could impact yer votes with those she's in 'bed' with... just see her numbers... it could take away yer base