The Conscious Room
THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES:
The Glen Beck rally is today at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. Incidentally, today marks the anniversary of the march on Washington and the Dr. King 'I Have A Dream' speech which is remembered and recognized as the Civil Rights call to action. The call to a racist and prejudiced America that excluded Black Americans and failed to yield(not give)to our civil rights, our inalienable, God given rights to BE.
Well, this speech by the late Dr. King is recognized around the world to be one of inclusion for all people. It was a clarion call to White America that we weren't going away, we were going to fight for our rights; but it was also a summons to everyone, near and far, that we were a people-strong and proud. Willing to continue on in the struggle, standing on the front line, making the march to freedom, all while singing and holding hands. It was a movement.
A righteous movement of people, both rich and poor. Black and white. A unified body of folk who saw the injustices of a nation that looked the other way while Black boys were hanged and killed for seemingly looking at a White woman. I'm talking about a nation that refused to honor their own constitution to afford every citizen the right to freedom and liberty and justice for all. This movement was birthed in churches, governed by men and women who were tired of being mistreated and denied their God given freedom to simply live in a world and have harmony with one another, despite the color of their skin.
This is what Dr. Martin Luther King preached about. Yes, he was a preacher. He proclaimed, inspired and informed a nation of people,here and abroad of the ills of a society that consciously held their heads low as little brown girls were bombed having Sunday School in a church in Alabama.
This was a movement.
So, on this day,a day marked with pride,honor and legacy. Glen Beck, a satirical commentator masquerading as an intelligent news forum, will take center stage, along with other far right wing figures, and proclaim his message. He claims he didn't know this was the day Dr. King gave his speech; nevertheless, he is going forward with a march. a Tea Party march on Washington. This 'movement' is one of exclusion, of political mainlining and of separatism.
It's a dangerous movement.
There are people/figures in politics and news today that can be what one might call 'polarizing'. Simply stated, it suggest that there are those who can, with the politics and public opinion, become extreme. A place where a voice of moderation can be drowned out and overlooked. The louder the bark, the more extreme the group becomes.
These groups, in my opinion, are bred in small town meetings, backyard barbqueues, and even in the halls of Washington. They create an atmosphere of hostility and anger which ultimately, if left alone with no interference, will explode.
The difference with the civil rights groups of former and even now. I believe they were inclusive. It wasn't about bashing the government or figures in general. It was about correcting injustices. Both political and social, but primarily social. As the social injustices began to become corrected and eradicated, the politics began to improve. Doors became open so that people of color and of different backgrounds could enter in and begin to institute change. the type of change that allowed a black man to sit on the highest court in the land. The kind of change that opened the doors for a wave of black mayors, judges and lawyers. The kind of change that even now allows the nation to have it's first Black president in the land of the 'free'.
All born from the movement.
I'm all for free speech. All should be able to exercise their 'rights'. Yeah,yeah,yeah...but my concern is this. If an organization is not drawing people together for the common good of all, if it is promoting isolation and aligning itself with agendas that promote hate, anarchy and revolt, then this 'organization' is potentially threatening the welfare of 'all'.
It may be creating a dangerous movement.
One that doesn't capture the minds and hearts of the many, but of only a few...
On this day, I choose to remember the legacy of a man and of a people who tirelessly fought for the people. With conviction and honor, Dr. King fought. His comrades in the movement who walked with him, ate with him, went to jail with him....in the name of the struggle...I salute YOU on today.
In 2010, I look around me as I allow myself to think on the things that have happened, and of the things, I've been taught about my history, our history, American history. We've come so far, but so much more can be done.
May we never forget the struggle. It continues. Be responsible with your words. Don't 'lay down your religion', walk in your truths and in your beliefs. Teach our children. Be good examples..don't lie, don't pimp, don't forget.....never forget....
Our people are relying on us.....
Selah
THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES:
The Glen Beck rally is today at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. Incidentally, today marks the anniversary of the march on Washington and the Dr. King 'I Have A Dream' speech which is remembered and recognized as the Civil Rights call to action. The call to a racist and prejudiced America that excluded Black Americans and failed to yield(not give)to our civil rights, our inalienable, God given rights to BE.
Well, this speech by the late Dr. King is recognized around the world to be one of inclusion for all people. It was a clarion call to White America that we weren't going away, we were going to fight for our rights; but it was also a summons to everyone, near and far, that we were a people-strong and proud. Willing to continue on in the struggle, standing on the front line, making the march to freedom, all while singing and holding hands. It was a movement.
A righteous movement of people, both rich and poor. Black and white. A unified body of folk who saw the injustices of a nation that looked the other way while Black boys were hanged and killed for seemingly looking at a White woman. I'm talking about a nation that refused to honor their own constitution to afford every citizen the right to freedom and liberty and justice for all. This movement was birthed in churches, governed by men and women who were tired of being mistreated and denied their God given freedom to simply live in a world and have harmony with one another, despite the color of their skin.
This is what Dr. Martin Luther King preached about. Yes, he was a preacher. He proclaimed, inspired and informed a nation of people,here and abroad of the ills of a society that consciously held their heads low as little brown girls were bombed having Sunday School in a church in Alabama.
This was a movement.
So, on this day,a day marked with pride,honor and legacy. Glen Beck, a satirical commentator masquerading as an intelligent news forum, will take center stage, along with other far right wing figures, and proclaim his message. He claims he didn't know this was the day Dr. King gave his speech; nevertheless, he is going forward with a march. a Tea Party march on Washington. This 'movement' is one of exclusion, of political mainlining and of separatism.
It's a dangerous movement.
There are people/figures in politics and news today that can be what one might call 'polarizing'. Simply stated, it suggest that there are those who can, with the politics and public opinion, become extreme. A place where a voice of moderation can be drowned out and overlooked. The louder the bark, the more extreme the group becomes.
These groups, in my opinion, are bred in small town meetings, backyard barbqueues, and even in the halls of Washington. They create an atmosphere of hostility and anger which ultimately, if left alone with no interference, will explode.
The difference with the civil rights groups of former and even now. I believe they were inclusive. It wasn't about bashing the government or figures in general. It was about correcting injustices. Both political and social, but primarily social. As the social injustices began to become corrected and eradicated, the politics began to improve. Doors became open so that people of color and of different backgrounds could enter in and begin to institute change. the type of change that allowed a black man to sit on the highest court in the land. The kind of change that opened the doors for a wave of black mayors, judges and lawyers. The kind of change that even now allows the nation to have it's first Black president in the land of the 'free'.
All born from the movement.
I'm all for free speech. All should be able to exercise their 'rights'. Yeah,yeah,yeah...but my concern is this. If an organization is not drawing people together for the common good of all, if it is promoting isolation and aligning itself with agendas that promote hate, anarchy and revolt, then this 'organization' is potentially threatening the welfare of 'all'.
It may be creating a dangerous movement.
One that doesn't capture the minds and hearts of the many, but of only a few...
On this day, I choose to remember the legacy of a man and of a people who tirelessly fought for the people. With conviction and honor, Dr. King fought. His comrades in the movement who walked with him, ate with him, went to jail with him....in the name of the struggle...I salute YOU on today.
In 2010, I look around me as I allow myself to think on the things that have happened, and of the things, I've been taught about my history, our history, American history. We've come so far, but so much more can be done.
May we never forget the struggle. It continues. Be responsible with your words. Don't 'lay down your religion', walk in your truths and in your beliefs. Teach our children. Be good examples..don't lie, don't pimp, don't forget.....never forget....
Our people are relying on us.....
Selah
This is a re-post from August of 2010.
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