Thanking Dr. MLK

[Vilandil Tasardur]

MLK gets a lot of high praise, and a lot of serious celebration. But I feel that we often celebrate the grand scale, macro achievements of his. I pose that we all take a moment and look inwards; let's be thankful for what the good reverend did for us, today.

Take a moment to think deep. Think about all of the opportunities, all of the friendships, and all of the memories that would not have been without the reverend. Share the ones that are appropriate. But let's change it up a tiny bit, and focus our celebration on what he did for you,

I'll start things off. This July, I'll be marrying a beautiful white girl. Not only are her parents okay with it, they're through the roof. It may seem like a little thing, but just two or three generations ago this would have been quite taboo. So I'll take the day today and celebrate a man who decades ago made my life possible today.

[Jumbo]

It's a great opportunity for enhancing one's perspective on many aspects of many matters that we discuss in here (or anywhere) to reflect on how not too long ago, something like a black/white marriage was thought by a majority of people (and legislative institutions since the founding of the nation) in this country to be biologically, socially, and morally/spiritually, a terrible thing.

While bigotry and that specific form of racist thinking has hardly been eliminated, there has been great change and it's a reminder that such things can change, though the process is painful in the most significant ways.

Good luck and may you have a wonderful marriage. And while the man remembered today is often attached to his own failings (especially by those with certain agendas), he played a major and admirable (even heroic) role in doing this nation, and even the world, a great service.

[Vilandil Tasardur]

Good luck and may you have a wonderful marriage. And while the man remembered today is often attached to his own failings (especially by those with certain agendas), he played a major and admirable (even heroic) role in doing this nation, and even the world, a great service.

While I agree, and think it deplorable, when people try to minimize his impact (or worse) by attaching him to his failings, I think it wonderful that he had them. I think it's wonderful that we can lift up, honor, and remember a man for all of the wonderful things that he did while still acknowledging a handful of mistakes (especially when they pale in comparison to his deeds. Too often we deify our heros, and cry foul when you speak of them as less then perfect.

I love that I can look back on one of history's greatest men as a man; every bit as stressed out, prone to anger, prone to haste, and fallible as I am. It makes me feel good to know that you don't need great men to make a difference, just ordinary men willing to do great things.

[Mad Mike]

I'll join in by saying thank you to Dr. King for helping to create the diverse atmosphere that has allowed me to meet and develop wonderful friendships with so many people of color. That diversity has helped me become a better, wiser man.

[SemperFi Skins]

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

[brandymac27]

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

One of my favorite quotes! I'll join in the spirit of the thread by thanking him for my 2 kids, who I love more than anything. They're biracial, and without Dr. King, it's possible the children I have wouldn't be here.

[Vilandil Tasardur]

Nice sentiments guys. It's sobering to think about how many people I might never have met without civil rights leaders fighting the good fight to change perception.

[AsburySkinsFan]

This MLK Jr day feels strange in this political climate of aggression, anger, threats of violence, and vengeance. And odd dichotomy to be sure, one day praising one of the great Pacifists in our nation's history, and tomorrow we'll go back to talking about defeating tyranny with guns and war. All things in moderation I guess.

[railcon56]

"Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." -MLK

[IONTOP]

As a firm believer in "All are equal", you're not going to find me saying that people's rights are negated because society as a whole believes they are inferior.

[Renegade7]

I'm a firm believer in "Just because that's the way things are doesn't mean that's the way things have to be". He's a huge reason why.