Martin Luther King

[Nitroaddict]

Today is MLK Day. Let us all take a moment and realize what a great man he truely was:

He led a mass struggle for racial equality that doomed segregation and changed America forever

Three decades after King was gunned down on a motel balcony in Memphis, Tenn., he is still regarded mainly as the black leader of a movement for black equality. That assessment, while accurate, is far too restrictive. For all King did to free blacks from the yoke of segregation, whites may owe him the greatest debt, for liberating them from the burden of America's centuries-old hypocrisy about race. It is only because of King and the movement that he led that the U.S. can claim to be the leader of the "free world" without inviting smirks of disdain and disbelief. Had he and the blacks and whites who marched beside him failed, vast regions of the U.S. would have remained morally indistinguishable from South Africa under apartheid, with terrible consequences for America's standing among nations.

King's most quoted line—"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

 

[Lightfytr]

Beautifully put. I think it's important everyone know that is what he truly stood for. I actually downloaded his "I have a Dream" speach from the internet and played it for my daughter, so she could actually listen to his words and feel his conviction.
:read:

 

[Nitroaddict]

great thing to do. To here him speak, the amount of belief and power behind his voice is just amazing. I wish more people in this world would follow what he believed. If that was the case, there would be no Taliban, no Gay Bashing, no White Supremists, No Iraq war, no Terrorists, a peaceful Isreal....

 

[hotep75]

I am in the military and I found from my experience that most people here have not heard of Dr. King or the civil rights movement from 61 thru 74. With the world the way it is today we must continue to study the history of our becoming or we will be doomed to repeat it. What Dr. King gave the world was hope and courage that one person could make a difference regardless of color, ethinicity or any other difference between people. Diversity is America's greatest strength and many more Americans are realizing that so hopefully one day we will all get to enjoy the benefit of true freedom. God bless!

 

[Nitroaddict]

hotep - VERY WELL SAID! I am not familiar with Atsugi. Where in Japan are you? I spent alot of time in Sasebo, Yokusksa, and Misawa.

 

[hotep75]

Atsugi is about 45 minutes from Yokosuka. I have been to all of the above and the worst of all is Atsugi but it's still a-ight. Were you in the Navy?

 

[Nitroaddict]

Yes I was. CTi2(SS/DV) - You?'

Misawa was the worst for me....COLD!!!!!

 

[hotep75]

I am a ETC(SW/AW). You are sooo right about Misawa. :snowman: I can't stand snow. In fact, if it wasn't for the snow I would have loved it. During the short summer month I would ride wave runners on the lake. Now, that was fun.

 

[Nitroaddict]

Yeah, I was only in Misawa for a short time doing spec ops onboard a P3. Man - too cold for me. I wouldnt even get in that lake during July, lol.

Sasebo was my favorite place in Japan. Nice and warm, not alot of people. Do you speak Japanese?

 

[hotep75]

I do speak a little Japanese but no fluently yet. I want to learn before I leave here.

 

[Nitroaddict]

great! I was a linguist (Cti), so it was easy to pick up. Fun language, just watch the masculin/feminin inflection, lol.