MLK Jr would be a Republican today

[Ostatedchi]

I contend that MLK Jr would be sickened by the race activities from the left. He believed you shouldn't judge people by the color of their skin; yet that's exactly what the left does. They group people by color and assume no individuality among the group.

Also, the only way to judge someone by the content of their character is to observer their actions. The actions of the left in this country lately would lead someone to conclude many have little character. Riots were totally against what MLK Jr stood for. Protesting by blocking roadways, looting stores, physically assaulting people just because they are a different color, intimidating artists so they won't perform at a presidential inauguration or can't speak at a university, demanding segregated housing, and omitting the teachings of whites just because they are white.

Judge people by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. In today's society, it is the Republicans that are doing just that; not Democrats.

 

[Rdcldad]

I contend that MLK Jr would be sickened by the race activities from the left. He believed you shouldn't judge people by the color of their skin; yet that's exactly what the left does. They group people by color and assume no individuality among the group.

Also, the only way to judge someone by the content of their character is to observer their actions. The actions of the left in this country lately would lead someone to conclude many have little character. Riots were totally against what MLK Jr stood for. Protesting by blocking roadways, looting stores, physically assaulting people just because they are a different color, intimidating artists so they won't perform at a presidential inauguration or can't speak at a university, demanding segregated housing, and omitting the teachings of whites just because they are white.

Judge people by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. In today's society, it is the Republicans that are doing just that; not Democrats.

interesting thoughts

 

[Bitter Creek]

I contend that MLK Jr would be sickened by the race activities from the left. He believed you shouldn't judge people by the color of their skin; yet that's exactly what the left does. They group people by color and assume no individuality among the group.

Also, the only way to judge someone by the content of their character is to observer their actions. The actions of the left in this country lately would lead someone to conclude many have little character. Riots were totally against what MLK Jr stood for. Protesting by blocking roadways, looting stores, physically assaulting people just because they are a different color, intimidating artists so they won't perform at a presidential inauguration or can't speak at a university, demanding segregated housing, and omitting the teachings of whites just because they are white.

Judge people by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. In today's society, it is the Republicans that are doing just that; not Democrats.

Didn't he advocate for the gov't to provide housing for everyone?

 

[imprimis]

Always remember it was democrats who founded the KKK, BLM, imposed Jim Crow laws, and worshiped a former KKK Grand Kleagle.

 

[Ostatedchi]

Pretty sure he advocated for quality affordable housing for everyone. Not sure about government provided housing. But if he did, I'd bet money it wasn't segregated.

His work led to the Fair Housing Act that stopped discrimination in lending and access to housing.

 

[HighStickHarry]

Every hardship he faced and real racist he stared down was personally impressive. To watch the race baiters and professional victims piss it away since his death has been heartbreaking and maddening.

 

[07pilt]

 

[wyomingosualum]

Interesting that he never said that publicly. Or did he?

 

[hollywood]

So, the guy: who was a strong supporter of unions; who advocated for a system that is basically known today as "affirmative action; who said that the US should adopt the Scandinavian position on providing free health care to all Americans, who told his wife in a letter - "(I) welcome the day when "there will be a nationalization of industry ... and a better distribution of wealth" and in another- "I imagine you already know that I am much more socialistic in my economic theory than capitalistic."

That guy a Republican? Sounds a hell of a lot more like Bernie Sanders than any Republican I am familiar with.

 

[squeak]

So, the guy: who was a strong supporter of unions; who advocated for a system that is basically known today as "affirmative action; who said that the US should adopt the Scandinavian position on providing free health care to all Americans, who told his wife in a letter - "(I) welcome the day when "there will be a nationalization of industry ... and a better distribution of wealth" and in another- "I imagine you already know that I am much more socialistic in my economic theory than capitalistic."

That guy a Republican? Sounds a hell of a lot more like Bernie Sanders than any Republican I am familiar with.

I disagree. MLK was interested in helping poor white people.

 

[MegaPoke]

So, the guy: who was a strong supporter of unions; who advocated for a system that is basically known today as "affirmative action; who said that the US should adopt the Scandinavian position on providing free health care to all Americans, who told his wife in a letter - "(I) welcome the day when "there will be a nationalization of industry ... and a better distribution of wealth" and in another- "I imagine you already know that I am much more socialistic in my economic theory than capitalistic."

That guy a Republican? Sounds a hell of a lot more like Bernie Sanders than any Republican I am familiar with.

He also was a big time gun owner who was against abortion and multiculturalism. He was all about breaking down barriers - with sons of slaves and sons of slave owners sitting at the same table and their children holding hands. He would've been unimpressed by millennials expecting handouts or complaining about cultural appropriation. He might have been an advocate for what became "affirmative action" but he was speaking in a time when segregation was a thing. Back of the bus, service refused, separate water fountains - massive institutional racism. The racial context of his time was not in the same universe as what we swim in now. I think if someone told him that in 2017, a black American president was about to wrap up his second term, he would likely have considered the dream achieved.

He certainly wouldn't be a neocon McCain kind of republican, but I seriously doubt he would be impressed with the divisive race baiting modern 'civil rights leaders' like John Lewis, nor the nihilistic anarchists found in election protests or BLM marches. He would likely have sat down as his son did today with Trump and found common ground and direction. He certainly wouldn't be a pussy like the fools in congress grandstanding and boycotting the inauguration.

I don't pretend to know what letter would be by his name, but such shit no longer matters much.

If he were frozen in time an instant before he was shot and unthawed today, it's safe to say he would hold some of the carriers of his legacy accountable for the problems we continue to have. Today's civil rights movement has about as much in common with his original vision as the Spanish Inquisition had with Christ's admonishments to love and forgive. I would go as far as to say that the president and current civil rights leaders understand that full realization of MLK's dream is very bad for business. The perception of racism and inequality must persist if they are going to count on that voting bloc in 80%+ quantities. Trump put a dent in that, and you might be surprised at what the freshly unfrozen MLK would think about Trump. Maybe not. Who knows.

Republican? probably not - as they are defined in recent generations, but I doubt he would be very impressed with Bernie the Clown.

 

[Ostatedchi]

The man wanted a colorblind society. The left is polar opposite of that philosophy today. He'd roll over in his grave at the state of liberalism.

 

[07pilt]

“I contend that the cry of “Black Power” is, at bottom, a reaction to the reluctance of white power to make the kind of changes necessary to make justice a reality for the Negro. I think that we’ve got to see that a riot is the language of the unheard. And, what is it that America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear that the economic plight of the Negro poor has worsened over the last few years.”

MLK or BLM?

"But it is not enough for me to stand before you tonight and condemn riots. It would be morally irresponsible for me to do that without, at the same time, condemning the contingent, intolerable conditions that exist in our society. These conditions are the things that cause individuals to feel that they have no other alternative than to engage in violent rebellions to get attention. And I must say tonight that a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it America has failed to hear?...It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice and humanity."

MLK or the race baiter in chief?

“Again we have deluded ourselves into believing the myth that Capitalism grew and prospered out of the Protestant ethic of hard work and sacrifice. The fact is that capitalism was built on the exploitation and suffering of black slaves and continues to thrive on the exploitation of the poor – both black and white, both here and abroad.”

 

[mseabolt]

Three years later in 1966, in an interview with Mike Wallace, Dr. King continued to stress the path of non-violence, despite a summer of violence. Race riots were taking place across the country, and rifts in the civil rights movement were widening. Militant leaders - like Stokely Carmichael and his call for "black power" -- demanded that the movement part from Dr. King's gospel.

Despite such pressure, Dr. King would not budge. He told Mike:

I contend that the cry of "black power" is, at bottom, a reaction to the reluctance of white power to make the kind of changes necessary to make justice a reality for the Negro. I think that we've got to see that a riot is the language of the unheard.

Dr. King fought on, non-violently, for two more years. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968, the day after he gave his moving "Mountaintop" speech in which he told a crowd in Memphis that he'd seen the "Promised Land" of a just country, but tragically predicted:

I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land.

Below is the text of Mike's Sept. 27, 1966, interview with Dr. King for CBS Reports.

KING (interview): I will never change in my basic idea that non-violence is the most potent weapon available to the Negro in his struggle for freedom and justice. I think for the Negro to turn to violence would be both impractical and immoral.

MIKE WALLACE: There's an increasingly vocal minority who disagree totally with your tactics, Dr. King.

KING: There's no doubt about that. I will agree that there is a group in the Negro community advocating violence now. I happen to feel that this group represents a numerical minority. Surveys have revealed this. The vast majority of Negroes still feel that the best way to deal with the dilemma that we face in this country is through non-violent resistance, and I don't think this vocal group will be able to make a real dent in the Negro community in terms of swaying 22 million Negroes to this particular point of view. And I contend that the cry of "black power" is, at bottom, a reaction to the reluctance of white power to make the kind of changes necessary to make justice a reality for the Negro. I think that we've got to see that a riot is the language of the unheard. And, what is it that America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear that the economic plight of the Negro poor has worsened over the last few years.

WALLACE: How many summers like this do you imagine that we can expect?

KING: Well, I would say this: we don't have long. The mood of the Negro community now is one of urgency, one of saying that we aren't going to wait. That we've got to have our freedom. We've waited too long. So that I would say that every summer we're going to have this kind of vigorous protest. My hope is that it will be non-violent. I would hope that we can avoid riots because riots are self-defeating and socially destructive. I would hope that we can avoid riots, but that we would be as militant and as determined next summer and through the winter as we have been this summer. And I think the answer about how long it will take will depend on the federal government, on the city halls of our various cities, and on White America to a large extent. This is where we are at this point, and I think White America will determine how long it will be and which way we go in the future.

 

[MegaPoke]