Lest We Forget
I admire those men and women that stand for their convictions. Whether I believe in their cause does not really change my admiration. The quote attributed to the French philosopher Voltaire, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” in some ways mirrors how I feel. I cannot say that I am impressed with any of the current crop of leaders and their ability to stand by what they believe.
The last American who I believe truly stood for their convictions was Martin Luther King. I am not a fan of how his legacy is treated. Naming bridges and roads after him, replacing other prominent local names rubs me the wrong way. Giving him a national holiday and replacing Presidents Day was an honor but I feel that George Washington and Abraham Lincoln also played a more prominent role in our nations past and also deserve the honor. Martin Luther King played the leading role in providing the path for all American minorities to attain equal rights. He stood up for American blacks that had experienced centuries of oppression in our land of milk and honey. He stood up to hate groups and governments and laws that attempted to halt all forward progress of his movement. And although he was murdered by one of those who hated him, his legacy and momentum carried the march for equal rights forward to victory.
Some want to take his fight a step further and tear down any division between differences. That would mean no gender, capability, handicap, or any difference would matter and we all know that Tiny Tim will never play in the NBA. Taking the equal rights to its illogical conclusion allows Tiny Tim to sue his way into the power forward position for the LA Lakers due to discrimination. That spits in the face of market forces driving decisions and we all know that money will talk, most of the time. Everyone has a talent or skill that makes them unique. Some of these skills are marketable like musicians or athletes. Some are more whimsical like chicken clucking or watermelon spitting. Each of us contributes to the whole, some more than others. What we could really use right now is someone passionate enough, cemented in their convictions, and charismatic enough to lead us. That is the way to unite people into one camp or another. I just hope I don’t have to quote Voltaire at my camp site.
Icool
Cobb
The last American who I believe truly stood for their convictions was Martin Luther King. I am not a fan of how his legacy is treated. Naming bridges and roads after him, replacing other prominent local names rubs me the wrong way. Giving him a national holiday and replacing Presidents Day was an honor but I feel that George Washington and Abraham Lincoln also played a more prominent role in our nations past and also deserve the honor. Martin Luther King played the leading role in providing the path for all American minorities to attain equal rights. He stood up for American blacks that had experienced centuries of oppression in our land of milk and honey. He stood up to hate groups and governments and laws that attempted to halt all forward progress of his movement. And although he was murdered by one of those who hated him, his legacy and momentum carried the march for equal rights forward to victory.
Some want to take his fight a step further and tear down any division between differences. That would mean no gender, capability, handicap, or any difference would matter and we all know that Tiny Tim will never play in the NBA. Taking the equal rights to its illogical conclusion allows Tiny Tim to sue his way into the power forward position for the LA Lakers due to discrimination. That spits in the face of market forces driving decisions and we all know that money will talk, most of the time. Everyone has a talent or skill that makes them unique. Some of these skills are marketable like musicians or athletes. Some are more whimsical like chicken clucking or watermelon spitting. Each of us contributes to the whole, some more than others. What we could really use right now is someone passionate enough, cemented in their convictions, and charismatic enough to lead us. That is the way to unite people into one camp or another. I just hope I don’t have to quote Voltaire at my camp site.
Icool
Cobb
posted by Cobb at
6:25 AM
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