Monday, January 17, 2011

Martin Luther King Day

Today is the day that we remember and honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. -- the leader of the civil rights movement that was a at the forefront of omy growng up years. He was an extraordinary man in extraordinary times. Many of you who read this blog, like me, were just coming of age when he was killed by an assassin's bullet -- just a few years after we suffered the loss of President Kennedy the same way.

Much has been written about the effect those heinous acts had on us as individuals, as a generation and as a country. And here we are again after another tragic assault on another leader who only wanted to good for us and our country and today I wept for Gabrielle and all who were killed or injured in the Tuscon tragedy. The madness of the times of our youth is still very much with us and, if anything, has gotten worse and that saddens me deeply.

We, as a country, have obviously learned nothing from our past mistakes and hate is very much with us. At a time we should be coming together, we have finger-pointing and hate speech from those who purport to be our leaders at a level I've never seen in my nearly sixty-three years.

What is the answer? I don't know. However, I do think it would behoove us to muster the courage of of the late Dr. King to scourge those who feed hate and violence from the air waves and from our government and look into our own hearts to find the strength to restore honor and decency to our country. To do otherwise is disrespecting the legacy our Founding Fathers left us and the future of our grandchildren.

I know I've rambled a lot here and I hope at least some of it makes sense. I'm still pretty upset -- and will probably continue to be so. Please bear with me.

Here's a song that was popular in our youth that asks a pertinent question: When we ever learn? And Joan Baez is still asking it and still sounds and looks beautiful.



{To those who had trouble with my videos: I checked and they still run perfectly on my blog. Since I'm not a techie I can only guess that it's a problem with your settings or somesuch. If you wish, you can click on the YouTube logo and watch them at their site}.

Kay

6 comments:

  1. With the exception of the governor, Jan Brewer, and the Arizona Republicans in the Legislature, the people's conscience is pricked for a short time after one national tragedy after another. The assassination of Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Kent Sate, etc. etc. ad nausea stopped the craziness for a while. It never lasted.

    Sadly,we are at each others throats again in a very short time. I would like to think that we learn something from these catastrophes, but I fear it doesn't happen. It seems to just get worse.

    Our country is in great danger of becoming unraveled if this vitriol doesn't end. We are not only divided, we are incapable of solving any problem.

    Hate is such an ugly emotion and the consequences are devastating.

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  2. Love the Post and You too Kay!

    You my friend are AWESOME with a capital W!! I mean "A"

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  3. Thank goodness, the video link wrked just fine. I ditto Darlene.

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  4. tnlic: I'm glad it worked. And yes, I agree, but I'm sure as hell not gonna play yes-ma'am to the Teabaggers. They don't want a middle ground. It's their way or the highway

    John: You are a sweetie!!!

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  5. Your video worked fine for me. Boy, she's still got it, doesn't she.

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