Giving thanks because of MLK

[Lil' Bitch 0]

Martin Luther King did it, so can you!

 

Everyone makes a difference in this world, some of the differences we make are grander than others, more public and noticed, and some are as subtle as a smile.

 

Each day you make a difference with the way in which you interact with those around you. Your way of being, your words and your actions can have a major impact on others. Your positive and/or negative attitude rubs off on everyone you come in contact with and they respond to you like a mirror, giving back what they receive.

 

When you choose to be conscious of how you are around people you choose to make a difference in this world. Even in those brief encounters with people each day you can make a difference by the way you say hello or shake their hand, or look them in the eye.

 

When you listen intently to someone and give them your full attention you are letting them know they matter, what greater difference would that make in this world if we all felt we mattered to someone. Most of us just want to be heard, acknowledged and understood.

 

To make a difference with your family you get to accept and forgive. To make a difference with your children you get to teach them about character, honesty, integrity and love. To make a difference in your relationships you get to take responsibility for your part.

 

So, you can be as great as Martin Luther King by choosing to be someone who is conscious of how you treat others, aware that your actions make a difference, and your positive words can make someone's day!

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

MLK's my n*gga...

[The Czech Republic 0]

When will the FBI be allowed to release the files on him? 2028 or something, right?

[2GOLD 0]

When will the FBI be allowed to release the files on him? 2028 or something, right?

 

Essentially.

Although there is the legal loophole where if someone is alive that could be effected by something in the files, they will remain in the hands of the FBI until said person dies.

 

Why, I'm not exactly sure.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Wonder if then we'll finally see the pics of him getting freaky with anyone not called his wife...

[The Czech Republic 0]

I know Coretta Scott King put a 50-year freeze on his files at some point, but apparently there's stuff about 3-ways, Communism, and other fun stuff

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

What files are these, and how strong are the ties to communism, adultery, etc.

[The Czech Republic 0]

There's not a lot I know about it. If I did know more about it, it would probably be from reading the FBI files.

[BUTT 0]

apparently there's stuff about 3-ways,

 

Hot.

 

Communism

 

Even hotter.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

I don't understand this whole thing though. I mean what kind of files, like a criminal record sort of thing, how does the FBI have access to private parts of his life? It's not like that for everyone, and I'm also confused as to how they're just allowed to release this information to the public. It's almost like something out of a movie.

[The Czech Republic 0]

I know Ralph Abernathy, also of the SCLC during and after Dr. King's time with the organization, had some less than honorable things to say about MLK. And I believe Robert Kennedy wanted the FBI to wire-tap King.

[Jingus 0]

I don't understand this whole thing though. I mean what kind of files, like a criminal record sort of thing, how does the FBI have access to private parts of his life? It's not like that for everyone, and I'm also confused as to how they're just allowed to release this information to the public. It's almost like something out of a movie.

The FBI thoroughly investigated King and every other member of the civil rights movement of the 60's. As to why they'd be released: most classified government files have a born-on date, a specified period of time after which they're no longer top secret and are deemed "safe" to be perused by the public. And just like in this case, most of the files are set to declassify only after everyone involved in them is dead.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Actually in this case, they can't be made public until 2027.

[Downhome 0]

Thank you MLK, I enjoyed all of those days off from school over the years.

[Ripper 0]

I don't care if the files say he was sucking ass cock. He helped change the path of my race and for that I am grateful.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

...how does the FBI have access to private parts of his life?

Do you really need someone to answer that question.

 

He helped change the path of my race and for that I am grateful.

 

You still don't get a day off work though (you still at HP?)...

[Ripper 0]

Yeah. Fucking computer makers. Actually most of the company has the day off, our part didn't.

 

 

They take days off around here for anything though. I think Arbor day is a paid vacation for most of the departments...but NOOOO. Not mine. If I worked harder for aliving I would be livid.

[2GOLD 0]

I don't care if the files say he was sucking ass cock. He helped change the path of my race and for that I am grateful.

 

Sadly, some would. I have no idea WHY but some have a problem if they find out the reverend was bi-sexual. And the White Power groups would have a field day.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

I don't care if the files say he was sucking ass cock.  He helped change the path of my race and for that I am grateful.

 

Sadly, some would. I have no idea WHY but some have a problem if they find out the reverend was bi-sexual. And the White Power groups would have a field day.

Because alot of people that follow MLK are religious and that would make him a hypocrite in a lot of ways because he used Christianity much of the time to defend his views of equality, yet bisexuality is very un-Christian. Equality is obviously justified regardless of religious stance, but he spoke of religion much of the time.

 

As far as FBI having files on you, if you're cheating on your wife and are never caught, they wouldn't know about it. Of course, I didn't know about the thorough investigation by the FBI which would explain how they have that information.

 

How come Malcolm X doesn't have a day? Is it because he's Muslim and people might think he's a terrorist? Perhaps.

[NYU 0]

How come Malcolm X doesn't have a day? Is it because he's Muslim and people might think he's a terrorist? Perhaps.

Because Malcolm X promoted violence against whites, whereas Martin Luther King did not?

 

MLK was a safe symbol of racial equality, which is why he has been given his own day. Malcolm X was not.

[Jingus 0]

I'd say MLK accomplished a helluva lot more than Malcolm X ever did in the long run. Plus, a non-violent reverend like King does make a much more approachable and sellable martyr than a hardline muslim like X.

[Ripper 0]

I don't care if the files say he was sucking ass cock.  He helped change the path of my race and for that I am grateful.

 

Sadly, some would. I have no idea WHY but some have a problem if they find out the reverend was bi-sexual. And the White Power groups would have a field day.

Because alot of people that follow MLK are religious and that would make him a hypocrite in a lot of ways because he used Christianity much of the time to defend his views of equality, yet bisexuality is very un-Christian. Equality is obviously justified regardless of religious stance, but he spoke of religion much of the time.

 

As far as FBI having files on you, if you're cheating on your wife and are never caught, they wouldn't know about it. Of course, I didn't know about the thorough investigation by the FBI which would explain how they have that information.

 

How come Malcolm X doesn't have a day? Is it because he's Muslim and people might think he's a terrorist? Perhaps.

because he was a segregationist and his side lost.

 

And the thing about Kings speeches is that he didn't really jam the christanity part all over the thing. I mean, if you went to his church on sunday, then yeah...he would jesus that mufucka down, but in the equality speeches, he stuck more to the subject. And thats part of the reason they were great speeches.

[Ripper 0]

How come Malcolm X doesn't have a day? Is it because he's Muslim and people might think he's a terrorist? Perhaps.

Because Malcolm X promoted violence against whites, whereas Martin Luther King did not?

 

MLK was a safe symbol of racial equality, which is why he has been given his own day. Malcolm X was not.

Malcom X did not promote violence. He said stop taking them ass whoopings. If someone slaps you, slap them back basically.

 

There are so many misconceptions about Malcom X, always saying he was pro violence and all that. He never said, go get some guns and shoot the shit out of whitety till they make us their equals.

 

He was a segregationist through and through. He belived that whites and blacks were not meant to live in racial harmony and wanted whites to live their lives and blacks to live theirs. His views and Kings views were polar opposites, though both believed that what they were doing were best for their race.

 

More people agree with King.

[Guest Brian]

Actually, after he came back from Africa in the last year of his life, he totally changed his view on segregation.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

I was about to say, there are so many misconceptions about MX and it pisses me off, because it's unfair to him. People automatically assume he was violent and make opinions based upon that, when people like NYU have no idea what they're talking about.

 

Anyway, Malcolm X was more in favour of segregation in the beginning of his "career" as an activist, but towards the end after his visit to Mecca he became much more open minded about that sort of thing. He gave speeches to rooms of white people at Harvard based upon various topics in the social sciences, as well as conversing with white people on a regular basis. He however was much more in favour of emphasizing the black struggle as opposed to talking about whites changing the way they were. He believed essentially that the black community had to change their own lives first, and than later could things get better. That's why he would accept charities from whites, or maybe he wouldn't? I don't remember but it's important. He was in favour of segregation now so that blacks could get back on their feet, but to bring people together later on. Or something like that, I'm no historian but this is what I can remember at this point. Segregation now, harmony later. Of course, he died so we don't really know what he could have done had he had the time to see his influence on people.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

Actually, after he came back from Africa in the last year of his life, he totally changed his view on segregation.

Yeah, this is the short version of what I said ha.

[Ripper 0]

Actually, after he came back from Africa in the last year of his life, he totally changed his view on segregation.

Yeah, this is the short version of what I said ha.

He didn't change his view. he was till a segregationist. After he came back he was open to seeking the help and working with whites to get the movement that he believed accomplished. Before he was vehemently against working with whites to reach this goal. He didn't accept donations and wouldn't allow them to work with him(a point that Spike Lee KINDA pointed out in that scene in "X" but he was trying to avoid that) I don't recall the harmony later part. not saying it wasn't there, but I don't remember it.

 

Malcom X was a great speaker, just like King, and I think he was a very necessary part of the Civil rights movement to make it come about the way it did. I don't want to make it sound like he was bad for the movement.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

Well that's what I was trying to say before, he wasn't for segregation as much as he was for black people helping themselves and proving that they didn't need help from white people to do it, like the opposite of affirmative action I guess.

 

The fact that he still talked to white people and gave speeches to white people at universities and such should be proof enough that he wasn't for segregation, even in the traditional sense.

 

I also think what MLK did in his private life would be relevant to members of his Church, but not to what he meant to the movement then.

[NYU 0]

Malcom X did not promote violence.  He said stop taking them ass whoopings.  If someone slaps you, slap them back basically.

 

Malcolm X promoted a violent reaction for blacks if whites were violent to them. This was in direct contrast to MLK saying that one should turn the other cheek when faced with such issues. That was what I was trying to say. Malcolm X still DID promote violence, even if it wasn't totally irrational.

 

There are so many misconceptions about Malcom X, always saying he was pro violence and all that.  He never said, go get some guns and shoot the shit out of whitety till they make us their equals. 

 

No, and I never said he did.

 

He was a segregationist through and through.  He belived that whites and blacks were not meant to live in racial harmony and wanted whites to live their lives and blacks to live theirs.  His views and Kings views were polar opposites, though both believed that what they were doing were best for their race. 

 

Again, no disputing.

 

Now, I have a problem with the way Paragon is trying to paint Malcolm X. You're forgetting the fact that the guy, overall, really was not a very good human being. Perhaps his entire philosophy changed in the last year of his life but, before then, his segregating personality was a hugely detrimental force in trying to patch up any relationship problems between blacks and whites at the time.

 

Malcolm X didn't irrationally tell his followers that they should separate themselves from whites for the time being to try and improve their status. Rather, he blamed the recent plight of the black man on trying to follow the policies of whites. His teachings had several inflammatory points: The white man is evil, he is doomed by Allah to destruction, and that Western civilization has proven to be the downfall of African Americans in the United States. He told blacks to flat-out reject any ideas of integration and told them that the high crime rates in African American communites was a result of blacks trying to follow the morals of a Westernized, white society.

 

Malcolm X was clearly for segregation for the majority of his life. Hell, he flat out blamed the plight of African Americans on the white man. Sometimes, his points made sense, but other times, they just reeked of trying to answer a question that wasn't so simple to solve.

 

Paragon, you're painting Malcolm X as if he has been misunderstood the entire time. That he didn't blame whites for African American problems, that he didn't promote ideas of segregation, etc. That's just wrong. He didn't accept charities from whites and he didn't want to work with whites. He wanted to remain completely separated from them. This changed after he came back from Mecca, saying he now didn't believe all white men were evil, but it was a major philosophy of his for a large portion of his life.

 

And change your sig too. It stretches out the page.

Edited January 19, 2005 by NY Untouchable

[Ripper 0]

Whites were responsible for the plights of blacks back then.