I Have a Dream
January 21st, 2008 at 09:00am Mark Noonan
And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.
Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.
Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of
Pennsylvania.Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.
But not only that:
Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.
From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:
Free at last! Free at last!
Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!
Happy Martin Luther King day.
Entry Filed under: Holiday Observances, Patriotism
46 Comments
1. js | January 21st, 2008 at 9:23 am
freedoms nature is fleeting
for it is of a characture
that if you do not give away
you cannot keep it
yet, the harder you try to keep it
the less you have of it
2. Casper | January 21st, 2008 at 9:48 am
One of the greatest speeches of all times.
Happy Martin Luther King day.
3. SEW | January 21st, 2008 at 9:50 am
Happy Birthday to a great man!
http://www.nationalblackrepublicans.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=pages.DYK-Why%20MLK%20was%20a%20Republican&tp_preview=true
4. neocon | January 21st, 2008 at 9:57 am
I agree Casper. He was truly a visonary and left us way too early.
God Bless MLK.
5. Ali A. Akbar | January 21st, 2008 at 11:37 am
Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
6. Reg Dwight | January 21st, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Funny how you Republicans are falling all over Martin Luther King.
Don’t ever forget your beloved Vice President Cheney voted against the creation of Martin Luther King day when he was in the House.
I wonder if Cheney took the day off?
7. SEW | January 21st, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Even funnier how Democrats are falling all over a religious conservative preaching for equality.
http://www.nationalblackrepublicans.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=pages.DYK-Why%20MLK%20was%20a%20Republican&tp_preview=true
8. Gar Wood | January 21st, 2008 at 1:24 pm
“Even funnier how Democrats are falling all over a religious conservative preaching for equality.”
MLK voted for JFK and LBJ.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/18/AR2006101801754.html
Gar Wood
9. Reg Dwight | January 21st, 2008 at 1:36 pm
National Black Republicans? Lord almighty. Thats got to be a small group. I could probably feed them all brats and beer in my back yard and still have room for volleyball game.
10. Nols | January 21st, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Wow, absolutely nothing is sacred anymore. How can a nice tribute to one of this world’s greatest souls turn partisan?
This is why I am now an independent.
11. SEW | January 21st, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Reg, Gar and I are Independents too. We’re making fun of the Dems/Repubs. Michael King was awesome.
12. Nols | January 21st, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Ohh, that makes it ok then.
What a load of crap.
13. Jeremiah | January 21st, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Happy Birthday to Martin Luther King Jr.
And Happy Birthday to me!
~ Jeremiah
14. SEW | January 21st, 2008 at 3:59 pm
“absolutely nothing is sacred anymore” Nols
A sacred birthday celebration? Christmas?
Holiness, or sanctity, is the state of being holy or sacred, that is, set apart for the worship or service of God or gods.
en.wikipedia.org
15. Kahn | January 21st, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Reg Dwight - funny how Republicans voted overwhelmingly for Civil Rights while a bare majority of Democrats did. Funny that.
16. neocon | January 21st, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Gar Wood,
I challenge you to read JFK’s 1961 inaugural address and tell me whether that is more in line with the current Democratic or Republican party.
If JFK were around today, he’d be considered a conservative.
17. Gar Wood | January 21st, 2008 at 4:53 pm
“I challenge you to read JFK’s 1961 inaugural address and tell me whether that is more in line with the current Democratic or Republican party.
If JFK were around today, he’d be considered a conservative.”
Neocon,
So not only was MLK a conservative, but so was JFK. You’re joking, right? Fascinating stuff always on BFV. What exactly did JFK do that would make him a modern-day conservative? Here are some major points from the inaugural address may run counter to your claim:
“To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support—to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective—to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak—and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run.”
Democrats.
“So let us begin anew—remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.”
Democrats.
“Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce.”
Democrats.
http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres56.html
He uses a lot of religious rhetoric, which Democrats and Republicans both use plenty of today. But JFK was not a conservative. Neither was MLK.
Gar Wood
18. Jeremiah | January 21st, 2008 at 5:21 pm
http://www.nationalblackrepublicans.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=pages.DYK-Why%20MLK%20was%20a%20Republican&tp_preview=true
~ Jeremiah
19. Kahn | January 21st, 2008 at 5:25 pm
What exactly did JFK do? Let’s see…
1. Big tax cut
2. Started the Green Berets AND the SEAL’s
3. Faced down USSR in Berlin
4. Brought the World to the very brink of nuclear annihilation over the Cuban missile crisis.
5. Brought in his brother, who had absolutely NO trial experience of any kind to be Attorney General of the United States.
6. Let our erstwhile allies twist in the wind when they invaded Cuba - OK, gotta give ya that one.
7. Sleptwith many many women one of whom was an East German spy. - OK, that one also.
20. Kahn | January 21st, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Ya know - it would help if you liberals got outside your “groupthink” mentality for a little while and actually read something.
Oh, and JFK joined the Navy during wartime- something wildly unDemocrat in TODAYs world. You are quickly losing anyone in your party with military experience to time and age. What claim will you have in 15 years to know anything about military affairs?
21. neocon | January 21st, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Gar,
There’s this:
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.
Then this:
To those new States whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom
Then this:
Let all our neighbors know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas. And let every other power know that this Hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house
Then this:
We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed.
And finally the call to action:
And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.
The Democrats of today represent NOTHING of those values and missions stated in his speech.
22. Uncommon | January 21st, 2008 at 5:50 pm
You people bicker, nitpick, and argue about the dumbest things. And Kahn, it is still groupthink if you only read things that reaffirm your own beliefs. I seriously doubt you would ever read anything that challenged your beliefs from someone you did not already agree with.
23. rubbersoul | January 21st, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Bill had a dream…
http://www.nypost.com/seven/01212008/news/regionalnews/bill_has_a_dream_474243.htm
Obama 2008!
24. FmrMarine | January 21st, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Didnt DEMOCRAT President - LBJ, and his FBI appointee J.edgar hoover SPY on ole martin?
Didnt they report he took money from Marxist organizations?
Didnt they report he consorted with prostitutes?
Didnt they report he stirred up violence while pro porting to be peaceful?
Didnt he get murdered in a southern democtat led state?
tell us about the Republicans and MLK post-#6
dewight
25. FmrMarine | January 21st, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Hey rubber here is earbamas dream………
I especially like 2, 3, 8, 10. and the pledge to …… ” REMAIN TRUE to our NATIVE LAND ” ….. AFRICA.
Not to mention the ties his “church” has with NOI
Trinity United Church of Christ
About Us
We are a congregation which is Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian… Our roots in the Black religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting and permanent. We are an African people, and remain “true to our native land,” the mother continent, the cradle of civilization. God has superintended our pilgrimage through the days of slavery, the days of segregation, and the long night of racism. It is God who gives us the strength and courage to continuously address injustice as a people, and as a congregation. We constantly affirm our trust in God through cultural expression of a Black worship service and ministries which address the Black Community.
Trinity United Church of Christ adopted the Black Value System written by the Manford Byrd Recognition Committee chaired by Vallmer Jordan in 1981. We believe in the following 12 precepts and covenantal statements. These Black Ethics must be taught and exemplified in homes, churches, nurseries and schools, wherever Blacks are gathered. They must reflect on the following concepts:
1. Commitment to God
2. Commitment to the Black Community
3. Commitment to the Black Family
4. Dedication to the Pursuit of Education
5. Dedication to the Pursuit of Excellence
6. Adherence to the Black Work Ethic
7. Commitment to Self-Discipline and Self-Respect
8. Disavowal of the Pursuit of “Middleclassness”
9. Pledge to make the fruits of all developing and acquired skills available to the Black Community
10. Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for Strengthening and Supporting Black Institutions
11. Pledge allegiance to all Black leadership who espouse and embrace the Black Value System
12. Personal commitment to embracement of the Black Value System.
26. Casper | January 21st, 2008 at 6:26 pm
neocon,
You are right in that those words don’t represent Democratic values. However, they don’t represent Republican values either.
“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”
Doesn’t sound to be like a call to cut taxes during time of war. What hardships have we been asked to endure, except those of us with relatives in the military?
“Let all our neighbors know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas. And let every other power know that this Hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house”
Considering we have pretty much ignored the countries in our hemisphere for the last seven years I sure don’t see this as a Republican value.
“We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed.”
We had the strongest military in the history of the world on 9/11 and it didn’t stop the attacks.
“And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”
Didn’t Bush tell everyone to go shopping after 9/11? Not quite the same value. To be honest, if Kennedy were alive today, he would probably be an Independent. He definitely wouldn’t be a Republican.
27. SEW | January 21st, 2008 at 6:29 pm
“We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed.”
1] John Kerry
2]FatAl Gore
3]Bill Clinton
4]Ronald Reagan
5]JFK
6]Jimmy Carter
7]George W Bush
28. Casper | January 21st, 2008 at 6:55 pm
FmrMarine,
That’s what? The third time you’ve printed that list. Why don’t you just post the link next time?
29. neocon | January 21st, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Casper,
Those arguments are so easily rebutted.
1. Call to taxes? Is that the only thing you can think of? How about bearing the burden of leading and fighting against populism when you know you’re right. JFK sounds rather confident in his belief in right and wrong, wouldn’t you say? A belief that liberty was right, period. Not the Democrats of today who constantly blur that line.
2. With the exeception of Venezuela and a few others, the South and Latin American countries have freely elected governments. Were you thinking we should give them more money?
3. We could’ve stopped 9/11, say back in 1995. Remember?
4. Shopping is helping the country. The economy is a rather important component of our strength and power. And the military was in relatively very poor condition in 2001.
30. neocon | January 21st, 2008 at 7:53 pm
#2 was stated wrong. Venezuela and the others are elected governments, maybe leaning dictatorial, yet every country respects each others borders and sovereignty. And the US sends a fair amount of money in aid to the region. So to state that we ignore the region is unfair and maybe moreso to the liberal friends of Chavez.
31. Casper | January 21st, 2008 at 8:04 pm
neocon,
“Call to taxes?”
No, I said it doesn’t sound to be like a call to cut taxes during time of war. Name another war we’ve done that.
“With the exeception of Venezuela and a few others, the South and Latin American countries have freely “elected governments. Were you thinking we should give them more money?’
You are right that quote doesn’t have any bearing on either one of our arguments. It certainly doesn’t make Kennedy a Republican.
“We could’ve stopped 9/11, say back in 1995. Remember?”
And that relates to which Kennedy quote?
“Shopping is helping the country. The economy is a rather important component of our strength and power.”
So I guess me buying an iPod helped the country as much as my daughters service in Iraq. Please.
“And the military was in relatively very poor condition in 2001.”
Compared to what other country. Remember, this is the same military that defeated armies from two other countries in a matter of weeks. It was and is the most powerful military the world has ever seen.
32. neocon | January 21st, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Casper,
I was commenting on your comments. Federal receipts are higher following tax “rate” cuts than they would be without. We don’t ignore S. America or Latin America. We didn’t have the strongest military in 2001 compared to US standards. And 9/11 was a devastating blow to the economy and that is what Bush was referring to. By all no means was it to be equated with military service. Some context please.
33. Casper | January 21st, 2008 at 9:39 pm
neocon,
There are several problems with taking a speech that was made 47 years ago to prove that Kennedy would be a Republican today, is that the world has change a great deal since then. In addition, if Kennedy were alive today, his views would probably be much different than they were then.
There is also the case of Ted Kennedy. If JFK were to be a Republican today, one would think Ted would be also, and as you know that is hardly the case.
34. neocon | January 21st, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Casper,
It’s more of an indictment on how far left the Democrats have gone. And to some extent, the Republicans as well.
35. Thrower | January 21st, 2008 at 10:13 pm
In truth, if Kennedy were alive today he would be a Democrat within a very different party. The problem with Democratic leaders today is that they are afraid of taking unpopular positions and answering tough questions. Their critics are right; they are poll driven and self interested and that is not leadership.
The problem the Republicans have is that their stewardship of the country has not worked for too many people. Mark is fond of pointing to the defection of his lifelong Democratic father. In my part of the world, I know of no Democrats who are defecting, and I do know several longtime Republicans who are voting Democratic.
Between a poorly waged war and a sinking economy that has been played to the advantage of multinational corporate interests, too many Americans are working too hard for too little.
36. Casper | January 21st, 2008 at 10:13 pm
neocon,
I agree
37. SEW | January 21st, 2008 at 11:02 pm
If Kennedy were alive today, he would be thrown out of the Democrat Party or be an also ran. Only the far left Dems advance in the party heirarchy today. There are good ones, at the bottom of the pool. At the top are Reporting for duty Kerry, blowhard Gore, Screaming Howard. Kucinick, Reid, Pelosi. And then the Patriot Joe Lieberman.
38. Kahn | January 21st, 2008 at 11:27 pm
uncommon wrote “And Kahn, it is still groupthink if you only read things that reaffirm your own beliefs. I seriously doubt you would ever read anything that challenged your beliefs from someone you did not already agree with.”
Hah! Much better than a reply to issues. Lets see, I grew up in wildly liberal Northampton, Massachusetts. I met John Kerry, and argued with him when I was in 8th grade. I’ve read several histories of the labor struggle in the country along with Chairman Mao’s “Little Red Book” in English translation (something I HIGHLY recommend - by the way). I’ve read some of Carters books, and flipped through Gore’s book.
Actually, I’m pretty well read and I gather from multiple sources now. But hey, why let facts and knowledge get in the way of your ignorant hatred? Eh uncommon?
39. Kahn | January 21st, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Casper sais - “if Kennedy were alive today, his views would probably be much different than they were then.” Ha ha Ha Ha Ha Ha, thats your a5rgument? Jeeezzz, he does sound more Republican than Democrat! Oh well, he would have “evolved” with us??? Ha Ha Ha Ha.
Didn’t you used to claim to be an independent? Jeez, read your own posts man. What a hack. MULTIPLE conservative posters here have put up multiple multi-faceted arguments and all we get is stupid chants in return.
40. Jonathan | January 21st, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Reg Dwight, Kahn, SEW, FmrMarine (aka: keefer) , and neocon: stop it.
You’re bickering over whether MLK was a conservative or a liberal??? Who gives a damn what his political preference was! He was simply, a great soul who gave his life to undoing the racial injustice that binded our nation.
It is a great dishonor to his memory to continue to bitch like a bunch of little children.
Grow the f**k up sometime.
41. Kahn | January 22nd, 2008 at 12:28 am
Jonathan, um, we weren’t. We were talking about JFK.
You ad less to these discussions than anyone else here. You insult, deride, and thats about all. Why not take on the liberals arguing with us? It takes two to argue, you know. Or does math that big hurt your head.
Go f**k yourself with that tiny excuse for a sausage and let the grownups talk. OK? Thats a post more along the lines of what I’m sure your wife tells you - isn’t it?
42. SEW | January 22nd, 2008 at 7:01 am
Jonathan, Why do YOU consider MLK a great soul? After all he was very much a Christian! And he wanted folks to not be judged by the color of their skin, but by their character! Certainly not Democrat characteristics. Secular and affirmative action are however. Atheists and pro choice, er abortion. Gay marriage. Not MLK!
43. FmrMarine | January 22nd, 2008 at 6:44 pm
casp
we ALL know that your “post the link” is B.S.
That is because the “church” having the above mission statement plastered all over the net…………modified and CHANGED it. This becomes a total LIE and FRAUD on their part.
Go do your OWN homework and quit thinking you are slick.
44. Jeremiah | January 22nd, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Democrat party - The party of the four S’s: Slavery, Secession, Segregation and now Socialism.
It is terrifying to think that we could be facing a Socialist Presidency!!
Pray, America!! Pray!!
–Jeremiah–
45. Tractatus | January 22nd, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Like clockwork, every MLK day is occasion for conservatives to suddenly pretend that they’re so concerned about racism and, more to the point, pretend that MLK was somehow one of them. (You know, “them.” The ones who like to call MLK a dirty commie the other 364 days of the year. Yeah, conservatives.)
As a pro-affirmative action, pro-restitution, anti-Vietnam war crusader for social justice, was MLK a conservative? (Not-So-) Sadly, no!
46. Reg Dwight | January 22nd, 2008 at 7:41 pm
#15 Khan:
What that proves was that in ‘64 more Dems in the south were racist bigots. Now the South is solid behind the GOP.
Did the people down south change? Of course not, LBJ knew himself that when he signed the Civil Rights Act he had thrown the South to the GOP.
But he also knew it was the right thing to do.