To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
From: mjm <mmoynihan-AT-wi.rr.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Jan 2007 11:37:36 -0600
Subject: [Puptcrit] Memorial holiday in the USA


Are any here involved in adapting their art and talent to the annual 
memorial holiday?

In memory of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the 
continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, 
Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a 
manor of thy friend's or of thine own were. Any man's death diminishes 
me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know 
for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee..."
=96 John Donne, Meditation 17, Devotions upon Emergent Occasions

Rev. Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke the above verse during Nobel 
Lecture, on December 11, 1964. His lecture was entitled "The Quest for 
Peace and Justice", delivered in the Auditorium of the University of 
Oslo, Norway. At the age of thirty-five, he was the youngest person to 
receive the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified, he announced that he 
would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the 
civil rights movement.

Today is the Monday designated as a American National Holiday 
commemorating the birthday of Dr. King. He was born as Michael Luther 
King, Jr. in Atlanta on January 15, 1929 (his father was also 
originally named Michael). He was renamed when he was about 5 years old 
when his father decided that they should both change their first names 
to Martin.

The authorized, idealized, sanitized version of Dr. King's life story 
is that he fought for racial justice in America. The reality is, in the 
last years of his life, Dr. King articulated a far bolder, broader and 
very radical American revolutionary vision, encompassing a clear minded 
analysis and a severe criticism not only of the role of the United 
States in the world, but of the very nature of our political and 
economic system.

Dr. King's vision was articulated most powerfully in his "Beyond 
Vietnam" speech delivered at Riverside Church in New York City. He gave 
the speech on April 4, 1967, at a meeting of Clergy and Laity Concerned 
at Riverside Church in New York City.

He was quickly condemned by the NAACP, civil rights leaders, the 
Democratic Party (he had campaigned for Lyndon Johnson) and the 
mainstream media.

It is doubtful that Dr. King would even be allowed to speak at any of 
the memorial events being held in his own name were he alive today. But 
he does speak to us still as we again find ourselves at a time, well as 
he said in 1967:

"When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights, are 
considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, 
extreme materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered."

He also said:

"These are revolutionary times. All over the globe men are revolting 
against old systems of exploitation and oppression, and out of the 
wounds of a frail world, new systems of justice and equality are being 
born.

The shirtless and barefoot people of the land are rising up as never 
before. The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. We in 
the West must support these revolutions."

Others, wiser, much more experienced and articulate than I have pointed 
out that these are still revolutionary times. Our country was born of 
revolution.

I would argue that our society, our nation, our democracy can only be 
served by continuing the American Revolution each and every single day.

But now, it seems to me, we have, in fact, given in and given up.

The shirtless and barefoot people of the world continue to rise up.

But we do not support them.
In fact, in many places, we support and we are the very forces who use 
our overwhelming economic wealth, access to natural resources and 
unprecedented military power to enforce the conditions of poverty, 
insecurity, and injustice.

I suggest that we revisit Martin Luther King's words.
I suggest that we re-read them in the light of the present day.

"=85A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on 
military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching 
spiritual death."

Dr. Kings words are as meaningful, powerful, truthful and dangerous as 
they were in 1967.

Our own federal administration and many adult Americans condemn and 
trivialize anyone speaking out against the present invasions, 
escalations and war.

Exactly to the day, one year after breaking his silence and speaking 
out against his nation's injustice, materialism and war waging, Martin 
Luther King, Jr. was silenced. Assassinated on April 4, 1968.

Those who call for us to celebrate his birthday but dishonor his life 
and work and spirit dishonor all human beings. King spoke well to use 
Donne's poem to remind us of who we can be, who we need to be, who we 
absolutely now must be.

"=85therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls: it tolls for 
thee."

Michael John Moynihan
January, 15, 2007
a version of this essay was originally published on 01/17/05




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