It's MLK Day

Today is Martin Luther King Day. 

I'll be honest; I don't have a lot of memories about him from when he was alive. I was 12 years old when he was killed, and really, not many kids followed the news in 1968. The ONLY thing I remember is talking to a very kind and gentle adult (let's call him Robert) about him. Robert said to me something like: "I don't like him. He's all about violence." I didn't know much about him. But I remember responding: "I don't think so. I'm pretty sure his message is all about non-violence." And Robert responded: "Maybe, but it seems like wherever he goes, violence follows."

You can agree with Robert or not. That's not the point I'm making here. My point is this:

In 1968, MLK had a 33% favorable rating.
In 2011, MLK had a 94% favorable rating.

How can that be? It's become "politically correct" to "favor" MLK. And we've memory holed what he really stood for. Which is why I find so many who are "honoring" or "remembering" him today so disingenuous. You can argue about what he stood for I suppose. But I can state with 100% certainty, that he would definitely have been FOR the voting rights acts that are currently being filibustered out of existence. That's not just my opinion, it's the opinion of every single historian who knows anything about him. 

Robert was a very kind and loving individual. He wasn't an asshole, a bigot, or a racist. At least I'm sure he didn't consider himself that way. Yet he didn't like MLK.

And while I can't prove it, I'm pretty sure that a whole bunch of politicians who have either filibustered or voted against the voting bills would not have been MLK fans back in his life. Yet, they tweet all their "remembrances" of him, as if they would have loved him. All the while voting against everything he advocated. But it's now the politically correct thing to "honor" him. Honestly, I would have more respect for them if they just admitted that they don't agree with his ideas. It would be very unpopular, but it would at least be honest.

And if you're about to respond with the "judged by his character, not the color of his skin" quote, just stop. Please. Because if you read anything about what he said, he definitely talked about the mistreatment of African Americans. 

Also, keep in mind this about the voting rights bills. Those against it aren't even trying to say it has anything to do with "election security." If you can get them to comment at all, they will admit it's about limiting the vote. Trump himself said: "They had things, levels of voting that if you’d ever agreed to it, you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again." And for all the talk about "WE NEED VOTER ID," that's even in the bill. It allows voter ID, but DOES set a standard so it's consistent from state to state. 

So read the quotes below. And if you're still glad that the voting rights bills are likely to fail, then please do NOT tell me how you "honor" MLK. Because he would disagree with everything you're saying. But if you agree with him, then please admit, at least to yourself, that Republicans are voting against what you believe. And if you don't agree with him, then please admit, at least to yourself, that you don't.