Coming out against MLK Day

[modest mouse]

Martin Luther King was one of the greatest Americans of the last centurt. An intelligent, charismatic, caring man the likes of which we have seldom seen. Smart enough to play the game just enough to get inside and break down the walls.

But the holiday bearing his name stinks like rotting fish.

King's B-day was last Wednesday and hardly a word was mentioned nationally. Certainly no word metnioned near me, or on this board.

But low-and-behold we have a long weekend due to Monday being the artificial location of the Holiday. Thats almost as disrespectful as memorial Day becoming a vacation weekend.

If we are to have a Holiday it should remain on his B-day.

Now, I actually do not think MLK should have his own holiday. This is a Holiday given to one man, when we do not have a single Holiday for any president, or any other American.

A Civil Rights, or Human Rights day would be much more fitting and could easily coincide with February being Black History Month. Why not have MLKs B-day declared a Civil Rights Day, or establish February first as a similar Holiday. Any number of scenarios would be better than the jumbled 'day' that tries to recognize a man and ideas but does neither very well.

 

[Azwed]

In VA we have Lee/Jackson/King day.

Not to disrespect Lee or Jackson because they were both very important people but to put their day on the same as King's just seems horribly sacrelgious to me.

 

[modest mouse]

In VA we have Lee/Jackson/King day.

Not to disrespect Lee or Jackson because they were both very important people but to put their day on the same as King's just seems horribly sacrelgious to me.

Holy shit!

Robert E Lee and Stonewall Jackson?

 

[acitore_vuli]

I guess we should change Christmas day, since Christ was born in the lambing season?

 

[Monazwx]

Being here just a little over a year, I too wondered why the holiday was a month shy of Black History Month. Renaming it "Civil Rights Day" is fitting as it describes the struggle of the race during that era for equality.

Who decided on the name and date of the holiday anyway?
Congress, I assume, but who made the suggestion.
(I was just going to ask which Jackson.)
Who is Stonewall Jackson?

 

[Azwed]

Holy shit!

Robert E Lee and Stonewall Jackson?

Yes welcome to the worthless state that is VA.

Lee and Jackson have always had their own days in VA and I think it is appropriate that they do because they are so important to the local history.


When MLK day was created the VA legislature just lumped it on to Lee/Jackson day because they did not want to create another holiday.

VA was also the last state to desegregate and had laws making interacial marriage illegal on the books untill sometime in the 60's I think.

 

[modest mouse]

I guess we should change Christmas day, since Christ was born in the lambing season?

Xmas should not be a Federal Holiday. Lets stick to topic, thanks.

 

[Azwed]

Hey MM answer me this.

http://www.literotica.com/forum/showthread.php?postid=3798404#post3798404

??

 

[modest mouse]

Azwed, thats some trylu fucked up stuff. Shame on VA. Hard to believe really.

Mona, Stonewall jackson was a decorated Civil War General, for the Confederacy. Widely considered a great military mind.

As I understand it the MLK HOliday is passed by individual states but its mostly the same throughout the nation. Arizona and new hampshire were the last to adopt it. Arizona made notorius for being pressured into by the NFL, Public Enemy, and an otherwise eclectic group.

 

[acitore_vuli]

Xmas should not be a Federal Holiday. Lets stick to topic, thanks.

Sorry, you're talkin strictly federal holidays? Tax exempt?

 

[Marxist]

I'm in favor of any holiday in which White-Black-Beige people are reminded of slavery, Jim Crow, and its Civil Rights aftermath.

Even it means they go shopping at Macy's.

 

[Monazwx]

Azwed, thats some trylu fucked up stuff. Shame on VA. Hard to believe really.

Mona, Stonewall jackson was a decorated Civil War General, for the Confederacy. Widely considered a great military mind.

As I understand it the MLK HOliday is passed by individual states but its mostly the same throughout the nation. Arizona and new hampshire were the last to adopt it. Arizona made notorius for being pressured into by the NFL, Public Enemy, and an otherwise eclectic group.

ty, I didn't take U.S. History, as you can probably tell.

 

[Ham Murabi]

Azwed, thats some trylu fucked up stuff. Shame on VA. Hard to believe really.

Mona, Stonewall jackson was a decorated Civil War General, for the Confederacy. Widely considered a great military mind.

As I understand it the MLK HOliday is passed by individual states but its mostly the same throughout the nation. Arizona and new hampshire were the last to adopt it. Arizona made notorius for being pressured into by the NFL, Public Enemy, and an otherwise eclectic group.

I may be mistaken, but didn't Arizona's Legislature add the holiday and lump it in with the day Operation Desert Storm started?
Oh, well, at least Phoenix got to host the Super Bowl.

 

[Azwed]

Azwed, thats some trylu fucked up stuff. Shame on VA. Hard to believe really.

Mona, Stonewall jackson was a decorated Civil War General, for the Confederacy. Widely considered a great military mind.

As I understand it the MLK HOliday is passed by individual states but its mostly the same throughout the nation. Arizona and new hampshire were the last to adopt it. Arizona made notorius for being pressured into by the NFL, Public Enemy, and an otherwise eclectic group.

Hehe hard to believe you say?

You have never been to VA. Its kind of like going into this crazy time warp here. We have the worst parts of both political parties. The crazy social laws of the ultraconservatives and the screwed up tax code of the ultraliberal.

A few weeks ago in Fairfax, VA the police were pulling people off of bar stools giving them breathlizers and then arresting them for being drunk.


Jackson was probably the second best military mind of his day and was also an artilery instructor at VMI before the war. Lee was probably the best military mind of his day.

Jackson was Lee's second in command and when Jackson lost his left arm after being wounded by his own men Lee said this, He has lost his left arm; but I have lost my right arm." Jackson died eight days later on may 10, 1863.


http://www.civilwarhome.com/jackbio.htm

 

[modest mouse]

acitore, sorry for being snippy but I'd like to limit the topic to this Holiday. I'm not talking any federal holiday or the specifics, but waht is good or bad about MLK day and possible changes.

***

Marxist, I understand your point but are there changes tot eh Holiday that you would like to see?

(And not some wise-ass answer. I'd like your input)

 

[Ishmael]

Martin Luther King was one of the greatest Americans of the last centurt. An intelligent, charismatic, caring man the likes of which we have seldom seen. Smart enough to play the game just enough to get inside and break down the walls.

But the holiday bearing his name stinks like rotting fish.

King's B-day was last Wednesday and hardly a word was mentioned nationally. Certainly no word metnioned near me, or on this board.

But low-and-behold we have a long weekend due to Monday being the artificial location of the Holiday. Thats almost as disrespectful as memorial Day becoming a vacation weekend.

If we are to have a Holiday it should remain on his B-day.

Now, I actually do not think MLK should have his own holiday. This is a Holiday given to one man, when we do not have a single Holiday for any president, or any other American.

A Civil Rights, or Human Rights day would be much more fitting and could easily coincide with February being Black History Month. Why not have MLKs B-day declared a Civil Rights Day, or establish February first as a similar Holiday. Any number of scenarios would be better than the jumbled 'day' that tries to recognize a man and ideas but does neither very well.

Well Mouse, you and I agree again. As great a man as he was, he is not deserving of this honor. In my estimation it is nothing more than the patronization of the Blacks of this country.

There are many more historical figures, black, white, and other that are as deserving and have gone unrewarded.

Why not Booker T. Washington or Fredrick Douglas? Real pioneers.

And futher, why should there be a "black" holiday at all? Should we now have an 'Asian' holiday? Or how about a 'Native American Hoiliday'? Where is the "Latin American" holiday? They're a larger minority afterall.

It's a sad thing Mouse.

Ishmael

 

[HeavyStick]

I hear busybody wants to have a James Earl Ray day.

 

[Azwed]

There should just be a straight up Civil Rights day to celeberate all the sacrifices of all the people who fought and died for Civil Rights.

 

[HeavyStick]

There should just be a straight up Civil Rights day to celeberate all the sacrifices of all the people who fought and died for Civil Rights.

Good idea.

 

[Ishmael]

There should just be a straight up Civil Rights day to celeberate all the sacrifices of all the people who fought and died for Civil Rights.

That day exists Az, if you want to celebrate it. It's called "Independence Day" or the Fourth of July. That's where the whole trip started.

Ishmael

 

[Marxist]

Marxist, I understand your point but are there changes tot eh Holiday that you would like to see?

(And not some wise-ass answer. I'd like your input)

I'd love it if it was an International Holiday. Besides that, what are you gonna do, MAKE people celebrate it the way you want them to?

I like MLK Day the way it is because it's the only holiday that merchants don't shamelessly attempt to co-opt. Something has to be good about that.

And honestly, it's the only holiday with a definite meaning:
This man (not a God or a general or bunny) decided to change his country peacefully for the betterment of all and gave up his life in doing so.

Good enough for me if that's all some school child or garbage man gets out of their day off.

 

[Cheyenne]

That day exists Az, if you want to celebrate it. It's called "Independence Day" or the Fourth of July. That's where the whole trip started.

Ishmael

Not the same thing, Ish.

I think the "Civil Rights Day" is a great idea. On the other hand, MLK is SO associated with civil rights, maybe the day in his honor really IS Civil Rights Day already?

 

[Guest]

Re: Re: Coming out against MLK Day

And futher, why should there be a "black" holiday at all? Should we now have an 'Asian' holiday? Or how about a 'Native American Hoiliday'? Where is the "Latin American" holiday? They're a larger minority afterall.

I have wondered this also. We should have an Irish History Month.

 

[Azwed]

Not the same thing, Ish.

I think the "Civil Rights Day" is a great idea. On the other hand, MLK is SO associated with civil rights, maybe the day in his honor really IS Civil Rights Day already?

Agreed it is not nearly the same thing and although MLK is always associated with Civil Rights they were many other people who worked towards it as well. Without the early pioneers from the 1800's MLK never would have had a chance.

 

[HeavyStick]

Re: Re: Re: Coming out against MLK Day

I have wondered this also. We should have an Irish History Month.

Idaho has a spud festival day. Can that count?