Sunday, January 18, 2015

January 19, 2015 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day


Martin Luther King speaking to an anti-Vietnam war rally at the University of Minnesota, 
St. Paul on April 27, 1967

By Patrick

If there is one American who impressed the world like no other in the 20th century, it is Martin Luther King. He embodied the spirit of a modern, liberal nation, and he stood for far more than just race equality.

So, to which extent has Martin Luther King succeeded? Tomorrow, there will be a federal national holiday named after him, so one should assume that everything is fine and dandy. However, we all know that this is not the case, and in the light of recent events, one could even say that things are moving backwards, as far as "race relations" are concerned. That is at least how things look like from the outside.

I would like to put up three very different clips regarding this topic: First, a trailer for the upcoming movie "Selma." The movie received rave reviews, but was snubbed for the Oscars, which came as a huge surprise, or even shock, for many.



Second, a brand-new (and slightly controversial) skit by SNL about MLK-day. I really enjoy the fact that SNL continues to make skits about "race relations" which might be considered slightly politically incorrect. I think that they usually hit the right tone, and I hope that they won't change.



Finally, one of the best speeches ever by Martin Luther King, a speech so true, so moving, that the tragedy of this terrible war in Vietnam, which changed America in a very unfortunate way, really becomes "alive" again. People should have listened to Martin Luther King back then. But they didn't, and one year later, he was dead.

Sermon at the Ebenezer Baptist Church on April 30, 1967:


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