The Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.

US NewsJanuary 2011 • Views: 22,134

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

UPDATE at 1/17/11 10:27:31 am

PBS NewsHour has a terrific compilation of archival videos, documentaries, commentaries, discussions and reports about King’s life, legacy and the Civil Rights movement: Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement.

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67 comments

Holidays are Family Fun Time Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:08:06am

Ah, a fresh new thread for the Holiday.

Big Steve Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:11:23am

I have to admit that I have become more appreciative of Dr King as I have gotten older. This is due to actually ignoring a lot of the fluff around him (as is also the case with others I admire, like Lincoln) and understanding more of the nuance of his life.

iceweasel Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:14:25am

Here's the I have a dream speech:

Youtube Video

RurouniKenshin Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:14:32am

"This business of burning human beings with napalm, of filling our nation's homes with orphans and widows, of injecting poisonous drugs of hate into the veins of peoples normally humane, of sending men home from dark and bloody battlefields physically handicapped and psychologically deranged, cannot be reconciled with wisdom, justice, and love. A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.

...

This kind of positive revolution of values is our best defense against communism. War is not the answer. Communism will never be defeated by the use of atomic bombs or nuclear weapons. Let us not join those who shout war and, through their misguided passions, urge the United States to relinquish its participation in the United Nations. These are days which demand wise restraint and calm reasonableness. We must not engage in a negative anticommunism, but rather in a positive thrust for democracy, realizing that our greatest defense against communism is to take offensive action in behalf of justice. We must with positive action seek to remove those conditions of poverty, insecurity, and injustice, which are the fertile soil in which the seed of communism grows and develops.

...

We can no longer afford to worship the god of hate or bow before the altar of retaliation. The oceans of history are made turbulent by the ever-rising tides of hate. And history is cluttered with the wreckage of nations and individuals that pursued this self-defeating path of hate."

Martin Luther King, Jr. April 4th 1967, Riverside Church, New York City

Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:21:19am

today is a holiday? Someone please explain that to my company *sigh*

Political Atheist Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:23:22am

Michael Reagan sure stepped in it trying to glorify his father as better for African Americans than Obama. Essentially he goes by black employment-As if Obama were responsible for the fall in everyone's employment in the great recession.
More pretzel logic. Sheesh neither of the two Reagan brothers is looking real good in the credibility department these days.

albusteve Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:24:49am

boy, do I ever need a day off

albusteve Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:26:04am

re: #6 Rightwingconspirator

Michael Reagan sure stepped in it trying to glorify his father as better for African Americans than Obama. Essentially he goes by black employment-As if Obama were responsible for the fall in everyone's employment in the great recession.
More pretzel logic. Sheesh neither of the two Reagan brothers is looking real good in the credibility department these days.

couple of boobs, dragging their dirt across the net....I swear, twitter is a curse

SpaceJesus Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:26:45am

Ah yes, a.k.a. "troll conservatives who think MLK was a communist day"

Killgore Trout Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:28:07am

re: #6 Rightwingconspirator

Michael Reagan sure stepped in it trying to glorify his father as better for African Americans than Obama. Essentially he goes by black employment-As if Obama were responsible for the fall in everyone's employment in the great recession.
More pretzel logic. Sheesh neither of the two Reagan brothers is looking real good in the credibility department these days.

It's standard conservative stuff. They don't quite understand why blacks and other minorities stay away from the Republican party and make these awkward and lame attempts at outreach. Modern conservatives still don't want to deal with the real problem.

Charles Johnson Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:29:20am

I always like MLK's birthday, because it's a tribute to a great American figure.

And also because it drives the right wing crazy.

SpaceJesus Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:30:38am

"Today is Martin Luther King’s Birthday. He was a great American who took on the Progressive concept of racism."

-stalker blog headline

S'latch Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:32:37am

May he be remembered always. He was a truly courageous, heroic and admirable man. Thank you, Dr. King.

Obdicut Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:34:59am

re: #12 SpaceJesus

The comedy writes itself.

webevintage Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:35:11am

Of course if you live in Arkansas:
[Link: www.arktimes.com...]

The State of Arkansas would like to wish all my citizens and friends a very happy Dr. Martin Luther King/General Robert E. Lee Day on Monday! For those of you with the day off, enjoy it!

jaunte Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:35:24am

Snopes:
Four things you supposedly didn't know about Martin Luther King, Jr.
(Collected via e-mail, July 2003)
Snopes rates as a mixture of true and false information.
[Link: www.snopes.com...]

Reginald Perrin Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:35:33am

re: #9 SpaceJesus

Ah yes, a.k.a. "troll conservatives who think MLK was a communist day"

Some far right blogs are touting the fact that he was once registered as a Republican....

no joke!

SpaceJesus Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:35:42am

re: #14 Obdicut

Yeah, the KKK were just a bunch of hippies who took things a little too far

Surabaya Stew Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:36:07am

re: #5 Dreggas

today is a holiday? Someone please explain that to my company *sigh*

On the plus side, the express bus into work was unsusally speedy and empty; on the minus side, the MTA choose to run a "reduced weekday schedule", forcing me to wait for 25 minutes in the freezing cold.

Sigh....

SpaceJesus Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:37:06am

re: #17 Reginald Perrin

I wonder if they are oblivious to the great political shift that happened in the middle of the 20th century, or if they know it happened and they are just being dishonest.

albusteve Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:38:27am

re: #15 webevintage

Of course if you live in Arkansas:
[Link: www.arktimes.com...]

Robert E Lee day?...the same guy who had all those good old boys slaughtered at Gettysburg, thinking he was invincible?....ALL HAIL BOBBY LEE!

Political Atheist Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:38:57am

Not O/T but a little tangential-
Can Obama rehabilitate Colin Powell?

The game of musical chairs already upsetting the White House starts soon at the Pentagon, where it could become an even bigger headache for President Obama. Not only is Defense Secretary Bob Gates leaving, but so is the Joint Chiefs chairman, Adm. Mike Mullen. And from the looks of things, replacing Gates might be Obama’s easiest chore, with a handful of favorites, including former Secretary of State Colin Powell, on his list.

albusteve Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:39:47am

re: #20 SpaceJesus

I wonder if they are oblivious to the great political shift that happened in the middle of the 20th century, or if they know it happened and they are just being dishonest.

small minded people, thinking small thoughts

Reginald Perrin Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:40:23am

re: #20 SpaceJesus

I wonder if they are oblivious to the great political shift that happened in the middle of the 20th century, or if they know it happened and they are just being dishonest.

Facts... they don't need no stinking facts, their word revolves around the latest spin and talking points.

SpaceJesus Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:42:47am

Just gonna leave this here then go enjoy the awesome weather outside

Image: 3823951388_dfa0778bca.jpg

albusteve Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:44:12am

re: #25 SpaceJesus

Just gonna leave this here then go enjoy the awesome weather outside

Image: 3823951388_dfa0778bca.jpg

same here....does it get any better than this?...56 down in the valley at my place

dragonfire1981 Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:46:32am

I wish Dr. King were still alive today or at least that there were more like him out there in 2011. We need voices of reason like this, now more than ever.

Sol Berdinowitz Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:47:49am

Back in the days before Arizona was making a national embarassment of itself over immigration laws, they rejected the Martin Luther King Day holiday in a referendum.

Then they finally adopted it in 1992, but a freind of mine who worked at a bank was told that they could only get the day off if they gave up the 4th of July holiday...

jaunte Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:48:27am

On MLK Day, Some Thoughts on Segregated Schools, Arne Duncan, and President Obama
American schools are more segregated by race and class today than they were on the day Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed, 43 years ago.

Sol Berdinowitz Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:48:47am

re: #22 Rightwingconspirator

Not O/T but a little tangential-
Can Obama rehabilitate Colin Powell?

The game of musical chairs already upsetting the White House starts soon at the Pentagon, where it could become an even bigger headache for President Obama. Not only is Defense Secretary Bob Gates leaving, but so is the Joint Chiefs chairman, Adm. Mike Mullen. And from the looks of things, replacing Gates might be Obama’s easiest chore, with a handful of favorites, including former Secretary of State Colin Powell, on his list.

Maybe he could nominate Michael Steele?

Lidane Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:50:29am

LePage Relents, Attends MLK Day Event After Refusing NAACP Invites And Telling Them To ‘Kiss My Butt’

WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:51:08am

re: #31 Lidane

LePage Relents, Attends MLK Day Event After Refusing NAACP Invites And Telling Them To ‘Kiss My Butt’

I love it when they lose

Lidane Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:51:48am

And on a different note:

Right-Wing Radio Host Mark Levin Rips ‘Race-Baiting’ Jeb Bush For Urging Outreach To Latinos

jaunte Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:52:49am

re: #31 Lidane

I wonder who drew the short straw and had to sit next to him.

Surabaya Stew Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:52:52am

re: #30 ralphieboy

Maybe he could nominate Michael Steele?

/

Why would Mike Tyson's Brother-In-Law want that job anyway, when he can make so much more "writing" a book about his time as head of the RNC?

Vicious Babushka Mon, Jan 17, 2011 10:55:24am

"Letter to an Anti-Zionist Friend" was NOT written by MLK and was never published in the "Saturday Review." It appears to be some Internet hoax that surfaced in the late 1990's.

Just in case Pammy or some other wingnut blogs it.

jaunte Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:01:30am

Healthcare reform politix:

A powerful House Republican is setting in motion a congressional challenge to a key provision of the healthcare reform law.
Republican Conference Secretary John Carter (R-Texas) is trying to build momentum for a Congressional Review Act (CRA) challenge to a recent regulation that requires insurers to spend at least 80 percent of their premium dollars (85 percent in the large-group market) on healthcare services.
[Link: thehill.com...]

Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems to me that Carter may be unclear on the consumer's concept of health insurance.

Holidays are Family Fun Time Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:01:43am

Couldn't get any substantial dirt out of the Hoover Files, so I guess the only thing left is to make shit up.

I mean, really, if Hoover didn't have any dirt, I think I'd just give up.

What, me worry? Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:03:35am

re: #16 jaunte

Snopes:
Four things you supposedly didn't know about Martin Luther King, Jr.
(Collected via e-mail, July 2003)
Snopes rates as a mixture of true and false information.
[Link: www.snopes.com...]

When wo/man turn into Gods and have to no longer worry about imperfections and missteps, then maybe and finally we can put to rest these criticisms of great people.

In the meanwhile, whatever misgivings Dr. King had pale in comparison to the great work he did and maybe more, the inspiration he gave to people of all races, creeds and colors.

Holidays are Family Fun Time Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:05:18am

re: #37 jaunte

"Healthcare reform politix:

A powerful House Republican is setting in motion a congressional challenge to a key provision of the healthcare reform law.

Republican Conference Secretary John Carter (R-Texas) is trying to build momentum for a Congressional Review Act (CRA) challenge to a recent regulation that requires insurers to spend at least 80 percent of their premium dollars (85 percent in the large-group market) on healthcare services.
[Link: thehill.com...]"

I can't even figure-out what that is suppossed to mean. 80-85% of premium (revenue) must be used for benefits? Not operating costs, or long-term investments for pay-out for future claims?

jaunte Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:09:25am

re: #40 ggt

It's this:
blockquote>Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) - Cost ratio of total benefits used compared to revenues received. Usually referred to by a ratio, such as 0.96--which means that 96% of premiums were spent on purchasing medical services. The goal is to keep this ratio below 1.00--preferably in the 0.80 ranges, since the MCO's or insurance company's profit comes from premiums. Currently, successful HMOs do have MLRs in the 0.70-0.80 range. The ratio between the cost to deliver medical care and the amount of money that was taken in by a plan. Insurance companies often have a medical loss ratio of 96 percent or more: tightly managed HMOs may have medical loss ratios of 75 percent to 85 percent, although the overhead (or administrative cost ratio) is concomitantly higher. See also Loss Ratio and Incurred Claims Loss Ratio.
[Link: www.pohly.com...]

Sol Berdinowitz Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:11:11am

re: #41 jaunte

This is capitalism. Companies are in business to make money. If they choose to do so by offering health care, that is just one approach, they could also be selling aluminum siding or breakfast cereals.

jaunte Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:11:43am

re: #40 ggt

More here:
[Link: www.hhs.gov...]

jaunte Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:12:26am

re: #42 ralphieboy

This is just a requirement that 80% of the cereal box have cereal in it.

Sol Berdinowitz Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:14:29am

re: #44 jaunte

This is just a requirement that 80% of the cereal box have cereal in it.

They can charge whatever they want for it, especially if it comes with a neat toy or video game chip...

Holidays are Family Fun Time Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:16:02am

re: #44 jaunte

This is just a requirement that 80% of the cereal box have cereal in it.

They don't count income from investments? Only premium dollars?

So HMO's don't do as well as other insurance companies?

There goes Allstate Arena, Lobbying costs and what else?

I guess I'm not all that cool with the gubernet telling a non-government entity how to spend their money. With insurance, somehow, it doesn't seem like it would be necessary --if you aren't performing, you lose policyholders-no?

I know almost nothing about how the actuaries figure premiums.

Sol Berdinowitz Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:18:00am

re: #46 ggt

"I guess I'm not all that cool with the gubernet telling a non-government entity how to spend their money. With insurance, somehow, it doesn't seem like it would be necessary --if you aren't performing, you lose policyholders-no?"

And if you lose your health insurance you are up a creek...

jaunte Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:19:08am

re: #46 ggt

The HHS site only states 'premiums,' so investments may be unaffected; I don't know for sure.

Holidays are Family Fun Time Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:19:17am

re: #47 ralphieboy

"I guess I'm not all that cool with the gubernet telling a non-government entity how to spend their money. With insurance, somehow, it doesn't seem like it would be necessary --if you aren't performing, you lose policyholders-no?"

And if you lose your health insurance you are up a creek...

That would be the nature of insurance, you want guaranteed health coverage, you want something other than insurance.

Insurance is "risk management"--not Mom and Dad's checkbook.

Political Atheist Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:19:51am

re: #42 ralphieboy

I would think the public utility model would be more appropriate than cereal. Heh, Blue Cross Cereal? I'd have to prove I was never hungry before. LOL

Sol Berdinowitz Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:21:52am

re: #50 Rightwingconspirator

Public utilities are socialism

austin_blue Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:23:57am

re: #11 Charles

I always like MLK's birthday, because it's a tribute to a great American figure.

And also because it drives the right wing crazy.

Well, here in Texas we have achieved "balance". Wednesday is an optional State holiday know as "Confederate Heroes Day".

Nice, huh? Are any other States out there doing something similar?

b_sharp Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:25:02am

re: #52 austin_blue

Well, here in Texas we have achieved "balance". Wednesday is an optional State holiday know as "Confederate Heroes Day".

Nice, huh? Are any other States out there doing something similar?

I think I saw something in the State of Confusion about that.

Sol Berdinowitz Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:26:11am

re: #52 austin_blue

I read that Arkansas declared it "Robert E. Lee Day"

jaunte Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:26:23am

re: #52 austin_blue

I had to look that one up.

In 1973, the Texas legislature combined the previously official state holidays of Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis' birthdays into a single "Confederate Heroes Day" to honor all who had served the Southern Cause.

Maybe Austin can secede from Rick Perry for the day.

Holidays are Family Fun Time Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:27:45am

Why do dogs eat snow?

Obdicut Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:28:08am

re: #46 ggt

With insurance, somehow, it doesn't seem like it would be necessary --if you aren't performing, you lose policyholders-no?"

No. There is really no matchup between the actual performance of a health insurance company and their policyholders.

There are three main reasons for this:

1. Lack of information. It is nearly impossible to get good information out of health insurance companies. Their acutarial tables, for example, are very closely guarded secrets. Extremely hard to figure out how hard, and how often, they fight to kick people off their rolls, deny treatment, spend on overhead vs. payouts, etc.

2. Lack of competition: Most policies are not bought by individuals, but by companies, who do not have the same priorities as individuals. In fact, there is a rather cruel coincidence here: companies have a disincentive to continue employing sick workers, and health insurance companies have a disincentive to obstruct treatment for sick people on their rolls. In addition, most insurance markets have a small number of competing insurance companies working inside them.

3. Lack of variation: this kind of goes along with the lack of information. It's hard to distinguish between health insurance companies. They can change their policies frequently, they can change their internal behaviors even more frequently. A company that didn't used to aggressively target and obstruct cancer treatment may suddenly start going after cancer patients and attempting to deny their payouts. Past performance isn't much of an indicator of future performance.

wrenchwench Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:28:59am

re: #56 ggt

Why do dogs eat snow?

Tastes great. Less filling.

austin_blue Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:30:08am

re: #55 jaunte

I had to look that one up.

Maybe Austin can secede from Rick Perry for the day.

Rick Perry couldn't get elected dog catcher in this town. We are generally referred to as The People's Republic of Travis County by the Leg when they come to town every two years to abuse us.

b_sharp Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:32:17am

re: #56 ggt

Why do dogs eat snow?

I know you're being metaphorical here, but I'm having trouble deciding who the dog represents and who the snow represents and who the eating represents.

Now, help me out here, who let what dogs out from where?

Holidays are Family Fun Time Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:32:25am

re: #57 Obdicut

No. There is really no matchup between the actual performance of a health insurance company and their policyholders.

There are three main reasons for this:

1. Lack of information. It is nearly impossible to get good information out of health insurance companies. Their acutarial tables, for example, are very closely guarded secrets. Extremely hard to figure out how hard, and how often, they fight to kick people off their rolls, deny treatment, spend on overhead vs. payouts, etc.

2. Lack of competition: Most policies are not bought by individuals, but by companies, who do not have the same priorities as individuals. In fact, there is a rather cruel coincidence here: companies have a disincentive to continue employing sick workers, and health insurance companies have a disincentive to obstruct treatment for sick people on their rolls. In addition, most insurance markets have a small number of competing insurance companies working inside them.

3. Lack of variation: this kind of goes along with the lack of information. It's hard to distinguish between health insurance companies. They can change their policies frequently, they can change their internal behaviors even more frequently. A company that didn't used to aggressively target and obstruct cancer treatment may suddenly start going after cancer patients and attempting to deny their payouts. Past performance isn't much of an indicator of future performance.

I was thinking more about claims. If claims aren't paid and individuals start getting bills from providers--employers and congressman will hear about it.
Employers won't renew the policy etc. . . .

They can't change the policy with in the policy period.

Holidays are Family Fun Time Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:33:21am

re: #60 b_sharp

I know you're being metaphorical here, but I'm having trouble deciding who the dog represents and who the snow represents and who the eating represents.

Now, help me out here, who let what dogs out from where?

No, I was being transparant.
Actual dogs, actual snow.

Kid wants his laptop back.

Have a great day all!

Obdicut Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:34:30am

re: #61 ggt

I was thinking more about claims. If claims aren't paid and individuals start getting bills from providers--employers and congressman will hear about it.
Employers won't renew the policy etc. . . .

They can't change the policy with in the policy period.

No, employers will often still renew the policy, because severely sick employees tend to become ex-employees.

And sure, they can't change the policy in the policy period-- but they can change it yearly, and the average person isn't going to have the ability to actually assess and keep up with those changes. It's too specialized and obscure.

Congressmen have heard about it. That's one of the reasons we passed a health care reform law.

uncle meat Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:36:40am

re: #59 austin_blue

The joke goes, as I've had it told to me, "You're from Austin, huh? Only one good thing about Austin: we've got you surrounded."

har har..

Surabaya Stew Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:37:04am

re: #63 Obdicut

No, employers will often still renew the policy, because severely sick employees tend to become ex-employees.

And sure, they can't change the policy in the policy period-- but they can change it yearly, and the average person isn't going to have the ability to actually assess and keep up with those changes. It's too specialized and obscure.

Congressmen have heard about it. That's one of the reasons we passed a health care reform law.

Or they can change their policy every year, in a futile attempt to keep their costs down (as my old company used to do). Of course, this ends up costing more in lost employee time, more paperwork, and more confusion between doctor's office's and insurance companies.

CuriousLurker Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:45:55am

Dr. Martin Luther King: Real American

Happy birthday, Dr. King.

Thank you for being a patriot in the truest sense of the word—you never gave up, and your dedication helped make America a better place for everyone. May we always appreciate and strive to live up to your legacy.

ClaudeMonet Mon, Jan 17, 2011 8:07:22pm

re: #17 Reginald Perrin

Some far right blogs are touting the fact that he was once registered as a Republican...

no joke!

I can see how he could have done that in the South in the 1950s. The Democratic Party in the South then was the bastion of racism and discrimination. The Republican Party was negligible, but registering with it may have seemed like a better idea than registering with the party of institutionalized racism.

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