Martin Luther King's Day

Nicotine · Post by **Nicotine** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 5:33 am

Yeah, I know not many people care about this holiday, seeing as so many workplaces refuse to enforce it and give people a day off, but it is very important to me. Obviously, being an African American I'm very thankful to Rev. King and other civil rights movement leaders for paving the way for me and many others to in this country and giving us a chance to enjoy living here. I don't have to go to the a black only bathroom, or drink from a black only water fountain, or do anything degrading like that. I can only imagine what black people had to go through in this country in the early to mid 1900's. Of course, this country still hasn't full reached the dream Rev. King had (and I say this from a personal stand point. I do live in southern Texas

), but I don't think we ever will.

Oh well, that's all I have to say.

[AOD] · Post by **[AOD]** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 6:20 am

Yes, well, here in California some places (my mother's workplace, my younger brother's school, and my university) do get to honour Dr. King's holiday with a day off, for which I am grateful. He was truly one of the 20th century's greatest leaders, and did so much to improve the lives of African Americans. Furthermore, he became an inspiration for similar leaders and similar actions in other civil rights groups, fostering the ongoing process that helps to alleviate human oppression worldwide today.

Martin Luther King, Jr., I salute you!

@~AOD

Dragonkingdoms · Post by **Dragonkingdoms** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 7:39 am

Here in Florida, it's about the same situation as in south Texas. Most workplaces do not recognize this day, allowing their employees a day off to honor him, though colleges, schools, and universities do.

I even made something a couple years ago honoring his efforts, as well as Rosa Parks' stand back in 1955. For we are all really just one race- the human race!

I might do an updated version later today.

Rkolter · Post by **Rkolter** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 8:17 am

I have the day off because of the holiday.

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." - Martin Luther King Jr.

Sketchywallflowr · Post by **Sketchywallflowr** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 8:30 am

I do NOT have the day off (in fact, I'm writing this at work) but that's only because my employer, God bless him, is a stingy stereotypical Jew man who wouldn't close the store if it were on fire.

*Notice I called him a stereotype, meaning not like everyone. If anyone gets all "racist" or whatever on my ass I'll be miffed. DISCLAIMER!

Grabmygoblin · Post by **Grabmygoblin** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 9:10 am

we owe so much to that man. he gave up everything to craft a future where race would not matter. today, we're closer to his dream, but still have awhile to travel. bless him, everyday is his day, and each and every one of us should remember that.

CJBurgandy · Post by **CJBurgandy** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 9:41 am

I relect on how much the world has changed since our parents and grandparents were our age, and I'm thankful that freedoms are moving in the right direction. Today also reminds me on how much we still need to do.

I don't get the day off though. This store is only closed on New Years, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. The owner doesn't reconize any other day as a holiday. I know that the local K-12 schools are closed, but the college is not. Not totally sure on why that is.

Inshue · Post by **Inshue** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 9:56 am

I've got the day off here in New York. I probably would anyway, the streets are covered with ice. There's been freezing rain since yesterday. It's sad to hear that so many people don't get the chance to honor Martin Luther King. He did some great work in his life.

Prettysenshi · Post by **Prettysenshi** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 9:58 am

I'm with Nicci. Being a black girl, I'm more than grateful for the sacrifices that Dr. King made, along with the many other nameless people that contributed to the Civil Rights Movement. I think about it everyday when I go to school in South Carolina of all places, or go to work in the statehouse, where the confederate flag is in clear view, or drive down John C. Calhoun drive near my house...sometimes I giggle thinking Calhoun is turning over in his grave at the thought of it. Hahahaha.

Grabmygoblin · Post by **Grabmygoblin** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 10:35 am

do those of you that do not get MLK day off get Columbus day? I'd be madder than hell...

the SUNY schools in NY are still all in winter recess so it's a moot point, but I can't think of any government services open today. I was planning on going to the library, but now that I think about it, it's probably not open either.

Nicotine · Post by **Nicotine** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 10:59 am

prettysenshi wrote:... drive down John C. Calhoun drive near my house...sometimes I giggle thinking Calhoun is turning over in his grave at the thought of it. Hahahaha.

haha, I was reading US history while I read that!

do those of you that do not get MLK day off get Columbus day? I'd be madder than hell...

Nope I do not get Columbus Day off. I do get a random day off that week though

.

Laemkral · Post by **Laemkral** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 11:00 am

SDSU doesn't start up again until Thursday but the school calendar still recognizes this holiday.

MixedMyth · Post by **MixedMyth** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 11:18 am

Honestly, I don't think enough attention is given to this day. And I don't mean just as a chance for a break, though that is much appreciated. My college gives that to us, although undergrad did not since it was a private school.

But it's more than that. I wish people would, ever year, take the chance to think about not just the civil rights movement, but where we are with things today. Because, really, have we had any great leaders fighting for civil rights since Dr. King? A lot of the groups fighting for minority rights (be it race, religion, sexual orientation, etc) today seem to be plagued with a lack of such outstanding and outspoken leaders or, in many cases, cohesive unity and direction. True, circumstances for the most part aren't as bad as they were during the civil rights movement, but I still think it's just as important. Because, frankly, descrimination is still there. it's just adapted to more subtle, often letigious, forms.

I suppose that I wish that, every year on this day, people would find it in themselves to do something for a cause they support.

Rkolter · Post by **Rkolter** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 11:33 am

Here's a question for you - do you think naming a day after someone is an appropriate way to honor them?

MLK Jr. was an activist; we honor him by sleeping in late and padding around our homes in our undies and socks instead of going to work.

It is clearly good in that his name is remembered, and there will be events honoring him today and specials on TV about him today. And I don't think that would occur with regularity without some kind of yearly reminder.

But on the other hand, we give a day to Lincoln, and most people don't get that day off, and there usually aren't celebrations in his honor, despite him having done at least as much for race relations in his time as MLK Jr.

Nor do we give a day to Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who was a major player in getting women equal rights. Nor Rosa Parks (there's a push to get her a holiday on Dec. 1st) who certainly was important both to race relations and to women's rights.

On the other hand, we give a single day (Memorial Day) for the sum of every single human being who has fought for the United States of America and died doing that. That hardly seems fair.

Contrast all this to July 21st, which is given to Hot Dogs. April 15th is Rubber Eraser day, and May 25th is National Tap Dance Day. We have Best Friend's Day, Moon Day, Dictionary Day, and Poinsetta Day to name a few more.

There seem to simultaneously be too many national days, and too few for people who might have legitimately earned one.

So happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Please take a moment to make it more than a day off.

TRI · Post by **TRI** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:00 pm

rkolter wrote:On the other hand, we give a single day (Memorial Day) for the sum of every single human being who has fought for the United States of America and died doing that. That hardly seems fair.

Which half of us seem to celebrate by having barbecues and getting drunk. Compared to that, sleeping in and lounging around in your socks seems pretty respectful.

MixedMyth · Post by **MixedMyth** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:13 pm

Yeah, but most of those sillier holidays we just ignore. You don't get them off or anything. I suppose that, in our country, having an actual day off for something means that it is in some way nationally recognized. So there is that.

I think that we do with that day depends on us, not the holiday. If we want it to be more proactive, then it is we who need to make it so.

Nicotine · Post by **Nicotine** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:16 pm

rkolter wrote: But on the other hand, we give a day to Lincoln, and most people don't get that day off, and there usually aren't celebrations in his honor, despite him having done at least as much for race relations in his time as MLK Jr.

This is a common misconception.

Things that Lincoln did such as the Emacipation Proclaimation did nothing to help slaves and blacks. Most didn't hear of it until after the war. It was just to get blacks to fight and bring the race issue into the Civil War, which wasn't even caused because of slavery, because the Union was losing. Most people don't realize that Lincoln was, in fact, pretty racist and didn't do even a quarter as much as King did.

"I would save the Union. I would save it the shortest way under the Constitution. The sooner the national authority can be restored; the nearer the Union will be "the Union as it was." ... My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that." -Abraham Lincoln

MixedMyth · Post by **MixedMyth** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:19 pm

Yeah...he also took some really extreme measures with concientious objectors.

But I don't know too much about the subject.

Melodies · Post by **Melodies** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:35 pm

Nicotine wrote:
rkolter wrote: But on the other hand, we give a day to Lincoln, and most people don't get that day off, and there usually aren't celebrations in his honor, despite him having done at least as much for race relations in his time as MLK Jr.
This is a common misconception.

Things that Lincoln did such as the Emacipation Proclaimation did nothing to help slaves and blacks. Most didn't hear of it until after the war. It was just to get blacks to fight and bring the race issue into the Civil War, which wasn't even caused because of slavery, because the Union was losing. Most people don't realize that Lincoln was, in fact, pretty racist and didn't do even a quarter as much as King did.

"I would save the Union. I would save it the shortest way under the Constitution. The sooner the national authority can be restored; the nearer the Union will be "the Union as it was." ... My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that." -Abraham Lincoln

after a migrane from reading it and much thought, i think thats right.

TRI · Post by **TRI** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:57 pm

Nicotine wrote:Things that Lincoln did such as the Emacipation Proclaimation did nothing to help slaves and blacks. Most didn't hear of it until after the war.

Hence Juneteenth.