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Martin Luther King + Ron Paul + The Journey Toward A More Perfect Union…

January 16, 2012 by  
Filed under News, Opinion, Politics, Weekly Columns

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(ThyBlackMan.com)

A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Don’t let others do your thinking for you.
 
Ron Paul said, “Martin Luther King is one of my heroes.” because of his advocacy and practice of civil disobedience. But was he being on the level? Well, let’s see. Let’s start at the very beginning. . .
 
They declared that they were free of any and all other powers save that of the Almighty. And so one man was tasked with making a draft of the formal statement of their independent stance. Thoughtfully he wrote, on that first fourth of July, in 1776, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain  inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness. . .”
 
But what of the men, women and children in bondage? Did they not also have rights that can never be taken away from them? Not to him and his fellows. They did not count. In fact, Thomas Jefferson, the man who penned those immortal lines, held the largest number of human beings in chains than anyone else in the colonies. And so, 87 years later. . .
 
A gaunt, black clad figure in a stovepipe hat arose, bared his bushy head and looked out at the crowds gathered on the grounds of the enormous cemetery. Here, men by the many thousands their copious blood they did shed, in the fiercest battle of a horrific conflict that then still raged. Now, though, could be seen a faint flicker of light at the end of the tunnel signaling perhaps and end to the carnage, and so Abraham Lincoln said in his Gettysburg Address,
 
“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought for on this continent a new nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal,” and he went on to promise, “that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom. . .“ (November 19, 1863)
 
And when the guns eventually did go silent, the new birth came, but it died in infancy. And so, exactly 100 years later (August 28, 1963), standing in the shadow of a stupendous alabaster monument of the Great Emancipator, a small, powerful Black man arose, looked out upon the throng stretching to the horizon, and with a mighty voice that we can still hear, he proudly declared,
 
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.’. . I have a dream that one day. . . little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers!”
 
A little black boy, but two years old at the time, exactly 45 years later to the day, (August 28, 2008), stood before a wildly cheering crowd to accept the nomination of his party to become the president of the United States, which he did in three months time. The Dream at last? But yet again, it did not come to pass. Nonetheless, three years later to the day (August 28, 2011), they planned to unveil an alabaster monumental likeness of the Man Who Had a Dream, as if to say it had.
 
But, as the best laid plans of mice and men are wont to do, things went awry. On August 23, 2011, the earth shook so hard it cracked the towering white phallic symbol to the first president, highest structure bar none in the capital city that bears his name, while two and one half hundred miles away, the greatest city in the land, and in the world some would say, saw its skyscrapers for the first time ever shudder and sway.
 
20 weeks and a day after the scheduled unveiling, January 16, 2011, the twenty-sixth celebration of the day set aside to honor America’s revered Black icon, the Reverend Martin Luther King, jr., five white men are set to gather, and each present their case, as to why they should be picked to try and replace the Black ruler that captains the nation.  One of them, old and wizened, but nonetheless a champion of the young, invoked the spirit of the man called King. Did  he have a right to, or is he, like so many others, naught but a usurper?
 
What exactly have we come to?
 
On the airwaves the Fairness Doctrine is no more. Anyone can pay to say anything without any rebuttal at all. And money is given free rein to support any candidate for anything. But wait, perhaps this is as it should be! After all, the stations on the left counter those on the right, and vice versa, don‘t they? And the favored contenders for the crown, with money to spare, have thus stripped each other bare in the public square. And so, will the wise old one with legions of the young, whom the cameras studiously avoid, end up being the last man standing to do battle with Barack Hussein Obama? Then shall the winner take us the rest of the way to realizing the elusive Dream, a perfect union, at last?
 
Imagine that debate. Each man would have to defend his record and lay out his vision, to win the hearts and minds of the people of the nation, that on the world stage holds pride of place, but somehow has yet to come to grips with the original, and still pending, issue of race.
 
 
President Obama would have to address the shameful mass incarceration of the Black and the poor and the Brown. And Ron Paul would be called upon to explain his initial opposition to the King holiday and the sometimes hateful newsletters that once appeared under his name. And he, in turn, would doubtless call out the president for the useless wars we’re fighting, and the many we appear to be planning. And Obama would certainly take Ron Paul to task for proposing that to the side, the already fragile social safety net be cast. What a contest that would be! Will it come to pass? We shall see. . .
 
Oh, yes, the question we first asked. Ron Paul said, “Martin Luther King is one of my heroes.” But is he telling the truth?
 
You say you want to know what I think? You want to know my opinion on the matter? Why?         
                                                                                        
A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Don’t let others do your thinking for you.
 
Staff Writer; Arthur Lewin
 
For more articles written by this talented brother click on the following link; https://thyblackman.com/?s=lewin.

 


Comments

29 Responses to “Martin Luther King + Ron Paul + The Journey Toward A More Perfect Union…”
  1. Nathanael Greene says:

    Thank You.

    As suspected, incredible interest.

    Wait until we get further.

    Nathanael

  2. Jonathan says:

    Well Done Arthur,

    Please tell Calvin I said Thanks,
    This White and Black thing is just what GOD is counting on, a world with no color, but all colors.

    Peace to you,

    Don’t let any body make you think that God chose America as his divine messianic force to be …a sort of policemen of the whole world!
    …God has a way of standing before the Nation with JUSTICE!…and it seems that I could hear God saying to America “Your too Arrogant”

    If you don’t change your ways I will rise Up and Break the Backbone of your Power and I will place it in to the hands of a Nation that doesn’t even know my Name!

    Be Still and know that I am God!!
    M.L.K.

  3. Arthur says:

    Nicholas, I work very, very closely with large numbers of college students on a daily basis, and their strong support of Ron Paul really has very lttle to do with the drug issue. It is his stand on the issues that pertain to their economic future and to the future of this country that captivates them.

    And your point about media programming is well taken. The media is constantly trying to program us to act the way they and their handlers want us to behave. But speaking in general this idea of non-military people demanding that others valiantly serving their country go off and die in foolish wars is outrageous. Also, this notion of older people hogging all the nation’s resources for themselves while ignoring the needs of the young has got to stop. BTW another manifestation of the one-percent vs. 99% is that one percent, only one percent of the nation, is fighting these wars. The fact that our young warriors support Ron Paul overwhelmingly as do so many of the young in general, is something that we, as a nation, can only ignore to our ultimate peril.

  4. nicholas says:

    I can buy into your analogy about the Rank and file South Carolina and the audience at last nights debate, only the primary vote will tell. I feel that Paul’s dominance in military money raising comes from the parellel of his younger civilian supporters and the younger military supporter, who like his stance on war and marijuana. In the areas where military bases are located overseas and at home, the media progaming tends to be conservative, therefore geared to defeating the President.

  5. Arthur Lewin says:

    Nicholas, after watching the debate some might say the same thing about his stance on foreign affairs and the defense department, that the reception he got on these issues dooms his chances as a Republian. However, the debate took place in Myrtle Beach. The average rank and file South Carolina Reublican, many of whom are poor or nearly destitute, does not spend too much time in the upscale resort city of Myrtle Beach. And if they do get down there, it is not to attend a two hour debate. Note especially how the audience was all gung ho about fighting wars all over the world, but they are not the soldiers who would have to go war. He has raised more money from active service duty men and women then all the other Republican candidates and Obama combined.

  6. nicholas says:

    Last nights debate should finally let Ron Paul see that his positions on social issures do not resonate with the GOP, especially in South Carolina. To debate the President he will have to run as a Independent or Libertarian.

  7. Silence Dogood IX says:

    Ron Paul and Rosa Parks issue!

    A few years ago, congress was voting to honor Rosa Parks and they were going to give her a Gold Medal to honor her. The gold medal cost ~$40,000 (taxpayer money). Dr. Paul, like always didn’t want to spend taxpayer money… so Dr. Paul proposed that all 435 members of Congress donate $100 of their own money to pay for the medal. No one would go along with him!!!

    It’s things like this, that make me so passionate in my support for Dr. Paul.

    Also, if you think the country would have been better off if there wasn’t a housing bubble and financial collapse:

    YouTube “Ron Paul Housing Bubble 2001” SCARY

  8. marcus says:

    Thank you Arthur for this thought provoking article. A debate between president Obama and Ron Paul would be very significant.

  9. Jackson Baer says:

    Ron Paul is consistent & honest and has my vote. I’m hoping for a strong finish in South Carolina and polls seem to show him surging somewhat. He did great in the debate tonight, again, and more Republicans need to consider him as a serious candidate.

    http://www.whatthehellbook.com/2012/01/05/fired-for-not-believing-in-hell/

    http://www.whatthehellbook.com/the-book/

  10. Arthur Lewin says:

    Thanks. Also regardinng the debate, the audience cheered lustily when Gingrich lectured Juan Williams and the Black community about the value of work and when Santorum did the same with regards to the sanctity of marriage. But when Ron Paul drove home his point about the racist criminal justice system (which shatters families and destroys job prospects) there was dead silence in the hall.

  11. born empty says:

    Well I feel increasingly warm inside this MLK day!
    My main man Ron Paul is gonna be President!!
    Its happening!!
    kick ass article!

  12. Arthur Lewin says:

    Just saw the debate tonight. Thought it interesting that, though Romney’s father and grandfather were both born in Mexico, in polygamous families, he continues to insist that marriage should be between one man and one woman, and to offer the harshest immigration policy of anyone in the race.

  13. Nicholas says:

    @ David Petty…as you said, Ron Paul did vote yea to affirm the MLk Jr. Day. I didn’t brush up on Congressional voting procedures, but I did notice who voted Yea along with Ron Paul (David Stockman, every republican congressmen from Kansas, Newt Gingrich and Dick Cheny) and who voted Nay (the entire black caucus some who knew MLK Jr. personnally). This must mean every black congressmen was against a Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Makes one wonder.

  14. Brooklyn Man says:

    Paul will win, because, us, non-elite-white people in “inner cities” have been told a little too long who to vote for or to not vote at all.

  15. Jake says:

    Very good article. Thank you.

  16. Arthur Lewin says:

    Yes, Teresa, I saw that film, that is why I used the word “sometimes.” And he does put the entire issue in much better perspective than the mass media. By the way, Louis, Paul says that he also admires Rosa Parks. And yes, Victor, there is no perfect candidate, or person, once we left the proverbial Garden. Rael, great line about “The truth beneath the truth.” And there is doubtless yet another truth beyond that, ad infinitum. Are not our lives entire a search through the muck and the mire for the ultimate truth? A quixotic quest?

    Thanks again, everyone. And remember the debate is at 9:00 tonite. Let’s get it straight fronm the horses’ mouths and not regurgitated, that is, pre-digested, by the media into the “suitable” form they would like to present it to us as.

  17. Aaron says:

    I would like to first state that the author of this is brilliant and should be commended. I am extremly happy that people can see through the bias that the government has tried to sell us. Dr.King and Dr Paul have the same visions for the people.The change for good starts when people are tired of being treated unfairly.We all need to stand up for our own liberties and the torch is being carried by RON PAUL!!!!

  18. Umm, because it means paying federal employees more? Paul has NEVER voted for a tax increase. Got nothing to do with MLK, though I must admit I consider Rosa Parks more of a hero.

  19. Teresa Beck says:

    Thank you for your thoughtful article. I would encourage you to consider that the declaration of the King holiday, to Ron Paul, is not a right of the federal government, just as he believes a federal marriage amendment is not the right of the federal government, though he clearly believes marriage is between a man and a woman.

    As to his newsletters, I’d like to direct you and your readers to Ben Swann on Facebook. He is the only journalist who actually investigated the letters, and he did a great job. I know, amazing that there’s still a journalist who’s interested in finding out the truth.

    As a Christian American, I believe that all people are the descendants of Adam and are therefore brothers and sisters. Racism has no place in the human family. I honestly believe that Dr. Paul believes the same thing.

  20. Victor says:

    @Immi
    There is no perfect candidate for president, but Paul is as close as any GOP candidate I have seen in a long time. I read your comments carefully. I am a huge Gandhi fan.
    I think the media are learning about Paul like they did about Obama. He has staying power to their amazement and disgust. He is polling as well nationally against Obama as any of them. I hope the GOP establishment is defeated just like the DEM establishment got defeated in the last cycle. Frankly, I think Paul would do better against my preferred candidate than Mitt in November for the moral reasons you enumerate. The employment and the economy be improving. Those are Mitt’s strong suit agains Obama. The deficit will be worse. That is Paul’s strong suit. Paul is more to my liking on global morality issues and I do not believe that Obama would resort to the fear tactics that the GOP will use to try and defeat Paul. While Obama enjoys my support now, I would not countenance his playing on the public’s fears to defeat Paul, if he became the GOP nominee.

  21. Immi says:

    Thank you author for such a great article and urging people to use their mind!

    As an immigrant here this is how I see it – I have a choice between someone who would bomb the hell out of my family and then some or imprison me indefinitely or assassinate me or …. against someone who wouldn’t bother me and respects my private life and belief and expects the SAME in reciprocity.

    Now some people take this argument further that those who harbor racist sentiments would not allow people in their restaurant or establishment. The fact of the matter is those people exist and will keep on existing till the end of time – no matter what the law of land is.

    Tramping down on liberty is a slippery slope. I will end this comment by a great quote from a great man –

    “Rationalists are admirable beings, rationalism is a hideous monster when it claims for itself omnipotence. Attribution of omnipotence to reason is as bad a piece of idolatry as is worship of stock and stone believing it to be God. I plead not for the suppression of reason, but for a due recognition of that in us which sanctifies reason.” – Mahatma Gandhi

  22. Arthur Lewin says:

    Thank you, everyone. Keep the info and insights coming. And be sure to watch the debate tonight, not just the “commentary and analysis” provided by the media.

  23. Victor says:

    Anytime you write about Paul, I make sure my mind is not wasted. I read and respond. Thinking for myself, I believe Paul is personally a compassionate man. He is a doctor for God sakes! Not that all are. I was referred to a You Tube video in which a black man was featured in a testimony on Paul’s behalf for treating a black man’s white wife who was in need of emergency care at the hospital where Paul was on duty during the oppressive days of yester year when others at the hospital showed no compassion. The testimony was that Paul helped.
    The optics were revealing. It takes a historical sense of the time to appreciate the courage as well as compassion that Paul showed. Yet, I think it would tend to be viewed far more impressive and indicative of racial tolerance to whites than to most blacks. The optics of the tearfully grateful black man giving the testimony on Paul’s behalf obscures the fact that his wife was white.
    On the issue of the day, I think Paul’s remarks about MLK JR. are opportunistic. There are plenty of euphemisms for tolerance of discrimination. Radical respect for private property may be one. Ultimately or eventually, individual respect and dignity will compete for priority with private property rights. I think I know which side MLK JR would came out on and which side Paul did. Paul supported Lester Maddox on the question on principles.

  24. rael says:

    COMMENDABLE AND REMARKABLE article! Thank you Arthur Lewin!

    I happen to be a hispanic man ~47 supporting RP because I’m tired of the wars/empire, I like the Bill of Rights, and I’m against NDAA/Patriot Acts. I’m skepictle of the corporate supported candidates like Obama & Romney and I like that Paul is people-supported & REAL. I believe that’s why he stands out and is ridiculed.

    None-the-less, readers are given a gift here in the final words of the author, who encourages us not get mired in the petty particulars but rather hear Lewin’s point; don’t buy HYPE, THINK FOR YOURSELF!

    Use your internet and dig DEEP for TRUTH, and the truth beneath the truth! One hint I would add; FOLLOW the MONEY!!!

  25. Larry Moreno says:

    Ron Paul actually offered to help pay for the medal out of his own pocket and called on other members of Congress to do so, which they didn’t.

    By the way, for the umpteenth time, the writer of those articles has been revealed to be one James B. Powell.

    Ron Paul will not take away social security for those already on it, and will soon be on it.

    I say people should make up their minds on what the issues are TODAY. And when it comes to endless wars, racial inequality in the justice system, and inflation and federal debt, there is only one choice.

  26. marco says:

    Why should i pay for the govt. to get another day off..? Well lets add 10 more days to the calender for them..

  27. Olio says:

    I would say Martin Luther King’s opposition to war, message of unification through love of liberty and freedom, and boycott of Coca Cola and Wonderbread, all put him in league with Ron Paul yes.

    MLK never had an oppressive war on drugs to speak out against though.

  28. David Petty says:

    Ron Paul, did in fact, vote to CREATE Martin Luther King day. The first vote was one to SUSPEND THE RULES in order to CONSIDER the bill, and Ron Paul voted no to this (to SUSPEND the rules).

    To clarify, Ron Paul voted no to SUSPEND the rules to vote for MLK day.
    H.R. 5461 – NEVER BECAME LAW

    In order for the bill to once again be considered a vote, AN AMENDMENT was made to the initial bill, and thus now able to be properly voted on: RON PAUL VOTED YES ON THE ENTIRE BILL, INCLUDING THE AMENDMENT. This was the FIRST proper vote on the bill without SUSPENDING THE RULES.

    Ron Paul VOTED YES to CREATE MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY an a national day of OBSERVANCE.

    The third vote in 1983 was to again SUSPEND THE RULES in order to AMEND TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE. Once again, Ron Paul voted no to SUSPEND THE RULES to AMEND TITLE 5.

    To the author and anyone reading this, please brush up on your Parliamentary Procedure as to how bills are actually VOTED on in our Congress, brought to the floor BY THE RULES for a vote, and why an amendment IS NEEDED to bring certain bills back to the floor for a vote.

    In summary, Ron Paul voted NO TO SUSPEND RULES, voted YES TO CREATE MARTIN LUTHER LING DAY AS WE OBSERVE IT TODAY, THE THIRD MONDAY OF JANUARY each year.

    http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h1979-625

  29. Bonnie says:

    Ron Paul’s opposition to the King holiday, as well as his vote against a congressional medal for Rosa Parks is based on his firm principles. He understands very well what his responsibilities are regarding his congressional seat. Government has no business declaring holidays or stealing money from people through taxation to award them medals (he also voted against this for every other person, including Ronald Reagan). Since taxation at it’s core is coercive, it flies in the face of what MLK fought for. You correctly point out some of the atrocious government policies that disproportionately affect blacks, such as the drug war. Ron Paul opposes that, but he takes it further. He opposes the welfare state, that has made countless people blacks and whites alike, dependent on the government. He opposes the public education system which acts as a pseudo prison system for children, depriving them of real opportunities to learn from the many competing techniques that would abound were it not for the coercive monopoly of government schools. He opposes endless aggressive wars that further impoverish americans while slaughtering countless innocents abroad. He opposes corporatism; the government-corporate bonds that result in wealth being transferred from the poor and working class to the wealth elite with close government ties. Through bailouts and inflation, the poorest bear so much of the cost of government largess, through rising costs of essential items like food. Obama has presided like Bush II, and the republican alternatives, with the exception of Paul, would likely do the same.

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