Racism, Poverty and War

[tk2kewl]

Work still to be done on the evils King saw

BY MICHAEL D'INNOCENZO
Michael D'Innocenzo is a professor of history at Hofstra University.

August 16, 2005

In 1965, Martin Luther King Jr. was the graduation speaker at Hofstra University. I've always remembered how King emphasized that the triple evils of racism, poverty and war were threats to democracy and to humanity.

"While appearing to be separate and isolated, each of these problems is inextricably bound to the other," he said.

Forty years after that speech, we might benefit from taking stock of how our nation and Long Island are doing today in light of the diagnosis and actions decades ago.

<snip>

The National Priorities Project reports for 2005 that our federal income taxes go overwhelmingly for military expenses. On Long Island, the average Nassau household pays $15,682 in federal income taxes, of which $6,083 is for military expenses, fully 39 percent of all the taxes paid (while only 4 percent goes for education and 2 percent for housing). In Suffolk, average federal income taxes of $11,380 include $4,414 for the military.

King surely would be pleased by the efforts this month, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, to develop proposals that would make American elections more competitive, more participatory, more reflective of the public good and more likely to address the triple evils with greater effectiveness. The fact that this project is led by Martin Luther King III and William B. Wachtel is especially striking. Harry's attorney son, Bill, brought together Andrew Young, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Martin III to revive the Drum Major Institute, which his father and King had launched in the 1960s.

"We go farther faster when we go together," King advised. And now the Kings and Wachtels of the succeeding generation are striving to fulfill the commitments to democracy and justice.

[hermetic]

1. Interesting you should bring this up

because I just got this email: wondering if everyone else out there knows what the significance of the year 2007 is to Black America?

Did you know that our right to VOTE will expire in the year 2007? Seriously! The Voters Rights Act signed in 1965 by Lyndon B. Johnson was just an ACT. It was not made a law.

In 1982, Ronald Reagan amended the Voters Rights Act for another 25 years. Which means that in the year 2007 we could lose the Right to vote!

Does anyone realize that African Americans are the only group of people who require PERMISSION under the United States Constitution to vote! In the year 2007, Congress will once again convene to decide whether or not Blacks should retain the rights
to vote (crazy but true).

In order for this to be passed, 38 states will have to approve an extension. This is ludicrous! Not only should the extension be
approved, but also the ACT must be made a law. Our right to vote should no longer be up for discussion, review and/or evaluation.

We must contact our Congress-persons, Senators, Alderpersons, etc., to put a stop to this! As bona fide Citizens of the United States, we cannot "drop the ball" on this one! We have come too far to let government make us take such a huge step backward. So please, le t us push forward to continue to build the momentum towards gaining equality.

:wow:

[tk2kewl]

2. kick...

... having a tough time attracting attention today.