At Canaan's Edge

[H2O Man]

Yesterday on the thread following my "Unpopular Essay," a DU friend asked me about the concept of a "time machine." I loved the question, because I believe that there is such a thing -- in fact, I am using one for the better part of today. Years ago, Rubin Carter had explained to me how books served as an actual time machine. They allow us the opportunity to communicate with the great minds of human history, and to experience things which may have taken place decades or centuries ago.

This morning, my best friend presented me with a new book, "At Canaan's Edge: America in the King Years 1965-68," the third in the series by Taylor Branch. It is a fascinating book "opens with the authorities' violent suppression of a voting-rights march in Alabama on March 7, 1965." (inside front flap) Though I am still in the early chapters of this time machine, I am struck by the number and intensity of the disagreements among the people participating in that historic civil rights movement.

I must say that, at that time, I found the young James Bevel to be one of the most attractive figures in King's group. I'm not in agreement with some of his actions then, or many of them in later years, but I surely enjoy the opportunity to revisit that period, and watch him and others struggle to advance the cause of democracy. Those were crazy days, of course; I know that Martin called Rubin to ask him to come to Selma. Rubin had marched with Martin before, but he turned down the invitation to go to Selma.

I also looked ahead a bit, before starting the book, to when Martin spoke at the Riverside Church in April of 1967. His speech, "A Time to Break Silence," which is popularly known as "Beyond Vietnam," was in my opinion the greatest American speech. He challenged not only the president, but also the military industrial complex that Ike warned of, and he challenged every American. Many people turned on him, including most of the established civil rights "leaders."

He had the courage of his convictions. In many ways, it reminds me of a senator today, challenging the president on his domestic spy program. Yes, there are many who lack the courage to do the right thing, and stand with him today.

Likewise, the often heated debate on DU, including about a congresswoman having a conflict with a cop, reminds me in a limited way of the arguing that went on within the ranks of that movement of 40 years ago. There are issues where we will not see things the same. Many times, it may be because one person's life experience has not opened their eyes to the experience of another group of people.

Thank goodness for books, which can open our eyes.

[JDPriestly]

1. Thanks. Sounds like a great book.

[H2O Man]

2. It's a great series

of books, though any one is worth reading in and of itself.

[H2O Man]

3. Heck of a book .....

I am curious if others have read it?

[alphafemale]

4. I've read the first two.

They are remarkable.

Well written and thoroughly researched.

[H2O Man]

6. Yep.

"Pillar of Fire" was a moving book. I thought it did a valuable service, in noting the value of the contributions of many people who are too often overlooked. Like most everyone else, I view King as the most outstanding of the Civil Rights leaders of that time. But many people contributed, suffered, were incarcerated, and died. There is a level of commitment shown that I suspect we will need to match in order to deal with today's issues.

[cali]

5. And thank goodness for thoughtful

reflections on DU by people like you.

[Baggins 9]

7. books do open eyes

Thank you for your insight H2OMAN. I remember a certain book which changed my life forever. It was " Bury my heart at wounded knee" by Dee Brown. I know you have read it ,but anyone who hasn't should consider it. Unfortunately with all the technological advances of today kids are usually not to interested in curling up with a good book. Reminds me of a twilight zone episode where burgess meredith loves to read and has no time , but after a catastrophic event most of mankind is wiped out so now he has time,the kicker, he wheres glasses and breaks them so he is unable to read the books anyway. Hopefully the next few generations will still make use of libraries, before there eyes are too bad to see the writing on the wall.

[Jose Diablo]

8. You know, all the marches, the protests all of that didn't cause MLK

to become a target for death. But that one speech, "Beyond Vietnam", that one got him killed. It was in that speech that MLK laid the roots of racism, materialism and militarism right at the hidden class warfare being waged by our aristocrats against the people. For that, they killed him, just like they killed JFK and Robert Kennedy.

All this crap with Bu$h is more of the same.

[H2O Man]

9. While that speech

certainly appears to be connected with the decision to kill Martin, it should be remembered that he had been subjected to death threats from racist forces for years; was targeted with the bombings that were attributed to those racists; was stabbed with a letter-opener, and almost died; had been punched on-stage by a fellow who would be tied to the death at least one civil rights activist; and had the Director of the FBI mailing him threatening letters, inluding one suggesting he kill himself.

Martin and his family were subjected to an amount of threats and stress that is easily overlooked. But he was at high risk for being murdered from the bus boycott on. The speech "A Time to Break Silence," which has become known as "Beyond Vietnam" after his death, caused the forces you correctly mention into play.

[Jose Diablo]

11. Yes, what you say is true, but my point was not that he was not threatened

the point I didn't make clear was that as long as he was only fighting for the rights of blacks, he was a not real threat to the aristocrats. But with that one speech, he pointed-out that all Americans were under the thumb of the aristocrats. Even the poor white trash racists that hated blacks, just because of the color of their skin, were being used to promote the aristocrats agenda. That agenda is to stay in power by keeping people separated from each other, the peoples power diluted by fighting within their own ranks.

That speech is the opening salvo, so to speak, of MLK's intension's to unite people of all colors and all ethnic background against their true enemies, the aristocrats operating with impunity and killing our own youth, not just the blacks, but all of us.

And that is why the death squads, operating within America, were turned on MLK. Now these would be professional death squads, mercenaries, trained by our own military and hired by the aristocrats, then enabled by our intelligence agencies. Not some Billy Bob backwoods ignoramous.

[im10ashus]

10. "Beyond Vietnam" was a great speech.

Here is an excerpt and the link:

Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, I need not pause to say how very delighted I am to be here tonight, and how very delighted I am to see you expressing your concern about the issues that will be discussed tonight by turning out in such large numbers. I also want to say that I consider it a great honor to share this program with Dr. Bennett, Dr. Commager, and Rabbi Heschel, some of the distinguished leaders and personalities of our nation. And of course it's always good to come back to Riverside Church. Over the last eight years, I have had the privilege of preaching here almost every year in that period, and it is always a rich and rewarding experience to come to this great church and this great pulpit.

I come to this magnificent house of worship tonight because my conscience leaves me no other choice. I join you in this meeting because I am in deepest agreement with the aims and work of the organization which has brought us together, Clergy and Laymen Concerned About Vietnam. The recent statements of your executive committee are the sentiments of my own heart, and I found myself in full accord when I read its opening lines: "A time comes when silence is betrayal." That time has come for us in relation to Vietnam.
The truth of these words is beyond doubt, but the mission to which they call us is a most difficult one. Even when pressed by the demands of inner truth, men do not easily assume the task of opposing their government's policy, especially in time of war. Nor does the human spirit move without great difficulty against all the apathy of conformist thought within one's own bosom and in the surrounding world. Moreover, when the issues at hand seem as perplexing as they often do in the case of this dreadful conflict, we are always on the verge of being mesmerized by uncertainty. But we must move on.

Some of us who have already begun to break the silence of the night have found that the calling to speak is often a vocation of agony, but we must speak. We must speak with all the humility that is appropriate to our limited vision, but we must speak. And we must rejoice as well, for surely this is the first time in our nation's history that a significant number of its religious leaders have chosen to move beyond the prophesying of smooth patriotism to the high grounds of a firm dissent based upon the mandates of conscience and the reading of history. Perhaps a new spirit is rising among us. If it is, let us trace its movement, and pray that our own inner being may be sensitive to its guidance. For we are deeply in need of a new way beyond the darkness that seems so close around us.

http://www.africanamericans.com/MLKjrBeyondVietnam.htm

K&R!!!

:kick:

Well, I thought I would recommend, but it's too late. Has to be within 24 hours of the OP.
:-(