I'll tell you now that the video contains scenes and sounds of violence. I've seen it many times and still turn away -- not yet de-sensitized -- at certain points. If you cannot handle real-life historical violence, do not watch the YouTube video, just pass on by. The content in this article itself is not graphic, nor violent though.
______________________________
"What the World Needs Now. . ."
Tom Clay to Child:
-What is segregation?
-I don't know what seggeration is.
-What is bigotry?
-I don't know what biggery is.
-What does... hatred mean?
-I don't know what that is..
-What is prejudice?
-Hmm.. I think it's when someones sick.
___________________________________
(Vietnam scene)
[whistle] -Rise and shine, boys!
-One, two, three, four! One, two, three, four!
...(machine gun fire)...
...
___________________________________
Anybody here, seen my old friend John, can you tell me where he's
gone?
Media broadcaster:
-Were at the Trademark, the motorcade is coming by here, I can see many
many motorcycles coming
by now, police motorcycles. Just heard a call on the radio for all
units along Industrial, to pick up the
motorcade.
Something's happened here, we understand there has been a shooting. The
Presidential car coming up now, we know it's the presidential car. We can see Mrs. Kennedy's pink
suit, there's a Secret Service
man spread eagle over the top of the car. We understand Governor and
Mrs. Connolly are in the car,
with President and Mrs Kennedy.
We can't see who has been hit if anybody's been hit, but apparently
something is wrong here,
something is terribly wrong. I am behind the motorcade now, (and as you
probably notice?) they're
going to Parkland Hospital...
Radio Announcer:
-We interrupt this program to bring you a special bulletin: Dallas
Texas, the flash, apparently official:
President John F. Kennedy died, at 1 p.m., Central Standard Time. . .
____________________________________________
Anybody here, seen my old friend Martin, can you tell me where he's
gone?
He has freed a lot of people, but it seems the good they die young.
"We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesnt really matter
with me now. Because I've been to the
mountain top. And I don't mind. Like anybody I would like to like to live. . ."
~~~~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.~~~~
"No one can be certain whom next will suffer from some senseless act of bloodshed. . ."
~~~~~Robert F. Kennedy~~~~
Like it or not, we live in times of danger and uncertainty
This is the way he lived.
That is what he leaves us.
My brother need not be idealized,
or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life,
to be remembered simply as a good and decent man,
who saw wrong and tried to right it,
saw suffering and tried to heal it,
saw war and tried to stop it.
Those of us who loved him
and who take him to his rest today,
pray that what he was to us
and what he wished for others
will some day come to pass for all the world.
As he said many times,
in many parts of this nation,
to those he touched
and who sought to touch him:
"Some men see things as they are and say why.
I dream things that never were and say why not."
~~~~Ted Kennedy~~~~
************************************
What the world needs now
Is love sweet love
It's the only thing that there's just too little of
What the world needs now
Is love sweet love
No, not just for some
But for everyone.
*************************************
Tom Clay to Child:
-What is segregation?
-I don't know what seggeration is.
-What is bigotry?
-I dont know what biggery is.
-What does... hatred mean?
-I don't know what that is..
-What is prejudice?
-Hmm.. I think it's when someones sick.
_________________________________________
Lyrics by Tom Clay. U.S Copyright All Rights Reserved
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Comments: 70
We still have a long way to go but we've come quite a ways.
I'm nothing but a puddle.
I need popcorn.
I am hoping we never forget.
I notice that the dearest and polically conscientious of my connections are here -- most of those to whom I would have dedicated this article. Interesting.
Blessings to you all!
Unfortunately, this is painfully true. The mistakes are repeated, over and over again. Society in general has been incredibly de-sensitized to violence. We live in a world that is bursting with information overload, yet it is full of ignorance and apathy. Where decades before, men like Martin, John and Bobby were killed and it cut people to the core, and they cried out 'Why?', now the country lives with a president with the lowest ever approval rating (for two terms!), and not one attempt on his life. Yes, 'ignorance' and 'apathy' prevail. In fact, I bet if you asked the majority if they knew the difference between the two, most would respond 'I don't know' and 'I don't care.'
Present company excluded, of course. (grins)
:=)
Excellent comments. Just excellent!
Touching piece.
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." (CD)
Still it was not the end of violence, lawlessness or disorder. Still the vast majority of us still strive to find the end to that. We can look back and see similar conditions have prevailed since the beginning of time.
I'm reminded of Robert Kennedy's statement on announcing Martin Luther King's assassination which seems appropriate here:
"Let us dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world."
Ahhhh, yes !
Then along came Jesse Jackson, and Al Sharpton and some others that destroyed most of the accomplishments of Dr. King. So sad.
You might say that I am somewhat prejudiced because I have no respect for the two aforementioned people but you would be wrong. I am sad that all the things that Dr. King stood for have been almost lost and forgotten except for a few honorariums such as this one. I believe we were heading in the right direction with the likes of Dr King, Bobby Kennedy and Jack Kennedy. Yes, I more or less had a front row seat to the events depicted in the video. When President Kennedy was shot I heard about it while walking down one of the hallways at the Basic Army Administration School in Ft Leonard Wood, Missouri. Another GI was running down the hallway shouting the news. I'll never forget the gut feeling I had. I was so sad. I'll never forget that day.
Thank you for this reminder that we all have a responsibility to strive for justice.
Thank you for such insightful, sensitive and intelligent comments.
What a wonderful tribute.
"Today, Medgar Evers was buried from the bullet he caught
They lowered him down as a king
But when the shadowy sun sets on the one
That fired the gun
He'll see by his grave
On the stone that remains
Carved next to his name
His epitaph plain:
Only a pawn in their game."
Do you remember President Johnson coming onto the television,
"My fellow Americans I come to you to today as your President today to tell you that violence will not be tolerated. . ." etc., etc., etc.
The African American community was not hearing that. No.
What they did hear was the cry, the speech of a Dr. King who shouted in front of the
Lincoln Memorial on August 23, 1963 --
"Let Freedom Ring. . ."
Dr. King changed the mantra of
BURN BABY BURN! BURN THIS WHOLE G*D D*MNED
COUNTRY DOWN!
to
Peaceful demonstration as a response to injustice.
The people listened, and by the looks of the entire movement, people responded to peace and not violence.
peaceful resistence to injustices, not violence.
It preserved the Union. Therein is a significant role that Dr. King contributed to history; I hope History never forgets it.
I hope you enjoy the article and the tribute. Thank you again for the comments and the respects paid to all that have fallen in the name of
America,
freedom,
and peace.
For me this really is history, the stuff I learned about through a couple paragraphs of text in my history book. It frustrates me how glossed over these events in our history have become, but more frustrating is the fact that most students don't care to learn more on their own.
I only learned a couple of years ago that my grams worked with MLK while he was i Chicago, something she does not care to talk about. Even though my mom was really young, she says she can still remember how mad and upset my grams was when he left.
Ron---> There are number of people in my family who were in politics who have voiced what you do not want to say, so I know what you were about to say
Sophie, it was definitely for you, the young ones -- the adolescents and those in their twenties that I posted this article. I know that history is not painting an adequate enough picture of Dr. King. I get to talk to relatives who were there -- in the Movement, and so I know. But it would appear that you are one of the fortunate young ones who knows since your grandfather was there as well. There are yet young ones who don't know. I hope this little piece may help.
Thank you to all.
gone?
I have not heard that great song in a long long time.
Something jumped out at me in part of what Landen said earlier ... " men like Martin, John and Bobby were killed and it cut people to the core, and they cried out 'Why?', now the country lives with a president with the lowest ever approval rating (for two terms!), and not one attempt on his life."
It seems to me that the Non-violent people that try to change the world for the better are always hated and feared by the most violent people who resist the changes called for about their own violent and dark ways which use force to settle what they fear seeing that as a problem for them ... all the while the ones of peace would never use such force, it being antithetical to their nature ... thus the good die at the hands of the bad ... and the really bad (mentioned in quote) are left alone unthreatened ... honor among thieves ???
This article weakened my knees. Like Sophie, the events mentioned occurred before my existence. As an African American woman, I have heard many stories of loved ones who were immediately affected by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s nonviolent approach to hatred and prejudice, even as we know it today.
In my opinion, the gallant effort Dr. King and Former President Kennedy displayed during those troubled times are easily ignored today. The younger generations have no "clue" as to what the past held for any minority, not only African Americans. This is often a misrepresented fact. Dr. King was about EQUALITY for all not only African Americans.
The death of both Dr. King and Former President Kennedy was a loss to our nation. The truth is we are still suffering from the loss today. I can only imagine what race relations would be today if both men were allowed to continue living. What a shame!
Again, your article is very moving. You have done a wonderful job paying tribute to both men. I would only hope the family members of both men find this dedication and relish the true praise you deserve for your work.
Never disappointed,
Kimberly
But what I do see here is super splendid !!!
This reminds me of a quote that I think is by Margaret Mead: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Dr. King is one of only a few people we can look at and say "That one man helped change the world for the better." He is certainly missed now.
Bruce,
Jerry,
Kimberly,
Peter, and
you as well
Kris.
I watched my mom. I have said before that the media called her the David that slew Goliath, and she did -- single-handed, one person.
It takes one, only one sometimes. Each one, reach one. Each one, teach one.
We cannot do it all, but we must start somewhere and the starting -- logically -- should be the beginning.
Martin was one.
We are all one.
But as the song goes as we multiply -- you and I, we can conquer the world.
The UNITY of this country, concentrated on a task of reparation cannot be stopped.
I believe it, further I know it.
If Martin were here -- NO!
If Martin, Bobbie or JFK were here, they would be saying that same thing
I know it.
Thanks again!
I want to go to the SuperBowl LH
Maybe that's not appropriate for here, but . . .
take me, take me!
See! I'll do a good spread for you . . .
Susan* and a special hello to Lisa to Dakota and her mom Lisa
Angela
Susan Roberts
Lawrence,
and
Sheila Deeth (I love your poetry!!!)
I long for a leader of his caliber to emerge once again.
Thank you, Rory.
"Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have A Dream" speech may just have been the most important and influential speech ever given in the history of the world.
I long for a leader of his caliber to emerge once again.
Tom you said that it changed the hearts and minds of several generations that followed him. "Generations" means so many things to so many differents people. I wonder -- no, no -- you are so talented with the use of words you meant "generations". Sweetie, I am sort of thinking that "era" -- that he is going to be recorded as having changed the hearts and minds of several eras that followed. . .
Mari: So happy you viewed, even though -- yes -- it is sad, but it is important to remember and honour the sacrifices and the men. You know, Mari. So am I. Despite all the problems we face in the United States, it is OUR country and I am proud of America too. Thank you so much for that.
Arlene -- again, thank you for your comments. You pretty much stated in alignment with Rory and Tom.
My grandpas proudest time in his life was going to the March. He still has a couple friends that he met there that get together and call each other till this day. Martin Luther King's memory was not done as much justice this year as it was in previous years. I wonder if it is due to his wife not being around anymore. I also wish there were better childrens books about him, the ones at the Library are hard for real young kids to understand, they have to wait until they are 3rd grade level to understand. he is someone you want to teach your kids about as soon as they are able to understand, for now that is still done by mouth. I remember being in grandpas office and looking up at his pictures on the wall and asking him who that man in the dark suit was. He sat me down and told me. It was one of the rare times he cried. He said the only thing that made him ashamed of America was segregation. I was too young to understand what segregation was. But even now I am a grown man, I still don't understand it. i just know it is wrong. Good article.
It was poster size and I did it in charcoal...used to have a copy of it but that burnt when my house burnt nine years back...after I did it and gave it to the church my professor asked if I had told the church that I wanted it back after the celebration...told him no, he said he wished I had as it would have made a great addition to the colleges collection of art...
:O)
mostly sad ones.... Blessings to you always...
I have watched this and other things several times. I always cry and cry when I think about Dr. King. Being from Chicago, I wrote an article awhile back about my mom just coming to Chicago from the Island of Trinidad when all of this happened, and all of the commotion that broke out . Also when they previously marched in Illinois it was the place where Dr. King felt he was treated the worst as many documentaries have noted. From what I have personally endured, I can agree. In my own personal experience, there are many places including here that really need to learn this lesson, many people still just do not get it, they want to sweep it under a rug and act like it doesn't exist. Todays kids see examples of Sean Puffy Combs and Smith and Lopez being in the spotlight and thinking that we have overcome. We are a long way from this especially with over 700 hate groups in the United States alone.
Well, you KNOW I'm not one of THOSE!! but, I'm here too!!
:o)
hi luv
.
Landen - WHERE do you think some of the current thoughts on such things come from???
.
Maybe that's not appropriate for here, but . . .
take me, take me!
See! I'll do a good spread for you . . . "
OK - YOU changed the tone here - I tried NOT to talk about what I wanted to say but YOU did this so:
(1) you have NEVER offered to "spread" for me!!! I'm hurt, truly HURT!!!
(2) How 'bout them Patriots!!!!!!!!!!!!
.
Go to TOM's COMMENT ON THE WINNERS
For my retort to unnecessary praise:
TOM'S RESPONSE TO TOM'S UNWARRANTED SUBSERVIANCE
TOM's RESPONSE
Thank you Baiden,
Thank you James T.
Thank you J Corn,
Thank you necee t,
Thank you Joanna,
Thank you Sue,
and even thank you as well,
Tom d.
Many blessings to you all!