Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Our Unavoidable Impatience

I read last night before going to bed, and I prayed. I prayed to God for my friends and family, and for our country as we embark on this new era of politics. I said a prayer too for the people of Israel, and also for the loved ones of readers to this blog who have struggled with illnesses. I want people to be well, and I hope our country remains strong.

I read last night from Martin Luther King's "
Letter from Birmingham Jail." I didn't quite finish. More reading tonight. I closed the book at this passage, and decided to post it here for folks to think about if they by chance visit my blog on today's historic day:

We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God given rights. The nations of Asia and Africa are moving with jetlike speed toward gaining political independence, but we still creep at horse and buggy pace toward gaining a cup of coffee at a lunch counter. Perhaps it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say, "Wait." But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim; when you have seen hate filled policemen curse, kick and even kill your black brothers and sisters; when you see the vast majority of your twenty million Negro brothers smothering in an airtight cage of poverty in the midst of an affluent society; when you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six year old daughter why she can't go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children, and see ominous clouds of inferiority beginning to form in her little mental sky, and see her beginning to distort her personality by developing an unconscious bitterness toward white people; when you have to concoct an answer for a five year old son who is asking: "Daddy, why do white people treat colored people so mean?"; when you take a cross county drive and find it necessary to sleep night after night in the uncomfortable corners of your automobile because no motel will accept you; when you are humiliated day in and day out by nagging signs reading "white" and "colored"; when your first name becomes "nigger," your middle name becomes "boy" (however old you are) and your last name becomes "John," and your wife and mother are never given the respected title "Mrs."; when you are harried by day and haunted by night by the fact that you are a Negro, living constantly at tiptoe stance, never quite knowing what to expect next, and are plagued with inner fears and outer resentments; when you are forever fighting a degenerating sense of "nobodiness"- then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait. There comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over, and men are no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair. I hope, sirs, you can understand our legitimate and unavoidable impatience.

12 comments:

Laura Lee - Grace Explosion said...

Here's the problem. The demand for rights separate of responsibility has destroyed America. I thank MLK for his service. I, myself, believe he was a great man. Unfortunately, persons have draped themselves in his flag and advanced socialism. Africa has fallen in great part to Islam, totalitarian dictatorship, socialism. Why?? Because there was not a strong Judeo Christian culture, ethos, but there was a demand for "rights" and "freedom".

In Zimbabwe the people are starving because the white farmers were driven from their large farms which they managed with excellence and now 5,000,000 are threatened with famine and death. There's the indigenous black African "freedom" under Mugabwe (sp??) because they were not capable of maintaining the economic production of the previous system... nor freedom, really. They fell to dictatorship.

As the blacks and others in this nation move to a "mad rush" of demanding the deconstruction of our free market system, capitalism, and demand Government interventions and programs - we are going the way of Zimbabwe - in more ways than one. The calling of socialism "civil rights" and the demands of those who considered themselves "poor" (who were not really poor - they were wealthy in the US when they allowed a free market system that DID provide for them in greater wealth than the 3rd world - great wealth compared to the 3rd world)... we're about to face "undevelopment" in the USA and food shortages and such incredible calamity... it's going to be insane. THat's the result of "entitlement" mentalities that demanded rights - but eschewed responsibility in the free market system as well as godly morals. This nation has become sexually libertine... and self-sufficiency has perished as the result of the breakdown of marriage and the family structure. And we have idiots, yes idiots, on this blog who think that the greatest concern in America is the demand for further breakdown of traditional morals in the demand for homosexual "marriage". Get ready to go hungry - you who rejected the God of Abraham, His laws, and thus rejected His blessing, protection, and provision over the US. Prepare yourselves for the Greatest Depression... and being slammed on your asses down to a 3rd world level of poverty. That's the "new USA" due to "unavoidable impatience"... and because you RAIL on Donald Douglas and men like him... and SO HATED the traditionalism of President Bush... SO HATED Palin... and SO HATE the Christians in this nation GOD blessed and for whom GOD provided so long as we maintained God over this nation.

You got your way. You got your Obama. Now get ready to go through hell.

There's your change. God will no longer bless America. Not this one.

GRace.

Laura Lee - Grace Explosion said...

P.S Remember that I warned you that when you reject God over a nation, Satan comes in over that nation to steal, kill, and destroy. Satan is being ushered in over America - the Satan you atheists don't believe exists. SATAN, not God, is going to slam you down and steal, kill, and destroy. YOU GAVE HIM THAT POWER when you brought Obama into office and put SATAN over America.

Don't blame God. Blame yourselves. Don't rail on Christians like our God is cruel. NO, you fools. YOUR GOD, Satan, is cruel and a very wicked and cruel taskmaster - he is Pharoah and ye shall be his slaves.

Call it prophecy. But don't you dare blame God for what is about to happen in the USA!!

Anonymous said...

I was so moved by the MLK quote, and then deeply saddened by Grace Explosion's condemnation of America.

Let us not forget that throughout history, there have always been people who claimed that one political leader after another was the Anti-Christ. I shudder at those who, likewise, try to make Obama the Anti-Christ. And, he is not the first American President to be so labeled.

Remember: Obama can do NOTHING without consent from Congress. And, if he does become the evil tyrant you foresee him to be, then remember that God puts political leaders into their positions. Jesus reminded His disciples that Caesar would not have been in his position without God allowing it.

Obama is here for a purpose. I think some of us are little to premature to forecast gloom and doom before the guy is even sworn in. Maybe a little gloom ... but not the Apocalypse.

Anonymous said...

" But don't you dare blame God for what is about to happen in the USA!!"

Then I guess God isn't all powerful, Grace?

Donald, aren't you going to thank Grace for visiting? And posting such delicious tripe?

The Vegas Art Guy said...

Funny, I'm in the middle of creating a unit on that very letter. It's going to be a three or four day project due to it's length and complexity. You should also read the statement from the clergy that led to his letter.

JoMala "Truth 101" Kelly said...

It is out of respect for Dr. King I don't take you to task for your silly rant Grace.

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure I understand GE's rant?! I might suggest that Grace read MLK's "I've been to the Mountaintop" speech... one of his greatest and she might be surprised at what she reads... or go here: http://www.thekingcenter.org/ Anyway, I studied MLK in college and focused in on his speaches and letters- to this day, I believe he was one of the greatest speakers of all time! Both Clarence Jones and MLK were brilliant writers... How can anyone NOT be inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King- and I've always thought he had very strong Judeo Christian principles.

AmPowerBlog said...

Dear Grace and my other readers: I have been teaching classes all day, and I have to admit that Grace's comment is not something that pleases me on this day of national celebration and renewal.

I love Martin Luther King, and as a man of color, I know that not every black person is looking for a handout or seeks to destroy the goodness of our country. The multiculturalism of today is at odds with the goodness of Dr. King's message. I do think we've achieved equality in this country, and I will be attacking the left on precisely the issues Grace raises. The intemperance of this particular set of comments is not of my style and I cannot fully endorse them. Yet, I respect Grace's right to express her views.

As always, as long as commenters refrain from specific examples of racism and anti-Semitism, as well as direct abuses and threats, folks are free to comment.

I debated deleting Grace's remarks, but I like Grace and I think she means well despite some of the more exuberant expressions of her beliefs.

Sincerely,

Donald...

Jan said...

Grace..while I realize that you are passionate in your beliefs, these comments are coming across as rather 'preachy' and very harsh, and it seems that you are including a lot of people in your blanket statements, that don't deserve the blame and accusations.

I, too, have always thought that Dr. King had very strong Judeo Christian principles, and tried to instill them in his followers.

I am not pleased, either, with the way that the elections turned out, but there are many factors to be considered, one of which, especially if one considers himself to be a Christian, is this:

And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what [is] in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
Daniel 2:21-21 KJV

Now, whether or not we will be pleased with what is to come as a result of this particular man being set into office remains to be seen, but if you are truly a student of the word of God, you will recognize it for what it is..and pray accordingly.

I hope that you are not offended by these words, but will receive them in the spirit in which they are written.

Jan said...

Correction to previous post:

Daniel 2:21-22

Bloviating Zeppelin said...

Before there was a Reagan, if you admire him, there had to be his Carter, if you don't.

BZ

Anonymous said...

I am not sure Grace is any more a credible authority than Mickey Mouse when it comes to the grievance, history and plight of colored peoples and their struggles.

Otherwise, she wouldn't attribute the fanaticism of a Robert Mugabe with the legitimate struggles that African people have faced throughout recent history and continue to face until this day.

Lets just call a spade a spade shall we? As far as I am concerned, any student of social psychology would diagnose Grace as an overt RACIST.

" Because there was not a strong Judeo Christian culture, ethos, but there was a demand for "rights" and "freedom".

Even the KKK claimed to have its roots in "Judeo-Christian culture". Is it a possibility that we have a card carrying member amongst us?

ONe who believes that people "demanding their rights and freedoms" is somehow an illegitimate grievance because their culture isn't Judeo Christian!!!

I have a couple of potential hypothesis.

a) Someone forgot to take their meds
or

b) WE have a member of the KKK thats not willing to out themselves as such.

Ahhh the curiosity is killin' me