The problem with the fog of history, with the way the taboo against speaking ill of the dead tends to edit memorials down to saying nothing much more than the deceased subject’s name, is that all the specifics get washed away, leaving behind some universal nobody. Martin Luther King, Jr.’ s last speech, in which he correctly prophesied that he “might not get there with you” to the Promised Land is all that’s remembered of what he said. And that is astonishing. But that speech also contains clear-cut political suggestions for the very present moment, including a plea to those assembled to boycott the Coca-Cola Company “because they haven’t been fair in their hiring policies.” (excerpt) —Sarah Vowell in Assassination Vacation Clear-Cut Political Suggestions Day of Note: Today the United States honors the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King.
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 20:50:09 +0000