INAUGURATION 2009

An Unfinished Dream

'Give us the ballot,' Martin Luther King Jr. said in his first Lincoln Memorial speech. That was just the start.

By David J. Garrow | NEWSWEEK
Published Jan 19, 2009
From the magazine issue dated Jan 21, 2009

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  • Posted By: Daphne Kenward @ 01/21/2009 9:17:49 AM

    God Bless the King family, I thank god for the life and works of Dr King, and the sacrifice he has made for the future.
    Without Dr KIng we would not have arrive at such an important place in our HISTORY. May God peserve and protect his family, we will never forget his sacrifice.

  • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 01/20/2009 9:38:41 AM

    Today an African-American will become the most powerful person on earth. MLK Jr. would be proud . We Democrats who have elected president Obama are equally proudof ourselves. We belong to a prty that has condemned hate and we are committed to the belief that all persons to be equal in our eyes. The Democrats will continue to grow our party because we hold these beliefs and no serious challenge will come for many years.

    Life is Good and God is Good.

  • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 01/20/2009 9:15:45 AM

    Those that say the Hate mongering of the Republican spokesmen no longer exists, should maybe look at the Sean Hannity show or listen to the Rush Limbaugh show or listen to Fox News' number one guest Dick Morris. All of these characters define the GOP party of hate. I'll stop outing them when the republican start condemning them. I'm not holding my breath. Call it what you want but exposing and attacking hatred is not hate.

  • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 01/20/2009 9:02:58 AM

    Why would the KKK be so prominent in the GOP party of hate in the South? Just as vypurr said Robert Byrd was a KKK leader in W.Va and is a Democrat. How can one say that the vast majority of the KKK are Southern Republicans? Vypurr says he's sure there are KKK in both parties. It's absolutely true that at one time that almost all of the Politicians in the South were Democrats and were affiliated with the KKK. When LBJ signed the Civil Rights Act, things changed radically. The former Democrats became "Dixiecrats" and then later changed to Republicans.the KKK is almost exclusively Republican in the South and most harbor dreams that the South will Rise again. Maybe it's one of those embarrassing things they have to deal with, like the crazy uncle in the attic, but it is the truth. If they want to belong to a party that depends on the support of the Klan, they must be willing to take some heat for it!.

  • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 01/20/2009 8:38:16 AM

    vypurr is not the first Republican in denial who labels my war against hate as hate. Kill the messenger if the message is not to their liking defines his type. i have charged the Bush phonied evidence that direstly caused the deaths of more that 4500 of our brave troops. I have attacked the republicans for allowing hate monger shock jocks like Hannity, Limbaugh, Morris, Matelin, Buchanan and Coulter to represent them . Deny it as they may, vypurr and others repeat the mantras of the day by these dispicable characters. vypurr would have you believe otherwise, but the absence of condemnation says it all. I attack hate, just as President Obama did during his campaign. the GOP party of hate better get used to getting a dose of their own medicine. every nasty trick they tried fell flat. From "hussien" to "Terrorist" to "fake Birth certificate', all were failures because the Republicans didn't expect a carpet bombardment from the Obama camp in return. Their feeble low-life hate campaign went into the crapper, where it belonged.

    • Posted By: Vypurr @ 01/20/2009 8:59:18 AM

      I am not in denial. Though I did not vote for him, I support President Obama and wish him well. Now is the time to drop the racism, party of hate and other destructive ideology and become solution oriented. Bringing up Iraq by finding fault and assigning blame won't accomplish anything. Like or not, Iraq is a job that needs to be finished with a positive outcome. Obama has stated this.

      The other non factors you continue to bring up - the birth certificate, Hussein, the campaign... In case you haven't noticed, the election is over and we have a new president, but you simply won't let go! You proclaim that the Republicans are the party of hate, when you continue to bury yourself in the past, clinging to the very hate you condemn!

      Repub, follow our new leader, and to coin your own phrase, drop this feeble, low-life hatred in the crapper... where it belongs.

  • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 01/20/2009 7:52:26 AM

    Thank you skyhigh, Never has my point been validated so well, that the GOP party of hate continues to breath through their mouths.

    • Posted By: Vypurr @ 01/20/2009 8:08:51 AM

      As much as you wish it to be, those comments do not represent the Republican party, anymore so than your ridiculous, incessant "party of hate" comments represent the Democrat party.

      • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 01/20/2009 8:16:00 AM

        If that's true, why did it take you only 18 minutes to reply to condemn my comment and no reply to his? Don't run from the truth. Which party is a haven for thr KKK? Could a Southern Republican be elected without the vote of the Klan? If you are a member of a party that has these types of people representing you along with hate mongers, Hannity, Limbaugh and Morriss, why are you still a member.Why haven't you condemned them?

        • Posted By: Vypurr @ 01/20/2009 8:39:16 AM

          I did not address his posts for the same reason I did not address this one on the Freedom Riders site:

          Posted By: THE RAVEN @ 06/02/2008 5:29:14 PM

          Quote: "Why are you racist white cowards afraid to say anything about the FREEDOM RIDERS?"

          I won't lend credibility to them. They're searching for a fight, and they don't deserve a reply to their extremely offensive statements. In addition, their blind hatred cannot be reasoned with. You, on the other hand, should know better.

          Please don't associate all republicans with the KKK. They most certainly have members of both parties. You forget that one of the current leading Democrats, Sen. Robert Byrd, is a former leading member of the KKK. Likewise, Hannity, Limbaugh and Morris do not represent all republicans anymore than Franken and Matthews represent everyone in the Democrat party. And I'm sure that Southern Republicans are elected all the time without the help of the KKK.

          • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 01/20/2009 8:49:21 AM

            Nothing i've said is untrue. You're wrong about the KKK influence in the Republican party and i'm sure you know that. Are you condemning Hannity, Morris and Limbaugh for their hate mongering or are you just saying there are some Republicans that they don't represent? You can have the last word, vypurr. If you're a Republican and must protect those characters because your party would be a bigger loser with out them, then go ahead and do it. If you personally would like to be part of a party that doesn't use hate as their primary weapon, perhaps you should consider changing your affiliation. One last question, do the republicans rely on Limbaugh, Morris and Limbaugh to help them win elections.? Maybe just an honest yes or no this time instead of a Swmocrats do it too.

  • Posted By: bud64k @ 01/20/2009 4:21:27 AM

    I wonder how of a sudden everyone is a Black History expert it certainly wasnt taught in our public schools.

  • Posted By: simmertime in DC @ 01/19/2009 8:17:48 PM

    Whew! Let us get the coronation overwith and move on. Articles like this serve to glorify events that are misleading and only partially true. Obama is the first affirmative action president. If he was white, he would have lost to Hillary. Actually Palin is more qualified to hold the job than he is, probably another thousand also.

    Interesting that MLKs speech is noted for the phrase "content of one's character...not color of skin", yet the black community still plays the "black skin" card to get what it wants. They do not want to be judged by the content of their character. It does not have alot of merit as evidence by the inner city neighborhoods, lack of achievement, lousy schools, mired in ignorance and poverty. In other words they are enslaved to their poor leaders and awful content of their character. A permanent underclass, that blames others for their problems when it is obvious they are the problem.

    So give hosannas to Obama, but nothing will change.

    • Posted By: Discernment @ 01/19/2009 10:46:58 PM

      .
      TO: "SIMMERTIME IN DC":

      YOU RUSH LIMBAUGH DITTO-HEADS CRACK ME UP.

      Every one of your statements are false or 'bs'. And your quote about Sarah Palin being better qualified for President than PE-Obama is ridiculous. But because I have so much to do and no time to waste debating people who get their facts from 'Faux News', I will leave you with this bit of wisdom. Palin couldn???t be Bush's towel girl, much less hold a candle to PE-Obama.

      [1.] When Republican candidate and Christian-Evangelical Mike Huckabee recently tell Sarah Palin to shut up and move on;
      [2.] when almost every conservative writer & pundit acknowledge that Sarah Palin failed miserably to answer 'easy softball' interview questions for which McCain, Obama, and Biden had successfully done with far tougher questions;
      [3.] when Sarah Palin cannot name a single supreme court decision, yet she would be responsible to name Supreme Court Justices if McCain became incapacitated;
      [4.] when Sarah Palin must go through seven colleges to patch together a degree in journalism, while Obama excels in Constitutional Law at Harvard University;
      [5.] when Sarah Palin is the Governor of a state where the population is far less than cities like Austin, Texas or Columbus, Ohio, and PE-Obama is the Senator for the 5th largest state of nearly 13-million people . . .
      - - - - than it is pretty clear to me that PE-Obama's qualification is far superior than Sarah Palin's qualifications, and it is an insult to minds of wise and intelligent people to think otherwise.

      Dear "SIMMERTIME IN DC", with the election of Obama & Biden, the people of this nation have begun the journey of moving away from divisive political ideology and have began to demand real solutions to solve everyday middle-class issues. You "SIMMERTIME IN DC" can continue hanging on to the nasty, hateful, divisive ways of a dwindling GOP, but I for one am taking my Independent vote and moving in with the pragmatist and the solution finders.

      • Posted By: lisarae38 @ 01/19/2009 10:55:46 PM

        Im with you! Sarah Palin belongs in the Circus!

    • Posted By: lisarae38 @ 01/19/2009 10:48:48 PM

      White, ignorant trash! What a hateful, and lonley person you must be~ I am a middle aged American white woman and it is people like you that makes me ashamed to be white, or even American for that matter.
      Good luck to you Obama, and God Bless you, your family, your mission, and my country, the United States of America!

    • Posted By: JMB31 @ 01/19/2009 10:23:38 PM

      First off, Hillary Clinton lost the Democratic Primaries because she ran a terrible campaign, which failed to focus on the cacacus states, and lacked a post Super Tuesday strategy. Next, if you noticed John McCain also ran a terrible campaign, from everyting to not staying on message, to the Sara Palin interviews, to their response to the economic crisis. Therefore, the idea that Barack Obama is some sort of Afirmitive Action President shows you either didn't pay attention to this election, or you grossly underestimated just how bad his rivals campaigns were. You also underestimate just how effective Obama's campaign was on everything from his outreach online, to the candidate's calm demeanor during a crisis.

      Why attack, and insult the character of an entire group of people? That's certainly something Dr. King would be both offended and saddened by so why abuse his words? Instead why not get involved to both encourage, and improve the lives of these people. That's what Dr. King would do, he would not stand on the sidelines insulting an entire group of people because his candidate lost an election! Instead of attacking an entire race of people, and questioning their very character, why dont you actually read Dr. King's words. And even better idea instead of twisting and abusing them, learn from them.


      Finally, if you can't see any reason why Americans should celebrate the election of America's first minority to the Presidency, even knowing the history of this country, then I trully feel sorry for you.

      "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."
      - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

  • Posted By: beowawe @ 01/19/2009 10:25:41 PM

    As a white child growing up in the South in the 50's-60's I recall the sense of injustice I felt at discrimination....a child feels any human child is a fellow human. I moved to California in 1967 as a result. Fast forward to the late 80's and 90's in the San franscisco Bay Area...I found the the tables turned....I was disrespected by many Blacks who had ascened to positions of power..I still smart from my child's parent council and at UC Berkeley.Later in goverment service, ditto. My observation: power corrupts. Look at the Russiona Revolution, the idealism..the ultimate corruption of Stalinism. I hope that THIS revolution of the next generation, post 60's...does not fail...but having lived through the 60's...

  • Posted By: beowawe @ 01/19/2009 10:17:05 PM

    As a white growing up in the South in the 50's 60's, witnessing some of these things that to a child feels wrong....then fast forward to adulthood in California (I had to escape too!) saw eventually in the late 80's and 90's experienced role-reversal power politics in the SF Bay Area..reminded me of any "revolution"...power corrupts. I hope this new revolution is not corrupted by human power mongers.

  • Posted By: FatalX @ 01/19/2009 8:31:26 PM

    Dear Republicans,

    Like the outgoing George W. and Mike Huckabee (Huckabee being the only shot the GOP really had or has, as any Democrat on earth could have told you, had you bothered to ask) have already suggested: Stop the gossipy fear-mongery B.S., try endorsing a version of Christianity that doesn???t smack of fascism, at least *pretend* to care about regular people (Main St. v Wall St.) and start being more ethnically inclusive.

    The GOP has lost alot more than an election in 2008: It lost a whole generation. The 20-30 vote which it scorned will be the 30-40 vote by the time Obama leaves office.

    Sincerely,

    Obama ???08

  • Posted By: Discernment @ 01/19/2009 8:22:18 PM

    MLK's 'Dream' did not start with him and will not end with him. MLK's Dream will continue indefinitely.

    Remember, MLK's title began with "Reverend Doctor . . .". He was an educated Bible thumping Southern Christian Preacher long before he was thrust into national activism and civil rights. The precepts from which MLK drew his social themes were from JESUS CHRIST, another social activist from the middle-east around 2,000 years ago. If you don't believe MLK's principles and themes first originated with JESUS CHRIST, go do a comparison between MLK writings and biblical scriptures. They synchronize. All MLK principles are pragmatic themes taken from JESUS CHRIST teachings and are still 100% relevant for nations of today. And because JESUS CHRIST is a prophet for which the Jews, Muslims and Christians acknowledge with respect, MLK's dream of HOPE, BROTHERHOOD, DIGNITY, RESPECT, LOVE, and EQUAL JUSTICE will continue to propagate, in principle, through the conduits of these three faiths.

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