Minister says Martin Luther King Holiday is an insult(??)

I think he feels that commemorating MLK's birthday without enough emphasis on his work, dilutes MLK's message.

the impact of his message and his assasination at the time, are lost to those who were not alive to experience the mood at the time.

MLK day, has just become another day off. However, I think that there are still plenty of reminders out there, I just listened to MLK's famous speech on the radio.

If he feels that way, he should organize more charitable works to be conducted on this day, rather than just complain. Maybe he has, I don't know.

Personally, I have to say, I am not doing anything to commemorate MLK's acheivements. I just came across his speech by accident, so I am guilty as well, and I was alive and active during the civil rights days.

There were MANY great people and leaders in the US history. I just don't get why MLK was given a holiday in the first place. While I work for the government and we are off today, I would MUCH rather them take away this holiday in January and give us either Good Friday or Easter Monday as a holiday instead.

After all Christ is far more important then MLK!

I think it is wonderful that our government recognizes Martin Luther King. It was a long time coming and he DESERVES a holiday.

He always preached non-violence. Golden, you should be happy, MLK is probably the only minister to have a holiday.

GK - it all depends on where you are. To a lot of the world Christ is not the Messiah so He wouldn't be more important than MLK.

I'm honestly not sure how I feel about a day off for MLK. I believe there are others who have earned such honours and have not had them so it's a Catch 22 IMO.

Perhaps more folks like MLK could be honoured by having a day set aside for them but not make it a holiday for anyone.

While Christ might not be important to all parts of the world, MLK is NOT a holiday in other countries. My point is WHY single him out? There were other great leaders. And the entire month of February is "Black History Month" - so MLK could be remembered during that month as well as other black leaders!

Hey, Cindy, we agree!

I sat and watched several (U.S.) programs on MLK yesterday, and once again was amazed at how many changes he brought about through his peaceful activism. Not alone, of course, but he was one of the prime movers. I still remember watching news coverage of peaceful protest marches being broken up with truncheons, fire hoses, and attack dogs.

Racial equality has not yet been achieved in the U.S. (or in many other countries), but much has been: the right to vote and hold office, the abolition of institutionalized segregation and laws prohibiting miscegenation, the rise of a black middle class, to name a few. I wonder if he could have pictured a black woman as the richest woman in America, a great many huge movie stars like Denzel Washington, Will Smith, etc., two black Secretaries of State, and now a viable presidential candidate who is half black? Even something like The Cosby Show or The Jeffersons, which are admittedly "old" to many members, but wouldn't have had a chance in the fifties and sixties?

I really think his life should be celebrated, not his death, so I believe the date is quite appropriate. It was his actions while he was alive, not his assassination, that were a catalyst for change.

Personally, I like the idea of MLK Day becoming "a day on" instead of "a day off." A volunteer day. Do yard work for the elderly or clean a shelter. Something.
One of the columnists for the DMN said he tried to local a volunteer project for this weekend or today and couldn't find one. Some cities are already successfully organizing these types of activities. Most do the volunteering on Saturday so people are availabel to go to the parades.

I think that would be wonderful.

We do have Christ's Day, we have Christmas.

Very good point!

don't forget Easter Sunday.

Exactly. There are parts of this country that would verbally rip you to shreds for making a comment about MLK, GK.

He was the advocate for giving civil rights to minorities, because of his leadership blacks no longer have to sit in the back of the bus, they no longer have to drink from a separate water fountain.

He was a powerful speaker for those that didn't have a voice in America. His speeches and movements for the black community progressed the white views towards equility rather than separation. It's a shame that his time was cut so short...think of how much further we could be if he had been given a few more years.

I've never seen Jesus in the videos during which MLK made his famous speech during the March on Washington. To many in the black community Martin Luther King, Jr was their Messiah

I think its OK that we have the day off. In Detroit & Ann Arbor, there were several speeches and events that were dedicated to him that concern the civil rights of yesterday and today...Detroit didn't have a bunch of parades and facades in honor of him, Detroit celebrates the day off by continuing where MLK left off. As long as the day is celebrated in that way, then continue to give the day off. Let the young black community learn about their heritage and what they can do to help their children in the future.

IMO, however, he should not be given one day...same as Black History month. Black history month...why can't we just incorporate black history in all the other months instead of dedicating one month in an effort to make sure teachers teach "that subject".

MLK's words and efforts should be celebrated everyday.

I completely agree. His life was a wonderful expression of Christian ideals.

That minister in Dallas doesn't understand how important it is to let everyone celebrate the unity that MLK called for.

I taught middle school for 1 and 1/2 years. I found the children didn't know that much about Martin Luther King. When I played a film of his speech they were very surprised to discover that he spoke like the black ministers they were used to. I taught them about the bus boycott and they were surprised that it worked.

It's very important to have a day that teaches what MLK taught: non-violent resistance and peaceful ways to bring about needed change. The children growing up get a chance to learn about him. These national holidays are really about teaching children to honor the people that have made our country great.

Haven't all of the national holidays turned into just another day off of work?

I respect and admire the passion, courage, heart and conviction that Dr. King had. If ther world had more leaders like him (regardless of color, country, etc) it would be a much better place. I think it's fitting that he, and what he fought for, is honored with a national holiday.

You guys are missing the point - MLK was not the only black to fight for rights, etc. - there were many others who did many of the same things. I'm not putting MLK down at all - just saying that I don't think it should be a "holiday" - honor him on his birthday or in Black History month.

But if you want to add another government holiday on the calendar - give us Easter (Friday or Monday) for celebration. I think that would be much more appropriate as a holiday.

but we not in the rest of the world we are here.

They are not looking for racial equality. MLK idea of black people and white people getting along, has not happen. young black people have no idea who or what MLK was, or what he did. Busing makes not sense, go to school,
white kids sit with white, black sit with black. I will admit, most of the racism i have seen in person, goes from black to white. Of course i dont doubt that it still goes the other way.

racism has become a catch phase, for everytime something happens now.

just dont say merry christmas, maybe we should say merry mlk day

the blacks no longer have any leadership, who jesse jackson? the REV al sharpton people who have make a living off mlk memory , but dont really follow it. They invent and make things racist even when they are not.

I see no reason why MLK day should be done away with, Its just shame that people hvae wasted the message

If there is one person (or event) who should be honored with a new national holiday it should be the greatest president this country has ever had- Abraham Lincoln. I know we have President's Day but very few president's truly stand out above the rest. Lincoln and George Washington do.

My apologies if I strayed a bit off topic.

I think Lincoln does have his own holiday and at one time was considered a fed holiday (???) It's sometime in February on his birthday. Same with Washington. I think they created Presidents day to take one day off as opposed to 2 during Feb.

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Lincoln's birthday was never a federal holiday. Washington's birthday is a federal holiday (Feb. 18 this year), however states are not required to celebrate federal holidays and many chose to have a "President's Day" to honor Washington and Lincoln who were both born in February.

As far as MLK Day goes, I think it should be changed to Civil Rights Day.

I think when we see "MLK Day Sale", he would have more of a point.

I really have no idea how I should interpret this comment. Are you disparaging Martin Luther King's achievements, or commercialism?

I think it was directed at the commercialism of holidays. Pretty much every holiday we have has been commercialized with sales. The meaning of many holidays has taken a back seat to the almighty dollar.

I can *kind of* understand where he is coming from on this. The article says he marched with him, so I'm assuming they were friends. In which case, yes, one day wouldn't seem like enough, as anyone's personal grief would say.

Also, I think he wants people to remember him all year, instead of just one day. Sort of like black history 'month' or women's history 'month'. Those shouldn't be separate-- history should be integrated to include everyone regardless of gender, race, religion, etc. People shouldn't be given false importance just because they're not a dead white guy, but MLK was important. He was a great example of non-violence in a time when many were turning to more dangerous methods in their frustration. If Malcolm X had been in charge instead of MLK, race relations might be worse, instead of better. Not that they're perfect, but they're better than they were when my parents grew up with whites-only bathrooms.

That aside, I think one day is just right, set aside as a remembrance. In a relationship, you love each other and treat each other well all year, but you still have an anniversary to celebrate. Why not apply that principle here?