November 13th was a truly historic day in this wonderful country of ours...! It was the ground breaking ceremony of the Martin Luther King Memorial on the Mall in Washington D.C. A 'first' in so very many ways....not the least of which is that this will be the first Memorial on the Mall honoring an African American. We've come a long long way...we truly have....and think about this: Remember that other historic day in August of 1963 when Dr. King made his "I have a dream..." speech and the steps that he stood on that very moving and historic day, will be visible from this Memorial when it is finished, Thank God for C-Span because I got to watch the whole ceremony last night...and it was deeply deeply moving. I think the most moving thing to me was to see the people who are still alive who were close to Dr. King and in the case of Jesse Jackson and Andrew (Andy) Young who were there by his side all through those years of the Civil Rights Non-Violent movement...including, being by his side when he was gunned down in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4th, 1968.
To see these two men in particular, now, 38 years later, speaking from their hearts and being so moved themselves by this incredible moment in our history----the ground being turned over for this amazing well deserved and long overdue Memorial----that was deeply moving to me....I loved that they had so very many people with shovels ready and waiting to help turn that sacred ground over----there must have been 25 or more, I'm not sure----but they were prepared to turn over that dirt all at the same time....and watching them actually do that was quite a touching picture....When one thinks of the sacrifices made for 'the cause' by so very many people, 'back in the day'---being in harms way over and over and over----the bravery it took to get up off one's porch on the outskirts of Montgomery to join the march already in progress from Selma to Montgomery....working people who might lose their jobs and even their lives in this endeavor----the bravery of Dr. King and all those who walked with him, knowing they were truly risking life and limb every time they stepped up to the plate like this----all these people who's grandparents were slaves----the courage this took....Awesome.
So very many people were hurt---maimed and killed in this long long fight for "equal rights".....(there were so very ma nt they were and are too numerous to mention), attempting to get what the Bill Of Rights said was theirs by birthright. And as was said yesterday by any number of speakers on that podium 'there is still a long way to go'....Amen, Amen.But, what a triumpant beautiful day it was yesterday....the next step in the many many years of work by thousands of people culminating ten years ago when our then President, Bill Clinton, signed into law the 'idea' of this Memorial, the ground has now been broken. Two-thirds of the $100,000,000 that this fitting Memorial will cost has already been raised. And each and every one of us can contribute to this most histortic and wonderful momument if we are so inclined. Here is the link.
This Memorial is for all of us....it is about humanity and one's committment to 'the dream' of true equality for everyone in this country.....I am very very happy to have participated.
More To Come......
- had this to say:
Youare right - this memorial is long overdue. A truly great man should be remembered.
- Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 1:27:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
Thank you for this beautiful tribute - we might live a long way away from the happenings in those times, but believe me we were very close to the struggle in our hearts.
- Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 2:44:00 AM PST
-
had this to say:
I wish I had been able to watch all the footage.....what a great man. What a nice tribute you have done in your post. All of us could learn from Martin Luther King, all of us.
- Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 3:17:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
Back again! Thanks for your comments on our test video. I very much appreciate it especially from you as I know you have an eye for composition and art and have been involved in theatre and screen. We are always keen to hear what people think and I in particular am a bit of a perfectionist! Can you believe that I actually shot a couple of takes slightly out of focus?!! Afterwards I stopped beating myself up as the other footage looked great and it was only the second time I had handled the camera. Thanks again :-)
- Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 3:19:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
aren't we lucky that we don't have to be there to see wonderful moments! not that long ago we'd be lucky just to read about it, now we get "front row seats" without leaving our homes.
As always Naomi.. wonderful tribute to someone who deserves it.- Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 5:04:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
Too bad his dream hasn't come true yet... why can't we all be friends?An overdue memorial for an outstanding man.
- Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 6:01:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
We're only a couple of hours from D.C., so we're definitaly looking forward to seeing it when it's completed. And yes, it is long overdue- I get frustrated with seeing all these interstates and libraries and huge new buildings named after politicians when there are so many wonderful people whom have made a huge difference in our world not getting any recognition.
- Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 6:05:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
Thank you for this post. I have a hard time keeping up so far away - with anything CNN doesn't find particularly newsworthy. . . grassroots help!
- Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 6:10:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
I am all for this monument. I do believe he had a marvelous attitude and drive and a gentle spirit. He was a great man.
- Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 9:09:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
A great man - honoured and remembered for decades - now with a permanent memorial.
Is there a Rosa Parks memorial? Someone else who should be honoured in the history books.
cq- Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 11:20:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
I was only able to catch a bit of r. Clinton's speech before I had to check out of my hotel in Colorado and head to the conference site. So I'm thrilled that you so beautifully wrote about the ceremony and its significance.
Dr. King really did change the world. What I wouldn't give to have met him.- Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 12:43:00 PM PST
-
had this to say:
He was a great man. I live very close to the King Center here in Atlanta.
- Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 1:15:00 PM PST
- had this to say:
Beautiful tribute, Naomi. All the World know so well the first word of Martin Luther King's speech: "I have a dream..."
- Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 1:37:00 PM PST
-
had this to say:
If anyone is interested, my account of the ceremony is here. I was lucky enough to be able to spend the morning there.
~
Also, don't forget, everyone - the memorial is only 2/3rds funded. Please consider contributing.- Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 2:08:00 PM PST
- had this to say:
Beautiful tribute Naomi! Martin Luther King Jr. WAS a great, courageous, honorable man - and this memorial is long overdue! I'm so glad to see that it will finally be getting built. (i just hope BUSH doesn't get credit for it!)
(I'll keep my eyes open for that OTHER post ... coming soon... to a blog near me... at your house!)- Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 3:03:00 PM PST
- had this to say:
Wonderful tribute to MLK Naomi. It is overdue. Glad you got to watch it. I hardly ever watch c-span. Guess I should sometimes!
So nice that from the memorial where he made his "I have a dream" speech will be visible! That's really neat!!- Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 4:29:00 PM PST
- had this to say:
The message rings loud and clear for me. I'll be contributing.
~S- Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 6:38:00 PM PST
-
had this to say:
Terrifically written tribute!Such a memorial is long overdue. What you wrote about this memorial being "for all of us, for humanity" is the bottomline.
- Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 6:50:00 PM PST
- had this to say:
Those are very touching moments. And by the way, since I have not been blogging, I only got to read your post about smoking. That was a good post. I do hope we would have that primal therapy thing here too. Or maybe we have but just don't have the time to find out. I do smoke too and would love to quit too. I know it doesn't do me any good.
Thanks for dropping by. I'll be posting once in a while but just not really to blog just to see how you all my friends are and for all of you to leave a comment whenever you desire.- Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 8:16:00 PM PST
- had this to say:
well, it always sounds bad when you have to start a paragraph with the phrase "I am not a rascist"... I think equality is a wonderful thing, growing up in a place with not much diversity, and in the 80s, too, the racial issues never effected me, so much. I never really understood why some folks are prejudiced against other folks. doesnt matter to me which religion, race, sexual orientation, age, whatever a person is. some of it is plain old apathy... i just cant care enough to be rascist.
my only experiences with MLKjr are: the city of portland changed union ave's name, so i bought a new thomas guide.
And: i dated a fellow who was several years older than me... he was orphaned at 12 years of age and stuck in a home in pennsylvania for "fatherless white boys". The peaceful black equality folks marched upon his school when he had been there just 4 months. He told me that he would gladly have given every black child in the world his cot in the orphanage if it meant his parents werent dead and he didnt have to be there anymore. he didnt chose to be white and he didnt chose to be an orphan and he didnt understand why all these people were marching and carrying signs and hating him, when all he did was live through the car crash that took his parents and his brothers life. People of all sorts were hurt in that movement, sometimes the casulties were not so obvious.
So, last bit to say: It isnt very often i find myself in absolute total agreement with the US Army, but when it comes to rascism, every drill instructer i have ever heard of has just one thing to say about soldiers... "these boys aint blacks nor whites nor browns ... they are all green here"- Thursday, November 16, 2006 at 5:36:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
I didn't see the event, but am so glad it finally happened. I am always so moved by Dr. King's words, the focus he had on his goals and the peaceful nature of his ways and power to lead. Thanks for sharing.
- Thursday, November 16, 2006 at 5:39:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
A lovely tribute to a gentle soul, Naomi.
Thanks for the visit. We found that bakery by accident, just walking by and what a treat it was! We also bought baguettes and chewed on those for a while. After a long, hard day of walking at Versailles, it was just what we needed before boarding the train again.- Thursday, November 16, 2006 at 6:13:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
When we first visited the USA in 1971 we went through some southern states and although the race separation law were abolished, there were still banks for "whites" and "blacks" and I remember that I were very shocked about that and couldn't understand. Now so many years later it's much better but still not enough. In some States or towns people are still very racist (I were from 1988 - 1996) every year in Madison/Wisc. after holidays through USA and I remember the rough discussions I or my son had about "black people" with people even at the University !
ML King was a wonderful and great man ! If one is worth a memorial then certainly him !- Thursday, November 16, 2006 at 8:35:00 AM PST
-
had this to say:
A beautiful tribute to a truly deserving human being. A man I greatly admired and respected. Unfortunate that GW Bush - who represents everything MLK did not -cashed in on this photo op to insult the very honour and memory of MLK. That was the only negative of the entire tribute and dedication to a man who will never be forgotten. Oh for a world with more MLK's.
- Thursday, November 16, 2006 at 9:21:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
Well written!
You are invited to the Enterprise Christmas Party, due to start week commencing Monday 4th December.
The closing date for submitting your entry is Wednesday 29th November.
For full details, visit my Journal at http://jlpicard.blogspot.com/- Thursday, November 16, 2006 at 11:36:00 AM PST
-
had this to say:
I totally choked up when I saw how broken up Andrew Young and Jessie Jackson were.
It seemed a long time coming!- Thursday, November 16, 2006 at 8:26:00 PM PST
-
had this to say:
MLK was a great man with a positive message for all people.
- Friday, November 17, 2006 at 6:21:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
This is just beautiful. What a wonderful tribute!
Michele send me but I'm so glad I came!- Friday, November 17, 2006 at 5:55:00 PM PST
-
had this to say:
This was a beautiful tribute to a special man. I caught a bit of it on the news last week and you're right...this memorial is long overdue.
And then you hear about incidents like the one Michael Richards did at the comedy club last Fri. night and I just have to shake my head and realize how far we still have to go for equal rights and plain decency concerning other races.- Wednesday, November 22, 2006 at 5:46:00 AM PST
-
had this to say:
That's such a beautiful tribute & I totally agree, it's about time!
MLK did so much for our country & especially for African Americans.- Sunday, November 26, 2006 at 10:26:00 AM PST
x4
