Million Man March
The 10th anniversary of the famous Million Man March is today. And today they title it the "Millions More Movement." So I happenned to catch it on C-Span at 7:00 this Saturday morning. And when I get back from volunteering for the Humane Society at the Horse Park, I will watch more of it as I watch the college football that takes place around the nation.
What I've seen so far this morning that I liked:
Tavis Smiley, a talk show host for NPR and PBS talked on Poverty in America. He says it well when he says poverty is not a "black or white" issue but a "wrong or right" issue. And the answer is simple. Utter poverty is wrong, wrong, wrong.
Many, many prayers from many denominations (catholic, jewish, baptist, muslim, african traditional, latino traditional) in speaking form and even opera form. There playing the African National Anthem so I pause & stand til completion. ----- Now more preachers and prayers.
Yet the best prayer that I've heard so far was by a Dakota Chief who says prayer is not in his language. That he will not pray til things start to change. Change. There's still injustice, still inequality, discrimination. And sadly, a lot of it is led by our elected leaders. Even sadder, on both sides of the aisle. Injustice, discrimination, inequality is not a party thing, its a people thing. Even friends of mine (and worse family) don't have a problem discriminating against someone or some group for some absurd reason. People who have been victims of injustice and discrimination in the past even resort to the same practices.
5 years into the 21st century, we shouldn't have to have this speech. 60 years after WWII, we shouldn't have to have this march. 140 years after the end of the civil war, we shouldn't have to have this movement. Nearly 230 years after our Declaration of Independence, of freedom and equality for all, for the living right of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, not everyone is free, not everyone is equal.
So as the honorable Chief from the Dakota's says, I will not pray b/c prayers are words. Prayers are thoughts. Prayers are written. They are dead as soon as they are spoken. They return to a book on a shelf or in the middle of a pew or in a bible (yes, i didn't capitalize it) or other "holy" book. If you find solace in praying, so be it. But while you are bowing down on your knees by your bed or praying in a church or wherever, people are bowing under discrimination and inequality and more people are succumbing to the easiness to practice the cruel and sad act.
Hence, get up off your knees, put your bible down, and start walking, start moving without fear or hesitation til all life is equal for all, not just some.
What I've seen so far this morning that I liked:
Tavis Smiley, a talk show host for NPR and PBS talked on Poverty in America. He says it well when he says poverty is not a "black or white" issue but a "wrong or right" issue. And the answer is simple. Utter poverty is wrong, wrong, wrong.
Many, many prayers from many denominations (catholic, jewish, baptist, muslim, african traditional, latino traditional) in speaking form and even opera form. There playing the African National Anthem so I pause & stand til completion. ----- Now more preachers and prayers.
Yet the best prayer that I've heard so far was by a Dakota Chief who says prayer is not in his language. That he will not pray til things start to change. Change. There's still injustice, still inequality, discrimination. And sadly, a lot of it is led by our elected leaders. Even sadder, on both sides of the aisle. Injustice, discrimination, inequality is not a party thing, its a people thing. Even friends of mine (and worse family) don't have a problem discriminating against someone or some group for some absurd reason. People who have been victims of injustice and discrimination in the past even resort to the same practices.
5 years into the 21st century, we shouldn't have to have this speech. 60 years after WWII, we shouldn't have to have this march. 140 years after the end of the civil war, we shouldn't have to have this movement. Nearly 230 years after our Declaration of Independence, of freedom and equality for all, for the living right of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, not everyone is free, not everyone is equal.
So as the honorable Chief from the Dakota's says, I will not pray b/c prayers are words. Prayers are thoughts. Prayers are written. They are dead as soon as they are spoken. They return to a book on a shelf or in the middle of a pew or in a bible (yes, i didn't capitalize it) or other "holy" book. If you find solace in praying, so be it. But while you are bowing down on your knees by your bed or praying in a church or wherever, people are bowing under discrimination and inequality and more people are succumbing to the easiness to practice the cruel and sad act.
Hence, get up off your knees, put your bible down, and start walking, start moving without fear or hesitation til all life is equal for all, not just some.
posted by mrholmes | 6:04 AM
3 Comments:
Did you actually stand while it was played?
yes, thats why i said i did.
Oh that is too funny. Thank you for the laugh!
Post a Comment
<< Home