[Speed Gibson,
Tuesday January 18, 2005 at 3:40pm]
Civil Rights Day
I heard at least three pundits discuss the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr holiday conceptually, now the only American holiday to name an individual. George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, even Christopher Columbus are now just a part of President's Day and Explorer's Day. So, the pundits ask, why not here also? Is not the Civil Rights movement, really going back to the beginning of slavery in North America, much larger than any one man? Why don't we call it Civil Rights Day as Rush Limbaugh suggested?
One such man was Frederick Douglass. My old-time radio service (www.rusc.com) began publishing a "new" series circa 1947 called Destination Freedom. Radio historian John Dunning wrote:
The first episode was about Frederick Douglass, up to where he met President Lincoln. Of the many quotes used, this one stood out:
Those words had real meaning to Douglass, who had escaped the slavery he was born into in Maryland, but his point lives on, even now to the blogosphere. Twenty five years ago, the Conservatives were whipped often in the media so easily owned by the Liberals. But then came our champion, Ronald Reagan, then Rush Limbaugh, talk radio, Fox News, now ... us. Douglass himself expanded on the point:
Unlike Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, men like King and Douglass sought to improve life for all, not just "their" people. This third Monday in January should be dedicated to all such great men and women of the Civil Rights Movement, that we might be worthy of what they have given us.
One such man was Frederick Douglass. My old-time radio service (www.rusc.com) began publishing a "new" series circa 1947 called Destination Freedom. Radio historian John Dunning wrote:
"Though it never appeared on a national network, it was one of the most powerful and important shows of its day. It was a striking achievement, a voice whose passion and courage overcame every budgetary shortcoming to become perhaps the strongest plea for Negro rights ever heard on American Radio".
The first episode was about Frederick Douglass, up to where he met President Lincoln. Of the many quotes used, this one stood out:
"Men are whipped oftenest who are whipped easiest." -- Frederick Douglass
Those words had real meaning to Douglass, who had escaped the slavery he was born into in Maryland, but his point lives on, even now to the blogosphere. Twenty five years ago, the Conservatives were whipped often in the media so easily owned by the Liberals. But then came our champion, Ronald Reagan, then Rush Limbaugh, talk radio, Fox News, now ... us. Douglass himself expanded on the point:
"Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have the exact measure of the injustice and wrong which will be imposed on them."
Unlike Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, men like King and Douglass sought to improve life for all, not just "their" people. This third Monday in January should be dedicated to all such great men and women of the Civil Rights Movement, that we might be worthy of what they have given us.