The 50th anniversary of the famous MLK speech, that was given to the multitudes who marched for economic and civil rights in 1963, will be honored, today, in Washington DC. Those who are concerned about the same issues are gathering at the Lincoln Memorial to honor Dr. King and listen to speeches from Civil Rights leaders and others who share the dream. The "lamestream" media is providing considerable coverage. MSNBC ("Fifty years later, thousands rally in Washington for MLK’s dream") and CNN ("MLK taught one class his entire life") have secondary lede stories about the march. USA Today has a live feed. On of ABC's rotating ledes is a photo of MLK at the '63 march with the headline "50 years later march on Washington honors King." Meanwhile, Fox News has, buried in with the third tier "Latest News" which also features Todd Starnes, "Wis. schools teach children about masturbation," this very short headline: March on Washington to focus on Civil Rights" which links to the story of one of today's marchers.
I suppose it makes sense. The folks who read Fox News are the kind of folks who want "their country back" from those racist, welfare slug minorities who prey on innocent white folks and who, prior to that commie agitator, MLK, knew their God given place. But, as Bob Dylan, who appeared at the 63 march sang, in The Times They Are a Changing," "you're old road is rapidly aging, please get out of the new one if you can't lend a hand, because the times, they are a changing!"
And fun fact discussed on MSNBC - When the Washington DC authorities found out about the 1963 march, they were fearful that there would be riots because, they believed, blacks weren't able to behave appropriately. Thus, they had a maximum security presence. The Sanford Florida police thought that there would be riots after the Trayvon Martin verdict and thus, had a maximum security presence. The more things change...
"...Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children..."
Martin Luther King, Jr. August 28th, 1963
Here's a great video of the awesome Dylan, accompanied by the dulcet tones of the awesome Joan Baez, during a pivotal moment in American History. Fifty years later, it still brings tears to my eyes! I wasn't there but, as a high school student, I watched the news coverage and when I did, I rejoiced in the hope that the times were changing. They did; but as we know from watching Fox News, we still have a long, long way to go.
Keep the dream alive.