Posted by Tina
Revival: renewed attention to or interest in something
Glenn Beck believes we need a revival of American values: “Our freedom is possible only if we remain virtuous. Help us restore the values that founded this great nation. On August, 28th, come join us in our pledge to restore honor at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.”
The rally, held last Saturday, was a tremendous success with thousands in attendance but not everyone was happy about it (surprise, surprise). Of all the negative comments I read, those of Howard Kurtz who wins the prize for the most bizarre observation. He made the following comment on CNN’s “Reliable Sources” on Sunday:
“I thought I was at a camp meeting — an old fashioned, religious camp meeting; I don’t think that’s appropriate on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.”
Strange…the day also marked the anniversary date of the Reverend Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. If I remember correctly the people gathered there filled the air with generous responses of amen, yes brother and the like as the reverend quite naturally sprinkled religious references throughout his speech:
“Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children…
…I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; “and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.”…
…And this will be the day — this will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with new meaning: My country ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. * Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim’s pride, * From every mountainside, let freedom ring!… And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!
Hmmm…sounds a bit like a revival meeting to me. Dr. King’s speech was about honor, freedom and justice. He spoke of the God granted rights that each of America’s citizens are guaranteed and about realizing and pursuing happiness through the opportunities afforded in liberty. Dr. King knew that his dream would require civility, honor, and mutual respect and he knew that we would achieve this dream by the grace of God.
Martin Luther King appropriately chose the Lincoln Memorial for his now famous “I have a Dream” speech since it was President Lincoln who directed the civil war that freed the black man from slavery and Lincoln too was a man fond of referencing God and quoting passages from the Good Book. One such reference was included in a short speech delivered to a very special group of citizens after receiving from them a very special gift:
In regard to this Great Book, I have but to say, it is the best gift God has given to man. All the good the Savior gave to the world was communicated through this book. But for it we could not know right from wrong. All things most desirable for man’s welfare, here and hereafter, are to be found portrayed in it. – Reply to Loyal Colored People of Baltimore upon Presentation of a Bible on September 7, 1864 (CWAL VII:542)
A second is from Lincoln’s last public address:
The evacuation of Petersburg and Richmond, and the surrender of the principal insurgent army, give hope of a righteous and speedy peace whose joyous expression can not be restrained. In the midst of this, however, He, from Whom all blessings flow, must not be forgotten. A call for a national thanksgiving is being prepared, and will be duly promulgated. – April 11, 1865 (CWAL VIII:399)
Becks choice, the Lincoln Memorial, was not only an appropriate choice but was particularly appropriate for the “Restoring Honor” rally. His purpose, to remind Americans of the “values that founded this great nation” are reflections of the themes for which we remember both Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King.
Tina: “Dr. King’s speech was about honor, freedom and justice.”
Let’s talk about what else Dr. King’s speech was about. The part that Beck and most of the others gathered at this shindig would like to forget.
The full title of what is traditionally called “The March on Washington” was actually “The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.” Here, as in other places, MLK advocated not just for civil rights, but for economic rights as well. The rally was organized largely by labor leaders and union organizers. King urged the government to step in and do something about the structural inequalities, both socially and economically. He often used the phrases “social justice” and “economic justice” to describe his dream for America. Though he was accused by many of being a Communist, he stressed that while he believed total communism to be “evil,” he did believe that Karl Marx raised some important issues and formed a building block of King’s philosophy. He believed that neither pure socialism nor pure capitalism could work. He advocated a second bill of rights, saying that “the economic question is the most crucial that black people, and poor people generally, are confronting.” He continued:
“We need an economic bill of rights. This would guarantee a job to all people who want to work and are able to work. It would also guarantee an income for all who are not able to work. Some people are too young, some are too old, some are physically disabled, and yet in order to live, they need income. It would mean creating certain public-service jobs, but that could be done in a few weeks. A program that would really deal with jobs could minimize — I don’t say stop — the number of riots that could take place this summer.”
Beck has claimed that this rally is meant to “reclaim the civil rights movement” from progressives, who have “perverted” it. But it’s Beck who is perverting King’s legacy by invoking his memory in order to demonize everything the man actually stood for.
Beck constantly rails against the terms “social justice” and “economic justice,” claiming that they were not what the civil rights movement was for, and going so far as to tell audience members to leave their churches if they preach either one. He also rails against unions and labor organizers. He does not believe in government solutions to inequality. He accuses his ideological opponents of being socialists if they are even slightly to the left of himself. And when Carl Sunstein recently advocated an economic bill of rights, Glenn Beck called him “the most dangerous man in America” who was putting “a fresh coat of lipstick on the same old disgusting pig,” and called his idea a form of “Marxism.”
Furthermore, while MLK called for real solutions to the social and economic problems that were facing the nation, Beck’s rally was a series of feel-good platitudes about responsibility and honor.
The “Restoring Honor” rally was nothing but a massive ego stroke for Beck. He promoted it relentlessly, as an “American miracle” that would be remembered in the history books forever.
Luckily, despite his attempts to “reclaim the civil rights movement” away from those who actually share it’s goals, we all know that Beck’s rally will be forgotten, while Dr. King’s legacy will stand forever.
It’s interesting that you should bring up the economic issue Chris. This is something few people today realize and I am glad you mentioned it. MLK was heavily focused on economic issues! And as you have also correctly said, he had some advocacy of certain communist ideology and that brought him under scrutiny by the FBI, but nothing came of it. Obviously they were not watching him too closely or they might have headed off James Earl Ray.
Chris, Of course jobs and economic opportunity was a big part of MLK’s focus. You quoted him:
This is a proposal that the communists, socialists and black Muslims in the crowd were greatly in favor of and obviously down the road they won in the arena of politics and ideas. We now have social progrms coming out of our ears with people dipping into the dole bucket who are not old, disabled, or young but instead just unwilling to educate themselves, work hard, save, and care for themselves and their children. This is why the proposal was flawed. MLK also said the following on that day:
In a sense we’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the “unalienable Rights” of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked “insufficient funds.”
But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we’ve come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.
The “great vaults” in this country contain “opportunity” not handouts. The founders of this nation did not believe in handouts, they believed in personal charity. MLK, a man of God, was not a man who believed in “handouts”. Socialists and communists don’t really believe in handouts either; they believe in centralized power and control.
Social justice and economic justice are guaranteed in liberty! None of us, not black nor white, nor brown, red or yellow, is guaranteed a job under the Constitution. We are guaranteed freedom! The blacks were being barred from enjoying the benefits of freedom…the right to pursue life and happiness. The key word is “pursue”. It is still up to individuals to get themselves educated and acquire a job to care for themselves and their family. Government was not set up to provide jobs. It was set up to secure our freedom.
“Beck constantly rails against the terms “social justice” and “economic justice,” claiming that they were not what the civil rights movement was for…Furthermore, while MLK called for real solutions to the social and economic problems that were facing the nation, Beck’s rally was a series of feel-good platitudes about responsibility and honor. ”
Beck is right. The civil rights movement was not about handouts; it was about justice and freedom. Handouts, administered by government, is ultimately a system of enslavement rather than freedom. Think about it…hard. Notice the mess we have made pursuing this philosophy: Unsustainable broken programs weighted heavily by huge inefficient bureaucracy, tremendous debt, and a populatiuon more dependent (enslaved) on government than ever before.
A better way is the vision our founders advocated, a vision MLK shared: “And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”
Freedom is the model that affords men the opportunity to make life work according to their own dreams and ambitions. Freedom is what allows men to be the author of their own futures. Common decency, honor, and charity are the forces that move people to provide for the elderly, children, and the infirm within their personal spheres and communities. A society that fosters these values will have fewer people in need of charity and most having the pride of independence and self reliance.
This revival is about completing the work started by MLK. It is a call to notice that we took a fork in the road that has done more harm than good…we followed the Marxist road! The qualities Beck was advocating are the qualities required to uphold freedom so that we don’t ALL become enslaved as the blacks certainly still were in 1963.
“Luckily, despite his attempts to “reclaim the civil rights movement” away from those who actually share it’s goals, we all know that Beck’s rally will be forgotten, while Dr. King’s legacy will stand forever.”
You are standing among the 30% in this country who have failed to learn the lesson of going down that Marxist road. It has not lead to equality, freedom or justice but instead has ensured continuing division and oppression of more and more of the American people.
The time has come to pay attention, Chris. The seventy percent of Americans that get it, the seventy percent you see making loud noises are niot bigots or homophobes. We love all people and we want all people to do well. We believe government should be neutral and all people should have opportunity. We believe that the power to create that opportunity resides in the people. We believe that all people should have certain values, not becaus ethey are religious but because they work. Values like honesty, decency, thrift, generosity, hard work, honor, personal responsibility, service and keeping commitments. We believe in live and let live and treating our neighbors as we would like to be treated.
We have also been under assault from the divisions that follow Marxist activism when class distinctions and race distinctions are made. These don’t lead to equality but strife. Justice, as originally intended in America, is BLIND. Class distinctions and color distinction rips the the blindfold from the eyes of our lady of justice.
With all due respect, you are behind the curve, late to the party, part of what I hope is a dying breed in this great nation where freedom and justice have made the difference and will again, once we’ve fully reclaimed and embraced them.
Here is some more of Beck’s “Honor.”
Sorry, the link didn’t work
This one should:
http://www.norcalblogs.com/uncomfortabletruth/2010/03/-republican-or-christian-now-y-1.html
Thanks for the link to your own blog Quentin. You seem to be making a statement that Jesus would prefer nazism and/or communism. You seem to think Jesus believed we should “take care of people” through a government system. If that is your point then please supply the passage from the New Testement that supports your theory.
My own opinion is that Christ would expect individuals to help others personally. Jesus didn’t come to save politicians or governments; he came to save individuals.
In the short video clip Glenn Beck spoke of communism, nazism and “social justice”.
You then observed: “I wish it were longer, but it is enough to see Beck compare the teachings of Jesus to Communism AND Nazism!
If you think “social justice” as we experience it under the tyranny of forced “contributions” to support the “welfare state” is what Jesus asks of us you are sadly mistaken. Show me the passage(s) that advocates for government charity.
The teachings of Jesus are about YOU personally…not your government…having a loving and charitable heart. That means it is up to you (and me) personally. Christ said the poor would be with us always and asked that we care for widows and children. We are also called upon to honor our mother and father…I get that we are expected to care for them personally
You mentioned the death penalty. The death penalty is a state administered consequence to an egregious act(s) of MURDER. It is a consequence designed to discourage acts of egregious MURDER in society. Losing ones life by the death penalty is a consequence earned through a series of very bad choices by an individual. This is not an act of MURDER but of carrying out a penalty that society has clearly designated. It does not come as a surprise. Everyone can avoid the death penalty by leading a life that results in better outcomes. People are responsible for their own choices. They are responsible to themselves, to society, and ultimately to God. Prisoners are given ample opportunity to get right with God before being executed.
Guilt is often the driver of liberal/progressive thought. The truth will set you free.
This might be a good time to mention that the beck rally raised $5.5 million. The money will pay the expenses incurred in promoting the rally and the remainder will be donated to the “Special Operations Warrior Foundation”.
http://www.specialops.org/
“Social justice and economic justice are guaranteed in liberty!”
Than why is Glenn Beck against those principles?
“None of us, not black nor white, nor brown, red or yellow, is guaranteed a job under the Constitution.”
And MLK wanted to change that. It is OK to disagree with him on that point; it is not OK to claim for months that you are trying to “pick up where King left off” while you are in fact demonizing one of the main things he stood for.
“Beck is right.”
He’s right when he says that the civil rights movement wasn’t about social or economic justice? He’s right when he tells people, including Christians of every denomination, to leave their churches if they preach things that Beck finds politically incorrect?
“The civil rights movement was not about handouts; it was about justice and freedom.”
If you are including the idea of an economic bill of rights as a “handout,” then you are wrong. If you are referring to affirmative action as a handout, you are also wrong. Martin Luther King supported both of these things.
I’m not sure where you’re getting the number 30%; the most recent Gallup poll shows that 46% of Americans think Obama is doing a good job, compared to 45% who think he is doing poorly. And this is only four points lower than his approval was one year ago.
Chris: “‘Social justice and economic justice are guaranteed in liberty!’ ** Than why is Glenn Beck against those principles?”
You misunderstood the sentence…sorry, it was constructed poorly. What I meant is that liberty is what is guaranteed…for ALL men. What any man does or does not do is up to him as an individual. We decide our social and economic status by our efforts, character, and desires. Beck is not against any man achieving whatever he wants. He is for ensuring the freedom to do so.
“‘None of us, not black nor white, nor brown, red or yellow, is guaranteed a job under the Constitution.’ **
And MLK wanted to change that. It is OK to disagree with him on that point; it is not OK to claim for months that you are trying to “pick up where King left off” while you are in fact demonizing one of the main things he stood for.”
Sorry, his MAIN point was not just jobs…it was freedom! Freedom to pursue any job the black man wanted to pursue…to enter any establishment…the economic justice he wanted was that the black man have the same chance to advance as his white brothers. The civil rights movement since his death has become militant and hard core Marxist.
Equality by force? …kinda defeats the whole idea of freedom doesn’t it? Force was NOT what Dr. King was about; he was about applying pressure to realize what was already theirs under the Constitution. Remember this was happening in the sixties before affirmative action and welfare programs. Unfortunately AA (and hand-outs) is the course we followed. It is a course that has resulted in some success but has also made too many of our citizens, of all colors, wards of the state. AA and welfare put up barriers to whatever entrepreneurial activity blacks might have engaged in in their neighborhoods and the break-up of the family that followed helped to cause neighborhoods to fall into a state of disrepair. Too many people, having become wards of the state over generations, exist in what one black woman called a plantation mentality with government as massa. Beck wants to encourage what was begun by Dr. King and now take it to where the dream actually can live and breathe; a country where people are judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin…for better and for worse, high achiever or criminal a man is judged as an equal.
Case in point from the news today in Las Vegas:
The kids either jaywalked or they didnttheir character should be the determining factor for punishment not fairness! And tainted the memory of this day? How does that figure in except as some twisted sense of privilege?
“If you are including the idea of an economic bill of rights as a “handout,” then you are wrong. If you are referring to affirmative action as a handout, you are also wrong. Martin Luther King supported both of these things.”
If affirmative action and handouts were what Dr King had in mind, and I tend to disagree, then I believe Dr. King was wrong. What would be the purpose of a special bill of rights for each color in terms of equal justice under the law? The Constitution already guaranteed ALL men equal rights…we just had to press to enforce that. I wasn’t particularly fond of bussing kids to make sure schools were integrated but it accomplished the purpose of letting bigots know the American people would bnot stand for descrimination.
I believe if King could see what has happened today he wouldn’t be all that pleased. While I’m sure he would applaud and celebrate the accomplishments and gains that some blacks have achieved, many without affirmative action or welfare, there is a lot more going on that would not please him. Fatherless children are not what he had in mind. The high abortion rate among blacks is not what he had in mind. Black on black crime is not what he had in mind. Young people involved in gangs and abusing drugs is not what he had in mind. High drop-out rates in HS is not what he had in mind. Bad neighborhoods and even worse schools are not what he had in mind. He wore a suit. His children were well dressed and mannerly. He saw his people as achievers given the chance. The reason he may have thought government had to force social justice was because nobody had done anything about the plight of the black man, especially in the South. Nobody had followed the Constitution to ensure justice for the black man. There was no need for new law only assurances and enforcement that the law be followed.
He’s right (Beck) when he says that the civil rights movement wasn’t about social or economic justice?”
I won’t continue to try to speak for Beck but as I said before (now edited for errors):
You’ll have to ask Beck about your other concerns.
70%…my error. 70% support Arizona and dont want the mosque at GZ. I was remembering the figure on the mosque and thinking of a different poll (I cant locate now) that showed the public disapproves of Obamas job performance on all major campaign issues: economy, jobs, immigration, war, etc. The reason is that so many Dems and Indys are upset with him on these issues as well as Republicans.
Tina,
You just don’t get it, and I am starting to wonder why.
“There is no crossing guard at Booker. And while there is a cross-walk that runs parallel to Martin Luther King Boulevard, this cross-walk, according to parents, offers significantly less safety than crossing directly in front of the school where there is greater visibility on a less traveled street. The parents who were stopped were ticketed rather than given warnings.
The population served by Booker is predominantly minority and economically challenged. The added financial burden of having to pay such tickets should have been something that was considered. Booker school officials did not ask for or seek assistance from Metro in response to any perceived safety issue. The officers never sought assistance or advice from Booker school officials.”
http://emailwire.com/release/46987-NAACP-Filing-Complaint-With-Las-Vegas-Metropolitan-Police-Department-For-Targeting-Of-Parents-of-Booker-Elementary-School-For-Jaywalking-Tickets-.html
That is pure discrimination, and I am glad someone is standing up against it. I just am surprised it is not you given your claim:
“They also continue to demand that the Tea Party denounce anyone in their membership who is racist or who makes racist remarks, as if any TPer wouldn’t do that in the moment of his own volition anyway.”
Mark…perhaps you know something more than what the article revealed (other than the demographics you mention). If not, what you’re saying is that police officers should racially profile blacks to prevent them from ever receiving a ticket even if they are breaking the law. That is racist and sets up a scenario where cops can’t win…damned if they do, damned if they don’t.
Every year when school starts police officers spend the first week or two ticketing drivers that don’t observe school zone speed limits and kids crossing illegally…FOR THE KIDS’ OWN SAFETY!
Why should the fact that this school is a majority black school make any difference at all? Are they not citizens?
“The added financial burden of having to pay such tickets should have been something that was considered.”
And for poor white kids? How do theb police tell if they are poor enough to qualify for this “special” treatment under the law?
“There is no crossing guard at Booker.”
Why not…no parent volunteers…no teachers willing to get to school a little early? That’s what they did when I was a kid…they also used older students as crossing guards on “less traveleed streets”.
I don’t think you realize the damage you do, or the slight to black people, when you let them off the hook, treat them differently, and expect less of them because they are black and poor. Being too nice or too sympathetic is a form of bigotry. It’s less noticable, perhaps, but even more demeaning than is irrational hatred because it begins with the position that blacks are lesser simply because of the color of their skin.
Why are these poor kids not given a crosswalk or a crossing guard?
The school did not ask for the police, nor did the police contact the school.
Why were the police there?
Might you ask those questions as well?
“Why are these poor kids not given a crosswalk or a crossing guard? ** The school did not ask for the police, nor did the police contact the school. **
Why were the police there? ** Might you ask those questions as well?”
Parents might ask some of these questions of the city council.
As I said the police do this every school year in most communities for the safety of the kids returning to school…it’s common practice! They don’t do it because a school requests it.
“Parents might ask some of these questions of the city council. ”
Agreed.
So, why is it wrong for the NAACP to object?
Mark: “So, why is it wrong for the NAACP to object?”
The NAACP complaint according to the article:
“The NAACP alleged that jaywalking tickets handed out to parents near Kermit R. Booker Sr. Empowerment Elementary School unfairly penalized people who live in a low-income area. NAACP officials, who are demanding the tickets be dismissed, said in a statement that the actions of Metro officers have tainted the memory of this day for many parents and children at Booker.”
My reasoning in calling attention to the story:
“…a country where people are judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin…for better and for worse, high achiever or criminal a man (or parent) is judged as an equal.
As a civil rights organization advocating primarily for blacks, the NAACP is asking for special rights for these people based on the color of their skin and their class. Do you really want to defend that or say that it’s right? Take this to it’s logical conclusion and then ask yourself whether or not a pattern of this “special” treatment could lead to higher criminal activity and higher levels of disrespect for authority and civil justice among young black persons.
There were (reportedly) “92 traffic-related citations across the Las Vegas Valley”. It would be helpful/interesting to know how many were handed out to these parents.
What the city or school chooses to do about this is another matter…I would hope they would turn it into a learning experience and make whatever corrections are necessary to keep these kids safe as well as teach them about safety and the law.
Tina: “The civil rights movement since his death has become militant and hard core Marxist.”
This is simply backwards. By the standards you and other right-wingers have employed, the civil rights movement was much more “militant” and “Marxist” during MLK’s time than it is now. They believed in providing free health care, an economic bill of rights, reparations, affirmative action, and other huge government interventions that the right wing views as evil. You and Beck refuse to acknowledge this because you don’t want to admit that you disagree with a very large part of MLK’s philosophy. Doing so would discredit Beck’s entire argument that he is continuing MLK’s legacy and that it is the left that has perverted it.
Beck’s rally was badly dated and badly named. There is nothing honorable about pretending to honor the legacy of a man whom Beck would call a Marxist were he alive today. There is nothing honorable about claiming to be a messenger sent from God when Beck condemns all religious movements that advocate social justice, in an attempt to distance his audience from their churches so that they will not hear political messages Beck disagrees with. There is nothing honorable about taking one sentence from MLK’s speech about “the content of one’s character” and totally distorting it in an attempt to show that MLK wouldn’t have supported affirmative action. There is nothing honorable about shamelessly using the memory of one of our nation’s greatest heroes to demonize what he stood for, simply to boost Beck’s own image and influence.
Thanks Chris. That response was very well written, and I have shared it with others that share your frustration.
Thank you, Mark. I’ve enjoyed your posts on this article as well. 🙂
I agree with you chris, you should bring up the economic issue!You are doing a great job.Appreciation.Keep it up.
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Lincoln and King definitely represent the greatest of American values. I’m not so sure Beck shares that greatness or even strives for it.