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Why You’ve Never Read “I Have A Dream”

varnull.adityamukerjee.net

221–230 of 234 posts

Re: Why You’ve Never Read “I Have A Dream”

#223

The speech is readily found by those who know how to Google. Perhaps more Americans would have read the speech if not for the crazy copyright laws, but I think most people haven't read it simply because most people aren't interested in reading historical speeches. It's a little off-topic and a little cynical, but I think the larger issue here is that we've watered our teaching of history (and most things) down to sou…

The Frederick Douglass speech is really good. But dipping into that list I mostly get the feeling "you had to be there".

Re: Why You’ve Never Read “I Have A Dream”

#224
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're saying we need more people who physically harm others?

There was for several decades--decades in which we saw perhaps the most progressive action on civil liberties--a very real and immediate threat of domestic terrorism from factions who felt oppressed. At the end of the day, having ceded the monopoly of violence to the government, it becomes very difficult to merely ask nicely to have your freedoms restored. More Malcom X's would probably have helped the Occupy movemen…

I think the threat went beyond domestic terrorism; it was bordering on armed revolt and revolution.

We don't need that now (and it would be hopeless vs. modern police/military unless you had an issue, like 2A, supported by most of the individuals in police/military, combined with a constitutional justification like an unambiguously unconstitutional move by one branch of government vs. the others, like a hypothetical future President closing the Supreme Court), but a similarly forceful threat, like removing $100b/yr of business from the US or a mass expatriation, could probably work.

Re: Why You’ve Never Read “I Have A Dream”

#226
post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know about misogynist but he was white and was rich from his music. Lennon was a peace-loving hippie. The lyrics from 'Revolution' aren't necessarily talking about the Black Panthers, I always felt they were talking to the times and society in general, including government. Jay-Z is rich now too - can he not have opinions on politics/race/religion or do you also dismiss him as a misogynist black man who had a…

John Lennon can't opt out the violence society perpetuates that seeks to uphold whiteness just by writing a song about how he's not into violence. He also can't opt out of the aspects of capitalism that perpetuate racism. That is what I mean about how it is easy for him to write or lyrics like that, he will not feel the full brunt of society's affects because 1) he is a man, 2) because he is white, and 3) because he…

> hat is what I mean about how it is easy for him to write or lyrics like that, he will not feel the full brunt of society's affects

Who exactly feels the full brunt of society's effects? This is starting to feel like a no true scotsman argument. I'm betting you can disqualify almost anyone from feeling the full effects.

Re: Why You’ve Never Read “I Have A Dream”

#228
post #194
post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Without the threat of someone more extreme, I don't believe someone like MLK can be terribly effective. I also don't think someone like MLK can work in a repressive regime which isn't generally subject to public will, or when trying to enforce human rights which are constitutionally protected, strongly wanted by a small affected population, but meaningless to the greater population. I can't see 50-80 year old non-tec…

Crypto as a 2nd Ammendment issue That's why I like you rdl; munitions are munitions.

"Bombes not bombs!" (or Bombs not Bombes, I guess). RKB Bombes? Ban the Bombe?

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombe)

Re: Why You’ve Never Read “I Have A Dream”

#230
post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> mimeograph machine Showing your age? :)

In 2003-ish, while I was getting my BS, the professor passed out some of those funny-smelling purple sheets. I hadn't seen them since probably second grade (mid-1980's). Apparently both the copiers were broken, but there was still an old mimeograph sitting in the corner, she tried it, and it still worked.

So funny. I can instantly recall that smell to this day.
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