Sunday, April 4, 2010

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR


On April 4, 1968, Reverend Martin Luther King Jr, 39, was shot to death at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn.

Amy Goodman wrote (another) great article this week.
Below is an excerpt from that article:

"Tavis Smiley has a PBS special this week on one of the most powerful, and overlooked, speeches given by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Given on April 4 1967 exactly one year to the day before he was assassinated, King titled his speech "Beyond Vietnam" and controversially called the U.S. government "the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today."

"The press vilified King. Time magazine called the speech "demagogic slander that sounded like a script for Radio Hanoi."

"Smiley told me: "Most Americans, I think, know the "I have Dream" speech. Some Americans know the "Mountaintop" speech given the night before he was assassinated in Memphis. But most Americans do not know this "Beyond Vietnam" speech.
"Smily added, "If you replace the words "Iraq" for "Vietnam", "Afghanistan" for "Vietnam", this speech is so very relevant today".

2 comments:

  1. Hello Morgan

    I have been trying to get an e-mail or contact information so I can talk to you.
    My name is Uri Fintzy and I am a reporter and producer for Oregon News, University of Oregon's weekly television show.
    We are excited to have you come to our campus next Wednesday and I was wondering if it's possible to film the lecture and have a few words with you before or after.

    Please feel free to e-mail me at urifin@gmail.com

    Looking forward to hear from you,

    Best,

    Uri

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh thanks Uri. I will email you directly but here's my address in case
    punkaheron@yahoo.com

    It would be an honor for me if you film the presentation and I would enjoy talking with you at any time.
    Morgan

    ReplyDelete