Celebrating Our Government and a Man of Peace

Today we celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. Today is also the day we hold the second inauguration ceremony for Barack Obama, the first black President of the United States. Bob Dylan would call it a "simple twist of fate." I would call it "just desserts."

Today, I'm re-posting my blog from Martin Luther King Day 2012. Take the day to enjoy your civil rights and celebrate your government.

The Civil Rights Movement: The Times Were A Changin'

“You are not only responsible for what you say, 

but also for what you do not say.

...Martin Luther King Jr.

The time of the civil rights movement was also the time of Vietnam war protests.  A lot of the music from that time was interchangeable between the two, in the ideas put forth.

In "Blowin' in the Wind," Bob Dylan wrote "How many years can some people exist before they're allowed to be free. How many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn't see."  The song also contains the line "How many times must the cannonballs fly, before they're forever banned."  

A song that was sung on the steps of the Washington Monument along with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., perhaps one of the greatest songs ever written...listen to "Blowin' in the Wind" performed by Peter, Paul & Mary.

For a personal view of a moment from the civil rights movement era, read "Martin Luther King Jr.: Defining a Life" on Kat's Theory of Life.

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Early Morning, April 4

"Shot rings out in the Memphis sky,
free at last, they took your life, 
they could not take your pride."

1968: a time of conflict, a time of change, a time of incomprehensible violence.

April 4, 1968 Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis Tennessee. A man who lived by the credo of non-violence was gunned down, thus ending his dream..but not his legacy.

Two simple songs to commemorate his passing.

U2 "Pride (In the Name of Love)"
Dion "Abraham, Martin & John"

Never forget what he accomplished without violence.

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The Civil Rights Movement: The Times Were A Changin'

“You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say”...Martin Luther King Jr.

The time of the civil rights movement was also the time of Vietnam war protests.  A lot of the music from that time was interchangeable between the two, in the ideas put forth.

In "Blowin' in the Wind," Bob Dylan wrote "How many years can some people exist before they're allowed to be free. How many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn't see."  The song also contains the line "How many times must the cannonballs fly, before they're forever banned."  

A song that was sung on the steps of the Washington Monument along with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., perhaps one of the greatest songs ever written...listen to "Blowin' in the Wind" performed by Peter, Paul & Mary.

For a personal view of a moment from the civil rights movement era, read "Martin Luther King Jr.: Defining a Life" on Kat's Theory of Life.