Familiarity breeds contempt the saying goes. I find it to be true.
Proximity to something, kin to someone, living contemporaneously with something or someone, seduces us into presuming that we know that person or that thing; or, worse yet, that we know all that there is to know about it or them!
Such an "I already know" attitude is dangerous, because it turns off the spigot of curiosity and unduly clogs up your informational intake values.
Thus with nothing coming in or going out, you pickle yourself in the brine of your own vanity, thinking that you know, what you do not know; both, appearing foolish, and being foolish!
One example comes immediately to mind, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, jr.
We basically think we know all about him, so we have lowered our guards and our voices, and have allowed others to claim him and his legacy!
This African American man is one of the greatest leaders and teachers to ever live, ranking with Jesus, whom he served, Muhammad, whom he respected, and Socrates, Plato and Aristotle whom he quoted. Yet, other folks and their interests that were extraneous to, even antithetical to, the movement for which he lived have laid claim to him as their own.
Meanwhile, like dumb oxen we do and say nothing about this open theft!
I strongly suspect that our actual and inveterate ignorance about this global icon is the root of our reticence to speak and to fend off these parasites! If it sounds like I am scolding you, Dear Reader, I am not!
I am chastising myself for waiting so long to fully appreciate this son of God, to read all of his several books.
Only now am I reading, STRENGTH TO LOVE, which he wrote in 1963, which was with him when he died. This anointed saint, for such was he, died for we African Americans, literally and figuratively, still fighting for the economic rights that we yet seek!
Dr. King had already won equal Civil Rights in 1964, and Voting Rights in 1965. Economic rights would have been the trifecta , the trilogy, the golden seal. This was what he sought with the Poor People's Campaign and Resurrection City in 1968.
But, he was gunned down in Memphis, Tennessee, campaigning for economic justice for 'the least of these,' municipal sanitation workers, who labored, wretchedly, under draconian conditions.
Thereafter, others less worthy, who thought they could lead or that they should lead, did no more than to scatter the flock from its fold, making it--us: you, me and progeny--vulnerable to wolves, jackals, lions, tigers, bears, of all genders, and to all manner of predators and disease.
Get to know Dr. King, please. Our ultimate redemption depends on it.
Friday, April 25, 2014
GET TO KNOW DR. KING, PLEASE
GET TO KNOW DR. KING, PLEASE!
Familiarity breeds contempt the saying goes. I find it to be true.
Proximity to something, kin to someone, living contemporaneously with something or someone, seduces us into presuming that we know that person or that thing; or, worse yet, that we know all that there is to know about it or them!
Such an "I already know" attitude is dangerous, because it turns off the spigot of curiosity and unduly clogs up your informational intake values.
Thus with nothing coming in or going out, you pickle yourself in the brine of your own vanity, thinking that you know, what you do not know; both, appearing foolish, and being foolish!
One example comes immediately to mind, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, jr.
We basically think we know all about him, so we have lowered our guards and our voices, and have allowed others to claim him and his legacy!
This African American man is one of the greatest leaders and teachers to ever live, ranking with Jesus, whom he served, Muhammad, whom he respected, and Socrates, Plato and Aristotle whom he quoted. Yet, other folks and their interests that were extraneous to, even antithetical to, the movement for which he lived have laid claim to him as their own.
Meanwhile, like dumb oxen we do and say nothing about this open theft!
I strongly suspect that our actual and inveterate ignorance about this global icon is the root of our reticence to speak and to fend off these parasites! If it sounds like I am scolding you, Dear Reader, I am not!
I am chastising myself for waiting so long to fully appreciate this son of God, to read all of his several books.
Only now am I reading, STRENGTH TO LOVE, which he wrote in 1963, which was with him when he died. This anointed saint, for such was he, died for we African Americans, literally and figuratively, still fighting for the economic rights that we yet seek!
Dr. King had already won equal Civil Rights in 1964, and Voting Rights in 1965. Economic rights would have been the trifecta , the trilogy, the golden seal. This was what he sought with the Poor People's Campaign and Resurrection City in 1968.
But, he was gunned down in Memphis, Tennessee, campaigning for economic justice for 'the least of these,' municipal sanitation workers, who labored, wretchedly, under draconian conditions.
Thereafter, others less worthy, who thought they could lead or that they should lead, did no more than to scatter the flock from its fold, making it--us: you, me and progeny--vulnerable to wolves, jackals, lions, tigers, bears, of all genders, and to all manner of predators and disease.
Get to know Dr. King, please. Our ultimate redemption depends on it.
Familiarity breeds contempt the saying goes. I find it to be true.
Proximity to something, kin to someone, living contemporaneously with something or someone, seduces us into presuming that we know that person or that thing; or, worse yet, that we know all that there is to know about it or them!
Such an "I already know" attitude is dangerous, because it turns off the spigot of curiosity and unduly clogs up your informational intake values.
Thus with nothing coming in or going out, you pickle yourself in the brine of your own vanity, thinking that you know, what you do not know; both, appearing foolish, and being foolish!
One example comes immediately to mind, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, jr.
We basically think we know all about him, so we have lowered our guards and our voices, and have allowed others to claim him and his legacy!
This African American man is one of the greatest leaders and teachers to ever live, ranking with Jesus, whom he served, Muhammad, whom he respected, and Socrates, Plato and Aristotle whom he quoted. Yet, other folks and their interests that were extraneous to, even antithetical to, the movement for which he lived have laid claim to him as their own.
Meanwhile, like dumb oxen we do and say nothing about this open theft!
I strongly suspect that our actual and inveterate ignorance about this global icon is the root of our reticence to speak and to fend off these parasites! If it sounds like I am scolding you, Dear Reader, I am not!
I am chastising myself for waiting so long to fully appreciate this son of God, to read all of his several books.
Only now am I reading, STRENGTH TO LOVE, which he wrote in 1963, which was with him when he died. This anointed saint, for such was he, died for we African Americans, literally and figuratively, still fighting for the economic rights that we yet seek!
Dr. King had already won equal Civil Rights in 1964, and Voting Rights in 1965. Economic rights would have been the trifecta , the trilogy, the golden seal. This was what he sought with the Poor People's Campaign and Resurrection City in 1968.
But, he was gunned down in Memphis, Tennessee, campaigning for economic justice for 'the least of these,' municipal sanitation workers, who labored, wretchedly, under draconian conditions.
Thereafter, others less worthy, who thought they could lead or that they should lead, did no more than to scatter the flock from its fold, making it--us: you, me and progeny--vulnerable to wolves, jackals, lions, tigers, bears, of all genders, and to all manner of predators and disease.
Get to know Dr. King, please. Our ultimate redemption depends on it.