In my American History class, we are currently looking at the Civil Rights Movement. As part of my research for class materials, I pulled up Dr. King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Although I had known about this document, I had never actually read it. I would like to share a part of it with you:
I must make two honest confessions to you, my Christian and Jewish brothers. First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: “I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action”; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a “more convenient season.” Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.
As an individual who believes in progressive causes, this hits home. I remember that before the 2004 election I decided to give $50 to the DNC and canvass for Kerry one afternoon in New Hampshire. At that point, I believed that by actively assisting the Democratic cause, I could help bring about positive change. However, as time has progressed, the true color of our current Democrats has emerged, and if I may say so, it is Nantucket Red; aaah yes, but a shade off! Such is the state of things these days; with Democrats who enable reactionary Supreme Court justices and Democrats who support the Patriot Act, one wonders how we’ve been duped into supporting such characters.
And it it just as Dr. King laments; the majority of current Democrats are – moderates. They are “not now” people, they are “in time” people, and worst of all, they are “we’re on your side” people. Yes, this is the sad truth. If the Republican party is a rabid rottweiler rampaging through the backyard, then the Democrats are cardinals watching from the branches above; lacking wit or courage, all they can do is twitter as the destruction continues. So to all you Democrats who do little more than enable this mad dog, shame on you.
Like much else of what you post – I hear you on this, and I’m happy you posted that exceprt, as I found it quite moving. But I think you’re encountering a little bit of a wake up call here. We on the far left like to think of the Dems as “our side” and that truly progressive politics actually have a voice, which simply needs to be mobilized to enact big changes. But I think the reality is that America is a conservative, Christian country. Most people agree with things like a powerful military, the death penalty, tough immigration and crime laws, the right to bear arms and on and on. It’s sad and hard to acknowledge, but ever since Regan was elected, the country has been decidedly right-wing. Bush and Co. have added to a line of conservative presidents, but I think that he’ll be remembered most for being a fool and a cynic. I’m kind of rambling here, so I’ll stop. But I can say I’m happy to continue to be living abroad, and I hear Venezuela is the place to go to experience the idea that Another World Is Possible.
peace man.