(This Post is dedicated to those men who march onward and upward toward the light!)
Before delving into the topic du jour, I am compelled to make a couple of observations, and reflect upon an historical note. First, allow me to share the Note. It is with little pomp or fanfare, but a deep sense of humility, and a great deal of personal satisfaction that I mention this post marks the 4th Anniversary of Break It Down!
There are so many instances in life that remind us how quickly time passes. The changing of the seasons, high school and/or college graduations, birthdays, retirements; each of these events, in its own way, captures and projects the fleeting nature of our brief occupancy here on Planet Earth. Break It Down has been around for 16 season changes, 4 graduation seasons and birthdays, and my first Retirement.
In the 208 weeks since Monday August 20, 2007, I have posted 219 times; at least once each week. That August evening, I entitled my original rendering, “Obama Plays The Experience Card!” That reference serves to segue into my observations. President Obama is in the midst of a “10-day vacation” in Martha’s Vineyard . I made “10-day vacation” parenthetical, because, in reality, U.S. Presidents are never really on holiday or vacation. Wherever they go; and whatever else they may be doing, the job; power, authority, responsibility and all, accompanies them. The simple truth is it is inescapable. That is Observation Number 1.
However, not every one believes that. Some folks just don’t buy it. They believe, instead, the President is abdicating his responsibility, and he should really be calling Congress back in Session so he can join them as they jointly figure more effective ways to deal with the economy, or the budget, or one of our multiple wars. I have even read that a certain Fox News correspondent has suggested President Obama has taken more vacation days than George W. Bush did, when he was in Office (during a comparable time period). That, of course, is untrue…for whatever it’s worth. According to a CBS News factcheck, President Bush elevated vacation, if you want to call it that, to an art form. He is far and away the all-time leader in the category; his get-a-ways are legendary, or at least they should be. During his two terms in Office, President Bush’s “time away” included:
- 237 Trips (Total)
- 1,020 Days (Total)
- 77 Visits to his Prairie Chapel Ranch outside
- 490 Days at the Ranch
- 149 Visits to Camp David in unincorporated
- 487 Days at the Retreat
- 11 Visits to his parents home in
- 43 Days at Mom & Dad’s Place
- 4 Days in
- 8 Days in
- 3 Days visiting Western States (
- 11 Days in
- 27 Days at
A closer look at the subject shows that President Obama has not only taken less vacation time than W, during comparable time in Office, but also less than Presidents George Herbert Walker Bush, and Reagan did over the same period. On the other hand, he has taken more days than Presidents Carter and Clinton during comparable time frames. So if you are checking, recent Republican Presidents have vacationed more than their Democratic counterparts. That is Observation Number 2.
In short, the point is, all the discourse about President Obama’s vacation is much ado about nothing. It is, for lack of a better phrase, political noise; intended specifically to distract and confuse. Let it go!
Moving on to the main subject matter for today, forty-eight years ago this coming Sunday, the iconic March on Washingtonfor Jobs and Freedom took place. The event was timed to bolster a then rapidly expanding Civil Rights Movement; it also marked the 100th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. The purpose of the March depended in part upon the variety of perspectives held by its key organizers, and to some extent, the views of detractors.
The key stakeholders were the group known as "Big Six,” and included the leaders of six key Civil Rights organizations active during the American Civil Rights Movement:
- Martin Luther King, Jr., Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
- James Farmer, Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)
- John Lewis, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)
- A. Philip Randolph, Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters
- Roy Wilkins, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
- Whitney Young, National Urban League (NUL)
For his part, Malcolm X, spokesperson for the Nation of Islam (NOI), condemned the March. He believed the Big Six had sold out by allowing white people to help plan and participate in the March. In a speech called “Message to the Grass Roots,” he pointedly criticized the March, calling it a “picnic” and a “circus.”
Still, despite the lack of synergy that might have been provided by a unified purpose, the March attracted an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 participants. Today it is considered one of the most powerful symbols of the Civil Rights Movement.
If The March is known as one of the high points of the Movement, The Speech is widely considered the epic moment of the March. You know, the “I Have A Dream” speech, delivered by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ultimately historical records suggest the March upped the ante on President Kennedy’s effort to move his proposed Civil Rights legislation. Moreover, Dr. King’s role in the March, and particularly his 17-minute speech were instrumental in his being named Man of the Year by Time Magazinein 1963; in 1964, he would become the youngest person ever awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
That was then. Two days ago, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial was unveiled, and opened for public viewing. Sunday, 48 years after the Great March on Washington, and the “I Have A Dream” oration, the monument will be Dedicated. Then, some small, yet significant measure of Dr. King’s vision will be embedded in the annals of history. Dr. King never envisioned, nor desired a 30-feet tall statue of him be erected on the National Mall. That one has, epitomizes in so many ways, just how much has changed in America
As an aside, Hurricane Irene is bearing down on the Eastern seaboard of the United States and may threaten, disrupt, or cause cancellation of the Dedication activities. Stay tuned to news and weather broadcasts for the area if you are planning to attend. Remember, the Memorial is here now. In the event you have to reschedule your visit to the Capital, the Momument will still be there. Be smart; stay safe.
As an aside, Hurricane Irene is bearing down on the Eastern seaboard of the United States and may threaten, disrupt, or cause cancellation of the Dedication activities. Stay tuned to news and weather broadcasts for the area if you are planning to attend. Remember, the Memorial is here now. In the event you have to reschedule your visit to the Capital, the Momument will still be there. Be smart; stay safe.
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com. A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment