I have noticed several diaries reminding us that Martin Luther King was more than a civil rights leader. I urge you to read them. The corporate media seem to end his career at the "I have a dream" speech. His achievements in civil rights were remarkable, by any measure, but he did not stop there. The last year of his life was spent speaking out against the Vietnam war, against US intervention in Latin America and for workers rights. The corporate media of the day, who had generally been supportive of the Civil Rights movement, turned against him. They rightly felt threatened by the truth he spoke, but his words still resonate today.
DemocracyNow plays King’s “Beyond Vietnam” speech today. It is accurate in its analysis, inspiring in its rhetoric, and a needed kick in the ass for many of us. Anyone who aspires to make our world better should listen to it over and over. I could try to summarize it, but my words are pathetically pedestrian in comparison to his. Some things can only be diminished by description, not enhanced.
DemocracyNow's replaying of the Beyond Vietnam speech provides me with the opportunity to make another point. I am increasingly of the opinion that one does not listen to the corporate media these days to learn about the world. One listens only to learn what narrative the corporate media are selling us. There are people and organizations, however, that are doing their best to provide us with news not covered by the corporate media or that are spun by the corporate media. Many of them are underfunded and deserve our support.
DemocracyNow is one of them.
Free Speech Radio News is another and is struggling for survival. Feel free to suggest others.