Like every decent human being, I have been disgusted and nauseated by Glen Beck's Crying Circus coming to Washington this weekend in a blatant display of disrespect for one of the greatest moments in our nation's history. To hijack this date, this site, and this great man is utter contempt for America, for Dr. King, and for centuries of struggle. It is also the worst kind of conceit and hubris I have ever - EVER - witnessed in my half century of living. My frustrations are overwhelming. While it's probably too late to do much about it, I have come up with a modest idea.
It may be too little, too late, but I'd love to see something happen. Can you imagine (dare I say dream?) that Saturday, as the ignorant, the confused, and the easily deceived are assembling on the mall, if local DC radio stations start broadcasting Dr. King's speech from 47 years ago? And kept broadcasting it. And if people in their homes, their cars, their shops, and their offices tuned their radios so everyone could hear it. And people driving around rolled down their windows to share those inspiring words. And people at the Mall and at the monuments turned up their radios so others could also be inspired?
So while Beck is trying to convince us that the world is a better place when we close out hearts, everywhere else his abused sheep go that day they will be awash in the words of Dr, King, reminding them that it's not closing ourselves off from the rest of the world that improves our lives, but by embracing wach other and relying on each other that we can all have a better place to live. (And if you have loudspeakers on your food truck I doubt the cops would hassle you for "disturbing" Beck's assembled minions)
It's a little dream, clumsily drawn, and I've come up with it too late to do much about it. But if you're in DC, or know someone there who can make a little difference, I hope you'll try and make it come true.