There have been a lot of posts today, MLK Day, with photos of the March on Washington and from Selma to Montgomery, some by James Barker. The black and white image here is another of his photos. I think its important to show what the marchers were up against and compare that to civil rights marches today. The other photo is from the Ferguson to Jefferson City March, Journey for Justice, held in November 2014. Fifty years ago the Marchers experienced haters all along the way. Todays marchers reported only one town of intolerant bozos and there were no shots fired, no dogs set on them. Every other place marchers reported support or tolerance. Tolerance may be considered better than intolerance, but it is a mistake to think it is adequate. Tolerance may take the edge off, but dont mistake it for acceptance. Tolerance covers crap with whipped cream. Its tolerance that has allowed what MLK called the darkness to persist. The Voting Rights Act is an example. The country was told it had to allow blacks in the voting booth and it complied by tolerating it. Yet the country found and continues to find new ways to disenfranchise the black vote. SCOTUS is allowing it, encouraging it really. And gerrymandering is stealthily undermining democracy. Can we arrive at a place where diversity is accepted, appreciated, celebrated? Tolerance just gives those who would divide us hedges to work with. Its not okay that good people think they are merely required to endure the diversity that is the rich tapestry of Creation and that thats as good as it gets.
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 23:01:37 +0000