Martin Luther King was murdered forty years ago today. That urban America's insulting eulogy was to riot and burn demonstrates the minister's waning influence. King had his faults, but in focusing on them--serial plagiarism, skirt chasing, crude partisanship--one seems to fall into the same trap that Jefferson historians who obsess over Sally Hemmings descend into. That is to say that King's significance was integrating African Americans into the American Dream, not copied speeches, sexcapades taped by government snoops, or comparisons of Republicans to Nazis. He should not be immune from criticism, as insist his hagiographers who successfully placed his name on a holiday alongside Washington, Columbus, and Christ. But his name and visage should not immediately bring to mind those small faults when greater goods outweigh them. This is especially true on the anniversary of his murder.

Somebody else might have stepped up, but it was MLK who took the initiative and without him doing so there would have been more years of illegal segregation in this country. He certainly served the greater good.

It is ironic however, that he came and went in peace while the same people who he emancipated (for the second time) chose to use violence to mourn his passing.

I remember the violence clearly with some unpleasant first hand experiences. Sadly, I'm not sure much has changed.

King likely would have been displeased.

Yeah, I met Dr. Martin Luther King in 1962 in Memphis, Tennessee. I’m walkin’ down the street, mindin’ my own business, just walkin’ along, feelin’ good. I walk around a corner. A man walk up, hit me in my chest, right? I fall on the ground, right? And I look up, and it’s Dr. Martin Luther King! I said, ‘Dr. King!’ He said, ‘Whoops, I thought you was somebody else.

Clarence is actually quoting Hillary. She hobnobbed with Dr. King too, you know. Even advised him on policy matters!

Know what's interesting and mildly comical? ALL of these liberal dorks in all walks of life claiming that they were on board and marched with Dr. King, while in reality they lie to get political and social points.

Meanwhile, that bad old Rightist gun nut Charlton Heston actually did march for Civil Right with Dr. King in the 50's. Before it was fashionable to march for Civil Rights.

Maybe Hillary was at MLK's assassination too......That might have been the sniper fire she remembers.