Happy Martin Luther King Junior Day
Today is a federal holiday to honor the memory of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Junior. As I sometimes do, I thought today would be a good day to both reflect on King's life and what he stood for, while reading some of his own words.
King did much more than give one memorable "I Have A Dream" speech, but sadly that's what he has been distilled down to in our national collective consciousness. King fought valiantly for what he believed, always using the tool of non-violence to convince others of the rightness of his cause.
Because of his exemplary work, in 1964 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. This enraged some in America (J. Edgar Hoover among them), but to King he felt the honor was somewhat undeserved. At the time, he was the youngest recipient of the award ever (he was only 35 years old). In the speech he gave in Oslo accepting the award, he was almost apologetic: "Therefore, I must ask why this prize is awarded to a movement which is beleaguered and committed to unrelenting struggle; to a movement which has not won the very peace and brotherhood which is the essence of the Nobel Prize." Because King knew there was a lot more for him to achieve, he felt the award was somewhat premature, at best.
So he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in a selfless manner, for a broader principle that was much bigger than just one man: "After contemplation, I conclude that this award which I receive on behalf of that movement is a profound recognition that nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral question of our time -- the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to violence and oppression. Civilization and violence are antithetical concepts."
As always, choosing what words of King's to highlight on his namesake holiday is a very hard thing to do. Out of the tens of thousands of words that are available, I always try to focus on some that maybe people haven't read before. But I would encourage people to visit a site from a local university (California State University Monterey Bay) where you can choose from eleven of his most profound speeches, without getting too overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of his legacy.
After reading and re-reading many of these speeches, this is the short passage I chose for the current moment in time.
Excerpt from Martin Luther King Jr.'s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech
December 10, 1964 -- Oslo, Norway
I accept this award today with an abiding faith in America and an audacious faith in the future of mankind. I refuse to accept despair as the final response to the ambiguities of history. I refuse to accept the idea that the "is-ness" of man's present nature makes him morally incapable of reaching up for the eternal "ought-ness" that forever confronts him. I refuse to accept the idea that man is mere flotsam and jetsam in the river of life, unable to influence the unfolding events which surround him. I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality.
I refuse to accept the cynical notion that nation after nation must spiral down a militaristic stairway into the hell of thermonuclear destruction. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant. I believe that even amid today's mortar bursts and whining bullets, there is still hope for a brighter tomorrow. I believe that wounded justice, lying prostrate on the bloodflowing streets of our nations, can be lifted from this dust of shame to reign supreme among the children of men. I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits. I believe that what self-centered men have torn down other-centered men can build up. I still believe that one day mankind will bow before the altars of God and be crowned triumphant over war and bloodshed, and nonviolent redemptive good will proclaim the rule of the land. "And the lion and the lamb shall lie down together and every man shall sit under his own vine and fig tree and none shall be afraid." I still believe that we shall overcome!
This faith can give us courage to face the uncertainties of the future. It will give our tired feet new strength as we continue our forward stride toward the city of freedom. When our days become dreary with low-hovering clouds and our nights become darker than a thousand midnights, we will know that we are living in the creative turmoil of a genuine civilization struggling to be born.
-- Chris Weigant
Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
Thanks for that.
It reminded me very strongly of the New Deal's rhetoric both about America recovering from the Depression, and America winning the war against world fascism and tyranny. Those were the years of King's youth, even as the New Deal deliberately put off the question of Black rights and dreams; but FDR's optimism and belief in a better future - a world of the "Four Freedoms", etc. - seems to have imbued King's worldview at least as much as Gandhi's and Christ's examples, to name other obvious influences on his speeches in the 50s and 60s.
And it's so hard to find a politician or statesman or leader of any kind who will commit today to that kind of unbounded hope - perhaps Obama came closest.
Again, thanks for this. Happy MLK Jr. Day, everyone!
Wow, this is a reminder of Dr. King’s considerable oratory skills. Good pick.
Caddy,
Are any of these “crimes” in the room with us right now? Do they have memes, these crimes?
Apparently, Basement Biden sees a shit-ton of crimes in the room.
Ooops...
Apparently, Basement Biden sees a shit-ton of crimes in the room.
Why else would he issue the pardons??
You don't issue pardons unless you know for a fact that crimes have been committed...
So much for the claim from Democrats that "NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW", eh??
The Democrats CLEARLY believe that Democrats (and some GOP'ers) are above the law.
Always knew that Democrats were lying out their asses...
It's going to be so much fun seeing all these criminals put before House committees and FORCED to detail their crimes to the American people without a single shred of 5th Amendment protections.. :D
Democrats FIRST Failure... :D
Marco Rubio unanimously confirmed as next Secretary of State
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio was confirmed unanimously by the Senate to be the next secretary of state, making him the first of President Trump's Cabinet picks to receive congressional approval.
Rubio, a senator since 2011, was confirmed during a floor vote by the full Senate Monday night, several hours after Trump took his oath of office earlier in the day. The full Senate floor vote occurred following a separate vote by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which also voted unanimously in favor of Rubio's nomination Monday.
Rubio enters his role as secretary of state with a strong foreign policy background as a longtime member of the Senate's Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees. He is also a first-generation Cuban American.
Democrats should be used to failure as their entire 4 years in governance has been one failure after another..
With PRESIDENT Trump back in the White House, and a MANDATE to lead American, Democrats are going to experience failure after failure after failure after failure.. :D
Promise Kept... :D
Trump pardons nearly all Jan. 6 defendants on inauguration day
Trump vowed in December that he would act swiftly to issue pardons to those convicted
President Donald Trump pardoned nearly all Jan. 6 defendants on Monday night, after promising at his inaugural parade to sign an executive order on the matter.
Sitting at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, Trump signed off on releasing more than 1,500 charged with crimes stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the U.S. Capitol. The order requires the Federal Bureau of Prisons to act immediately on receipt of the pardons.
"Tonight I'm going to be signing on the J6 hostages, pardons to get them out," Trump said at the parade at Capital One Arena in Washington. "I'm going to the Oval Office and we'll be signing pardons for a lot of people."
PRESIDENT is off to a roaring start!! :D
It's going to be an AWESOME 4 years to be an American!!! :D
And just 22 minutes before leaving office, Biden also pardoned his family, including his brother James B. Biden, sister Valerie Biden Owens, brother-in-law John T. Owens, and brother Francis W. Biden. The former president had previously issued a blanket pardon to his adult son, Hunter Biden, after he was convicted in two separate federal cases last year.
Despite claims from Basement Biden that "NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW", it's painfully obvious and factual that Basement Biden thinks his family is above the law..
Hypocrisy. It's not a bug in Democrat programming. It's a feature.
:eyeroll:
My lovely wife of 44 years and our puppies... :D
http://mfccfl.us/K92.jpg
And me out playing with the a bunch of Florida Departments K9 puppies... :D
http://mfccfl.us/K93.jpg
Gonna be out there again today.. :D
Temps are in the mid 30s with rain in the forecast..
Gonna be a fun day!!! :D
https://twitter.com/i/status/1881010045476876617
America is back to being FIRST!!!
Yea, baby!!!!! :D
"He is arguably the most influential change agent to occupy the White House since Franklin Delano Roosevelt."
-TIME MAGAZINE
Yep, yep, Yep...
It's a welcome change from the senile and dementia-riddled fool that was in the Oval Office the LAST 4 years!! :D
"Do not deserve to be targets of politically motivated prosecutions."
-Basement Biden
Neither did PRESIDENT Trump..
But that didn't stop Democrats from perverting the rule of law for their Lawfare Persecutions...
So....
"What's good for the goose is nobody's business but the ganders!"
-Ralph Furley, THREE'S COMPANY
Lest we forget, PRESIDENT Trump won the POPULAR VOTE by MILLIONS of votes!!. A considerably GREAT margin!!
Democrats need to come to grips with the OBJECTIVE Reality of the here and now...
PRESIDENT Trump has won.. America has won...
Democrats are going to be lost in the wilderness for at LEAST an entire generation, if not 2 or 3 generations.. :D
And Americans couldn't be happier.. :D
OK Heading out to play with K-9s.. :D
See ya'all later this afternoon.. Then we're gonna have some REAL fun!! :D
michale
8
Nice picture — it’s good to put faces to names. You’re wrong about many things but I agree that your wife is pretty good looking.
(thinking)
Um, are you guys still into swinging?
mahalia jackson was brilliant in her own right.
Caddy,
You’re wrong about many things but I agree that your wife is pretty good looking.
That's decent of you to say... Thank you...
As for the lifestyle.... Naw, we have gotten way to old for that.. :D
Since my triple bypass back in 2019, never much interested in socializing much anymore...
JL,
Too bad, Democrats made that dream a nightmare..
Imagine how Dr King would feel about today's Democrats EMBRACING segregation and EMBRACING the con-artist BS that is BLM....
Imagine how Dr King would feel about moron Democrats claiming that RACISM against white people is not only perfectly acceptable, it's preferred!
Dr King would be HORRIFIED at today's Democrat Party...
On the other hand, maybe it wouldn't surprise Dr King.. I mean, the Democrat Party *IS* the Party that gave this country the KKK and Jim Crow...
Maybe Dr King would just shake his head sadly and think, "The more things change, the more they stay the same."
The Democrat Party is STILL the Racist Party... STILL the Segregation Party...
"tis sad, tis true..... tis true, tis sad..."
END OF WATCH
Border Patrol Agent David Maland
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - United States Border Patrol, U.S. Government
End of Watch: Monday, January 20, 2025
And remind the few..
When ill of us they speak...
That we are all that stands between...
The monsters and the weak...
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/13839e8d10b9303c8d9aee50576e15b15f4844be91d15073a21097a85b780c50.jpg
Trump Executive Actions
Extends TikTok Deadline 75 Days
Grants Pardons & Commutations for Offenses Related to January 6
Yanks Security Clearances Of Intel Officials Who Lied About Laptop
Declares Emergency at Border
Restores Freedom of Speech & Ending Federal Censorship
Unleashes American Energy
Ends Government Weaponization
This is what AMERICA FIRST leadership looks like, people..
Ya'all better get used to it and either jump on... or get ran over by... the AMERICA FIRST train...
I'm just sayin'....
The people who DIDN'T get a pardon (IE were thrown to the wolves) for their crimes ...
Jack Smith
Juan Merchan
Alvin Bragg
Fani Willis
Looking forward to seeing these Trump/America hating morons strung up by their testicles...
What?? Fani Willis doesn't have testicles???
Are you SURE!!?? :D
Well now...
It was my intention to take a trip down memory lane in the months leading up to the AWESOME election.. I wanted to highlight how badly ya'all wiffed and struck out..
But a user.... who shall remain nameless... let's just call him Mtn C..... naw, naw, that's too easy... Let's call him... M Caddy.... :D
yuk yuk yuk...
Anyways, Caddy's decent and civil response kinda took the wind out of the sails of THAT plan...
So, I am going to shelve that for now, and just report on and comment on current events... :D
"NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW"
-Democrats
"Well, except for my family"
-Basement Biden
https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/01/1920/1080/cartoon012125.jpg?ve=1&tl=1
And now we're getting a winter blizzard advisory for the Florida Gulf Of America coastline!!
How bizarre is that!!?? :D
We're planning a week long Virginia mountain vacation next month to play in the snow.. Grand kids have NEVER seen snow..
How crazy would it be if the snow came to Florida!! :D
Since everyone is still licking their wounds, I thought I would share something completely off the wall...
Can the Borg assimilate the Founders??
According to a majority of Star Trek fans and even some Star Trek lore, it is highly unlikely that the Borg could assimilate the Founders, a species of shapeshifting liquid lifeforms from the "Deep Space Nine" series, because the Founders' unique biology would likely resist the Borg nanoprobes used for assimilation, making it nearly impossible for the Borg to successfully integrate them into the Collective.
Key points about why the Borg might not be able to assimilate the
Founders:
Fluid nature:
The Founders' liquid form would make it difficult for the Borg nanoprobes to attach and penetrate, potentially being expelled or simply unable to take hold within their bodies.
Cellular adaptation:
The Founders have the ability to rapidly adapt to foreign substances, which could potentially allow them to neutralize or expel Borg nanoprobes.
No clear target:
The Founders lack identifiable body parts, making it challenging for the Borg to target and assimilate them effectively
THIS IS MY OPINION ON IT:
The nano probes Could lock on to the morphogenic enzymes that compose the changeling physio-liquid matrix in order to achieve assimilation.
But the only way the Changelings could be assimilated is if the Borg find a way to keep their morphogenic matrix solid all the time without them having to revert to a liquid state everyday to rejuvenate or to resist initial assimilation. Their Borg implants would have to admit some type of quantum stasis pulse to keep the morphogenic enzymes in a solid state all the time but must also still allow a partial liquidation at a cellular level in order to prevent the morphogenic enzymes from deteriorating. If not, then the Changelings could simply dispose of the nano probes by reverting to their liquid state to escape assimilation. This is the only way I see that the Borg could assimilate the Founders.
ANALYSIS:
Quantum Stasis and Energy Requirements:
In Deep Space Nine, quantum stasis fields are capable of keeping changelings like Odo from reverting to their liquid form (e.g., in "The Die is Cast"). We also see quantum stresses preventing Odo from morphing in "Children of Time."
Borg Nanoprobe Behavior and Bloodstream Infiltration:
In Voyager, it’s shown that the Borg nanoprobes first infiltrate the bloodstream by attaching to red and white blood cells, and only later do they target the nervous system. This means that for a changeling, whose fluid state would lack the same biological structures as a humanoid, the nanoprobes could potentially encounter resistance in their initial infiltration process. However, if the nanoprobes were to access the morphogenic enzymes, they might still be able to interact with the changeling's cellular structure in some way.
Vulnerability to Cellular Attack:
The information from Deep Space Nine season 7, where Section 31 infects the Founders with a morphogenic virus, shows that the Founders can be affected by cellular manipulation despite their liquid state. This is a significant factor, as it reveals that while their liquid nature gives them resistance to many attacks, they are still susceptible to certain forms of cellular intervention.
Revisiting the Assimilation Process with These Considerations:
REVISITING THE ASSIMILATION PROCESS WITH THESE CONSIDERATIONS:
Quantum Stasis as a Solution:
If the Borg could modify their nanoprobes and implants to create a localized quantum stasis field around the changeling’s physiology, this would certainly provide a workable method to prevent them from returning to their liquid form during the assimilation process.
The fact that this method would allow for partial liquidation every 18 hours adds a realistic element, as it would prevent the changeling from deteriorating or expelling the nanoprobes. This seems like a feasible solution, especially if the Borg can modulate the stasis field to be selective—only preventing full liquefaction while allowing cellular-level changes needed for rejuvenation.
Nanoprobe Infiltration and Integration:
Once the changeling is solidified, the nanoprobes could more effectively infiltrate the changeling’s morphogenic matrix. The ability to manipulate the changeling’s cellular structure via the nanoprobes, combined with the fact that the Founders are susceptible to cellular-level manipulation (as shown with the morphogenic virus from Section 31), gives the Borg a better chance at assimilation.
The modification of the nanoprobes to work within the changeling's unique biology—ensuring they don't just rely on targeting systems like a humanoid's nervous system—would require adaptive Borg technology but is within the realm of possibility.
Founders' Resistance:
While the Founders' ability to adapt quickly and resist biological threats is still a significant factor, the Borg’s advanced nanotechnology and the localized quantum stasis field would likely be able to slow or even neutralize the changeling's defenses long enough for the assimilation process to take place. The changeling’s self-healing and adaptability would still be formidable, but if the Borg can stay ahead of this with targeted adjustments to their nanoprobes, they might be able to maintain control over the process.
Borg's Adaptability:
The Borg's ability to adapt to different species' biological needs and defenses is one of their key strengths. This ability, combined with the unique modifications to their nanoprobes and the use of quantum stasis, would give them a significant advantage over the Founders. However, the Founders' fluid biology and rapid adaptability still make them one of the more difficult species to fully assimilate. It might require a prolonged effort, but it is now within the realm of plausibility that the Borg could succeed.
CONCLUSION:
Given that the Borg could theoretically modify their nanoprobes and implants to emit a localized quantum stasis field—which would keep the changeling solid while allowing for the necessary rejuvenation—it increases the likelihood that the Borg could successfully assimilate the Founders, at least in theory.
This method addresses the key challenges that were previously highlighted:
Preventing the changeling from reverting to liquid form.
Allowing for partial liquidation to prevent morphogenic deterioration.
Ensuring the nanoprobes can infiltrate the changeling’s cells and integrate them into the Collective.
So, I now believe that the Borg could indeed assimilate the Founders, though it would still be a difficult and resource-intensive process. The combination of the Borg’s advanced technology, quantum stasis manipulation, and their nanoprobes’ ability to infiltrate the changeling’s biological structure gives them a feasible method for assimilation.
However, even with this increased probability, the Founders’ resistance—particularly their ability to adapt quickly to foreign threats—still makes them one of the most difficult species for the Borg to assimilate, and it would likely require significant time, resources, and precision on the part of the Borg to succeed.
FIRST DAY ON THE JOB...
PRESIDENT Trump does a REAL press conference!!
He actually takes REAL, UN-SCRIPTED questions from press people who WEREN'T PRE-SELECTED!!!!
Where has this man been all of America's life!!???
nypoet22
17
mahalia jackson was brilliant in her own right.
MLK Jr said of her "a voice like this comes only once in a millennium."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfaYGvsU3F4
Aretha Franklin was definitely alive at that time... so...
jericho
not that being in a cheering crowd in any way diluted her voice, but it's just as amazing clean.
Did ya'all notice how Barron Trump treated Biden???
That comes from excellent upbringing..
Among all else, PRESIDENT Trump is a great father..
Politico editor-in-chief calls Trump ‘greatest American figure of his era’ due to his influence
John Harris said Trump's political opponents should face the fact that Trump is not a 'momentary anomaly'
Politico global editor-in-chief John F. Harris argued in a new piece that President Donald Trump’s second victory proves that he has dominated American politics so thoroughly that he will likely be counted among the country’s most consequential leaders.
Looks like former Democrat Water Carriers are jumping on the MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN/PRESIDENT TRUMP train!! :D
Democrats have completely lost any and all relevance in America in the here and now...
"Ain't it kewl!?"
-John Travolta, BROKEN ARROW
:D
"Trump’s second inauguration on Monday puts the president in an entirely new light. PRESIDENT Trump is now holding power under circumstances in which reasonable people cannot deny a basic fact. He is the greatest American figure of his era."
-John F. Harris, Politico Editor In Chief
Everyone is jumping on the President Trump train... :D
Don't get left behind... :D
Michale,
Did ya'all notice how Barron Trump treated Biden???
And, Harris. Yes, I did indeed notice that. It was a very nice gesture.
And, then, I was reminded that Harris did not invite the newly elected vice president and his spouse to the Naval Observatory, as is customary.
I don't know why that didn't happen but it wasn't very nice.
michale
26
I’m curious: is this an unattributed cut and paste job or did you write this yourself?
Elizabeth
35
All this crazy going on and this is what you posted about?