Racist Holiday Rammed Down Our Throats

Was MLK really color blind? I know his followers are not. Why is it that a racial separatist holiday that can only really be celebrated by one race has been rammed down our throats?

Banks, County buildings, Schools and so forth were closed today in honor of the only contemporary American that was not a founding father that has a holiday. OK. That's cool. Why are Thomas Jefferson and George Washington now eliminated and combined into "Presidents" day? That, to me, is an outrage. Did any of you go to West Tampa today to the parade? Would you have felt welcome? I don't think so.

MLK was not a perfect man. He was a plagiarist, an adulator(Just like Clinton) and a Communist sympathizer(regardless of how much he denounced dialectical materialism on the NBC show MEET THE PRESS) He was a proponent of Non-Violence...That was a good thing...we can all see how much that has taken hold in the black community. That is not an opinion; just look at the Tampa Police Stats. Name one holiday that is named after a contemporary man? None. Why should a certain race force a holiday down my throat and tell me I have to honor it. Go to hell!

UPDATE: Since I have received such a response from knee-jerk reactionaries, let me explain why this type of thinking is dangerous. Rod Serling wrote:

"The tools of conquest do not necessarily come with bombs and explosions and fallout. There are weapons that are simply thoughts, attitudes, prejudices, to be found only in the minds of men. For the record, prejudices can kill and suspicion can destroy, and a thoughtless, frightened search for a scapegoat has a fallout all its own -- for the children, and the children yet unborn." - Rod Serling

These words were written about 40 years ago during the paranoia of the cold war. Serling was trying to tell us in that episode that the greatest challenge to man was found within his own mind. The words "thoughts, attitudes, prejudices" can be modernized with the words "pacifism, compliance, political correctness."

We are in a war for our own survival as a people. The circumstances are different than when Rod Serling wrote those penetrating words, but the goal is the same. For the record, pacifism can kill, compliance can disable, and political correctness can infect the mind to a degree that it's own ability to use reason conflicts with any basic instinct for preservation.

I knew when I posted this that I would get "reactionary" response from the converted masses. I was not disappointed. In the 1960S people had bomb shelters. The bomb shelter of today is your own mind. Use it or be transported to the future.

LET THAT BE YOUR LAST BATTLEFIELD: Stardate 5730.2 The Enterprise receives a distress call from a shuttlecraft and take on board a strange alien who's face is half black and half white. His name is Lokai(Played by Frank gorshin the Riddler on Batman) and the white and black is split perfectly down the his face.

The Enterprise soons encounters another shuttle craft in which another alien is on board who's face is perfectly split between white and black. The second alien says he is a police officer and he is there to arrest Lokai for undisclosed crimes. It becomes apparent that he believes he is Superior to Lokai because of the Black/White configuration on his face. What is not apparent to Kirk is that Lokai is White on the left side of his face and Bele is white in the right side of his face. Spock says to show prejudice for this is illogical.

Kirk decides to ignore their racially prejudiced arguments, and returns to the bridge. Bele soon follows and demands that Kirk change course to Cheron. Kirk refuses, informing him that the alien's quarrel is no concern of his, and that he has more urgent matters to attend to at the moment. He allows Bele and Lokai to remain aboard, and offers to drop them off at Starbase 4 once the mission is complete.

Tired of Kirk's babbling, Bele invokes a strange power which takes control of the ship, steering it toward Cheron. With no way to return control, Kirk threatens to destroy the Enterprise. Bele believes Kirk is bluffing until Kirk activates the ship's auto-destruct sequence with voice code approval of his first officer Mr. Spock, and chief engineer Mr. Scott. Bele nervously watches as the countdown nears zero, then finally relents control at the last seconds. Kirk cancels auto-destruct and changes course back to Ariannus

What they discover is that the entire population of the planet has been destroyed because of this insane racial war. Bele and Lokai begin fighting in the transporter room and are sent down to the surface of their depopulated planet to continue the fight.

Many believe that Gene Roddenberry was exploring mindless racism with this episode. I believe it goes beyond that. This episode was a metaphor for irrational thinking among humans. That is were we find ourselves today. I believe our society has lost its mind. But you got to admit those were great Strar Trek episodes.

Comments

[Xanthippas]

Well, actually you don't have to honor it. As is typical with most reactionaries, you equate other people wishing to honor it with some great offense upon themselves. Also, I'm half white and half Native American but I still feel like I can celebrate the holiday. But then, I guess that whole social justice thing appeals to a non-reactionary, highly minority person such as myself. But whatever.

[SawbriarsT]

Just read a few of the pc comments regarding MLK.

Probably most of them were white guys who have succumbed to all the myths regarding slavery.

I will not attempt to go into all that in this limited space--I will just say most have very limited knowledge regarding the historical institution of slavery.

Anyone who wishes to gain at least some understanding of the slavery issue and todays victimhood myths based on that institution should read "they were white and they were slaves" and the "White Nile"--anyone interested in those two books can look up the authors etc. on the internet.

[Tom 123]

Tim I read your explanation but I can only consider it an excuse.

We can go round and round with this but I guess this media is all about being outspoken and controversial, but having said that there must be a limit.

[Joel]

The Star Trek Defense. Terrific.

Michael - This will be completely off-topic, but:

I didn't actually criticize Tim for his bimbo models - I just suggested that one of them might have stolen his password and posted that ridiculous post. That's not hypercritical, it's a cheap shot.

I'm not sure that Tommy's cheerleader/stripper/hooker posts are quite as frequent as you'd like to think. Dig through the archives - exactly what percentage of his last, say, 100 posts were about any of those subjects?

But what if they were that common? Tampa has the second largest number of strip clubs in America. The owner of many of those clubs runs for local office every election. Many of our local politicians spend seemingly day and night worrying about the strip clubs. They are a part of Tampa whether we'd all care to admit it or not.

And ultimately if he wants to change the name to Poles of Fire and do nothing but stripper posts, it's his blog - I just contribute to it. If I were uncomfortable with the amount of sexually-oriented posts I can always say something or stop posting.

[Michael Hussey]

Joel, I strongly disagree with Tim's post. But if you're gonna attack Tim for "bimbo photo models" (poor choice of words) you should hold your blogmaster at Sticks of Fire to the same standard for constantly blogging about strip clubs and lesbian cheerleaders. Otherwise, you're just being hypercritical.

[Tim Fasano(Tampa Taxi Shots)]

Since I have received such a response from knee-jerk reactionaries, let me explain why this type of thinking is dangerous. Rod Serling wrote:

"The tools of conquest do not necessarily come with bombs and explosions and fallout. There are weapons that are simply thoughts, attitudes, prejudices, to be found only in the minds of men. For the record, prejudices can kill and suspicion can destroy, and a thoughtless, frightened search for a scapegoat has a fallout all its own -- for the children, and the children yet unborn." - Rod Serling

These words were written about 40 years ago during the paranoia of the cold war. Serling was trying to tell us in that episode that the greatest challenge to man was found within his own mind. The words "thoughts, attitudes, prejudices" can be modernized with the words "pacifism, compliance, political correctness."

We are in a war for our own survival as a people. The circumstances are different than when Rod Serling wrote those penetrating words, but the goal is the same. For the record, pacifism can kill, compliance can disable, and political correctness can infect the mind to a degree that it's own ability to use reason conflicts with any basic instinct for preservation.

I knew when I posted this that I would get "reactionary" response from the converted masses. I was not disappointed. In the 1960S people had bomb shelters. The bomb shelter of today is your own mind. Use it.

[Joe]

It takes courage to say (and write) what you feel in today's politically correct enviornment.
Whether you agree or disagree with Tim, you have to give the man the freedom to express his thoughts and he has every right for his opinion. I've been reading his blog for a bit and I never got the impression that he is a racist.

Tim is very opinionated (like myself) and this is his space. You can continue to read or move on. That's the beauty with blogging and the internet. This is his story and he's the editor. You should thank him for being so considerate to let people comment on his posts.

Break it down to this:
Is it wrong for him to critique Martin Luther King?
Is is wrong for him to state Tampa police stats?
Is it wrong for him to feel frustrated that there are no contemporary holidays to celebrate a white persons achievements?

If your answer is yes to all of the above then maybe you are the one with the issue. You can't preach tolerance if you have no tolerance yourself.

[stormsun]

I have been reading this blog for a long time and I know Tim is not a racist. But he said a lot of things a lot of white people say but Tim like so many do not understand why Black people seem to have so many exclusive clubs that say Black history, Black USA, Black Teenage America, it doesn't seem right when white people get in trouble for doing the same. Never mind what happened in the past.But I believe that most of us are happy to see Black people succeed, glad to have Blacks teach our kids, doctor us, dentist us and arrest us sort of.But so many of us do not understand why so many young Blacks have so much trouble in school and so many Black men in jail. The opportunities seem to be there. Nor do we understand why some Black people are angry at us. So many people gave up their lives during the civil rights movement so I look at Martin Luther King day as a celebration and recognition of all the people that sacrificed so much.

[billybob]

I really feel bad for this poor blogger. Obviously he is a lonely and angry man. i just hope he doesn't go postal in his taxi cab when i'm in it. you reallly need to get some help man for your depression. maybe find a woman — that is, one you didn't have to pay to take pictures of.

[JACKIE]

WOW I cant believe it 2007 and people still being judge by the color of there skin. How dumb can you be. That matter should be taken up with God. No one made themself, but you being hated because the color God chose for you. I dont comment on dumb issue, but I had to address this one. I like intelligent people which is smart enought to know you had nothing to do with making yourself. My believe is being judge by your character not your color.

[larry]

I have only one more thing to say, I was sitting at a red light this morning, next to me was a black person, he looked over to me and if stares could kill I would be dead right there. My question is why, he didn't know me, nor was I even born when all of the wrong things were done to his people, so I can I be at fault. Will those type of people judge me for what I am or the color of my skin?

[stormsun]

Neither Lincoln, Jefferson, Washington were perfect either. Martin Luther King certainly wasn't just a human being that did so much for his people and gave them the courage to stand up for their rights non violently, and made us white folks be aware of the injustices that black people faced just in order to survive.
I know its sometimes hard for us to see Black USA, Black colleges, NAACP, and so many Black young men in jail and dropping out of school, but its not been that long and society takes a long time to change, and it is changing slowing, and I for one love the idea of Judging ones character and not the color of their skin. Unfortunately we are seeing a lot of reverse racism but it too shall past.

[Tom 123]

Tim, this is an all time low, at times you write things that make us think or laugh. You also write things straight out of the religious right, but is over the top.

It is only for one race because you made it that way, I watched some of the parade on the news yesterday and there where whites in the parade and watching it also.

I as you know are from New York City, there are ethnic Holidays with parades of every description that last for 3 and 4 hours, so its not just for some people its for everyone. On March 17th EVERYONE is Irish, in October everyone is Italian, its just the way it is.

[larry]

Well done Mr. Fasano, what would happen if there was a "white college fund", probably worse than the Watts riot. How about a group for the advancement of white people. When I pick people up from the hospitals, there fare being paid by the hospital, 80% of those fare's are non-white. Yep, Tim hold on to your hat, I feel that there will be a few comments coming on this one. Works for me.

[Joel]

Do you feel the need to fill the hole left by Vilmar? The hole no one asked to be filled? Are you really this hit-crazy? Did one of your bimbo photo models get a hold of your admin password?

I only ask because I refuse to believe this came from the same person who has proven capable of writing some occasionally intelligent things.

I'll probably hate myself for even trying this, but:

Saying MLK day is only for one race is like saying Memorial Day is only for dead soldiers. Those dead soldiers died for a whole heck of a lot more than just a war, much like Martin Luther King Jr. fought for a lot more than just black people.

Then again considering the attitudes I've seen expressed here towards Arabs, the all-encompassing achievement of the civil rights movement is clearly lost. It's a shame to see a photographer miss the big picture.

[Stogie]

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt....Abraham Lincoln

[Jonathan Wilson Jr.]

suck me off