WE LOVE SILENCE....!!
An A.H. Scott rant on America's fascination with revisionism...
"Voices who have been silenced in the past, are now the ones that are suddenly lauded with love from those who never gave a damn about them when they were as potent as a knockout punch." - A.H. Scott 1/16/12
Two men in particular I am going to focus on right now, because January is the month of their births. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. born January 15, 1929 and Muhammad Ali January 17, 1942.
To me, it seems that as the lens of history lengthens from the moment when these two men were at their zeniths of influence in society; they have become almost diluted into shadows by certain corners of media and pop culture.
Everyone around this time of the month pulls out MLK's "I Have A Dream" speech, almost like a reflex of how much America was so in love with this great man. Yet, when some bring up the speeches he gave near the end of his life and other parts of that aforementioned speech; then suddenly certain people try to cut off the dialogue about the depth and breadth of Martin Luther King's passion for justice for all.
From speaking out on economic issues to his opposition of the Vietnam War, MLK faced a hell of a lot of resistance. And, call me a conspiracy theorist, but I think it might have been what led to the events in Memphis. But, hey, I'm just being a cynic, right? (scoff)
Speaking of the Vietnam War, this what brings me to tie Dr. King and Muhammad Ali together. When Ali was kicking ass and at his prime, he was derided by many in the media and others in society for taking a stand as a conscientious objector.
Ali had a big mouth. (YEAH!!!) But, like John Shaft, he was more than man enough to back it up.
But, now because of his physical limitations and inability to verbally spar; suddenly he's the "Fluffy Teddy Bear" that everybody loves.
Some correspondents and journalist who report on the present day life of Muhammad Ali almost give a chuckle & a wink to those who view their news segments and written words about his past glory.
You see, when a person is silenced by the bullet or by a physical tap of fate; then that person is viewed as non-threatening to those in positions of power.
Dr. King becomes just that thoughtful preacher from Atlanta.
And, Muhammad Ali is just the man with the pretty smile from Louisville.
I think both men being silenced, in a duo of ways, shows the two-faced nature of the United States of America.
When Ali spoke out against the Vietnam War and the draft, all of a sudden, he was labeled Public Enemy #1 by some in the canyons of power.
And, don't let me started on J. Edgar Hoover and his feelings towards Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and COINTELPRO's objective to "prevent the rise of a black messiah".
Martin Luther King Jr.'s holiday has been packaged for consumption by some in the media in the most watered down way. Like some warmed over leftovers, a single speech given in 1963 is spoon fed to the American public like we are children or something.
Those who have read Dr. King's words beyond that speech, know he was much more than a doe-eyed dreamer of pacifistic words. He was that drum major in the parade of justice pride for civil rights for us all.
In or out of the ring, Muhammad Ali always will stand tall, whether or not the media wants to give him the true respect he is owed in speaking truth to power. His voice may be as low as a whisper, but Ali's heart and soul will forever be a growl of a lion for what he believes in.
Yet, I will now give the floor to another pair of American iconoclasts who can put it more bluntly:
Hunter S. Thompson (journalist) -
"We have become a Nazi monster in the eyes of the whole world, a nation of bullies and bastards who would rather kill than live peacefully. We are not just Whores for power and oil, but killer whores with hate and fear in our hearts. We are human scum, and that is how history will judge us. No redeeming social value. Just whores. Get out of our way, or we'll kill you. Who does vote for these dishonest shit-heads? Who among us can be happy and proud of having all this innocent blood on our hands? Who are these swine? These flag-sucking half-wits who get fleeced and fooled by stupid little rich kids like George Bush? They are the same ones who wanted to have Muhammad Ali locked up for refusing to kill gooks. They speak for all that is cruel and stupid and vicious in the American character. They are the racists and hate mongers among us; they are the Ku Klux Klan. I piss down the throats of these Nazis. And I am too old to worry about whether they like it or not. Fuck them." - Hunter S. Thompson
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George Carlin (humorist) -
"The way the world operates, anyone who told us that it was good to treat each other nicely was killed. Jesus Christ, Gandhi, Lincoln, Martin Luther King, The Kennedy Brothers. If you told people, "Be nice to each other," that was the end of you....
.....This country is a freak show. It's circling the drain. This culture has been, for some time and the circles are getting smaller and tighter and faster. And I revel in it. I am a critic of it all because I think it's a fascinating drama in self-destruction......
........Everyone should have the right to shelter and food and a way to get a job to provide shelter and food on your own. The government should provide for people. There ought to be a way to take care of human needs, and we haven't worked very hard at that. That's my complaint. They say underneath a cynic is a disappointed idealist. And that is what I am. And that flame can be rekindled, no doubt. But I'd rather take the comfort of the skeptics role and say, "You worry about it. I've got a job, and my job is making fun of it and showing people how badly they are doing"." - George Carlin
Rant Over.
A.H. Scott
PEACE (with fingers crossed)
XO
