MLK: Another Cosby Moment?

[seer]

When I was a kid I had a lot of respect for King, as I did for Jack Kennedy (a saint to my parents) - and it was a real kick in the gut when the affairs of both men came to light. I guess I expected more....

[tabibito]

But after watching the FBI for the last two years trying to railroad Trump, would it be hard to believe that they were trying to frame MLK with false claims?

Not in the least - particularly considering the track record of the FBI director of the time - it's a double whammy.

[seer]

But after watching the FBI for the last two years trying to railroad Trump, would it be hard to believe that they were trying to frame MLK with false claims?

Well they were actually recording these events.

[Cow Poke]

Well they were actually recording these events.

And it's possible some of those recordings will actually become public.

[Mountain Man]

And it's possible some of those recordings will actually become public.

Does it matter? People who are so inclined will simply dismiss it all as an elaborate hoax. I think King's legacy will make him virtually untouchable in the minds of many.

[tabibito]

And it's possible some of those recordings will actually become public.

There are allegations. There are claims that hard evidence exists to prove those allegations. No hard evidence has been produced to date.

You've spent the last two or three years with that kind of falderol, no?

[Cow Poke]

There are allegations. There are claims that hard evidence exists to prove those allegations. No hard evidence has been produced to date.

You've spent the last two or three years with that kind of falderol, no?

As far as I know, these allegations were not dreamed up and paid for by an opponent's opposition research and pawned off to the FBI as credible intelligence for the basis of massive investigations.

Time will tell.

[Cow Poke]

This reader (can't link to the article because of lots of profanity) wraps up some thoughts with which I agree...



There is actually a great case to be made here for "the Billy Graham rule", which some of our liberals loudly decry.

[oxmixmudd]

It will be interesting to see if these revelations gain any traction, and what the reaction will be, because there are a LOT of roads and buildings and monuments in America bearing his name. Heck, we even have a national holiday to celebrate the day of his birth!

I would be cautious. In his day MLK was hated by many, and there would be those, even in high positions of government, that would have actively pursued discrediting him in any way possible. Popular preachers cheating on their wives or carrying on in 100% opposition to what they teach are a dime a dozen (swaggart, baker etc etc), but I still think in this case given the number of people opposed to him on racial grounds and his impact on racism in he US, even the world, it would be very important to wait for hard, verified proof - not just allegations.


Jim

[oxmixmudd]

And it's possible some of those recordings will actually become public.

Only if thoroughly verified. Splicing together pieces of tape to create a conversation that never happened was still possible in Kings day. You'd need originals. In our day the artifacts of such splicing could be removed digitally. Not only that, we are at the point in terms of computer simulation capabilities it would be possible to create authentic sounding 'tapes' out of thin air if one was inclined to do so.

Jim

[Mountain Man]

I would be cautious. In his day MLK was hated by many, and there would be those, even in high positions of government, that would have actively pursued discrediting him in any way possible. Popular preachers cheating on their wives or carrying on in 100% opposition to what they teach are a dime a dozen (swaggart, baker etc etc), but I still think in this case given the number of people opposed to him on racial grounds and his impact on racism in he US, even the world, it would be very important to wait for hard, verified proof - not just allegations.


Jim

I agree that caution is warranted, but as the opening post mentions, these latest revelations are coming from someone who would not be inclined to publish idle rumors.

[tabibito]

I agree that caution is warranted, but as the opening post mentions, these latest revelations are coming from someone who would not be inclined to publish idle rumors.

Even if that were to be accepted - there remains the possibility of duplicity on the part of the person providing the facts that the "someone" could not detect.

[Adrift]

This reader (can't link to the article because of lots of profanity) wraps up some thoughts with which I agree...



There is actually a great case to be made here for "the Billy Graham rule", which some of our liberals loudly decry.

I don't know what the Billy Graham rule is (is it the one where you don't go into a room alone with a person of the opposite sex who isn't your significant other?) At any rate, I agree with the person you quote. It'd be a bit hypocritical to start renaming streets when we have slave owners on our money. Some very good people had some very serious flaws that we shouldn't whitewash, and that should come out into the open, but that shouldn't take away from their impact on society or humanity. Also, I think there's need for concern that in any rush to strike King from the record means that people will want to downplay his message. What alternative is there then? Who fills the gap? Malcolm X? Louis Farrakhan?

[Cow Poke]

I don't know what the Billy Graham rule is (is it the one where you don't go into a room alone with a person of the opposite sex who isn't your significant other?)

Yes, Pastors and Clergy get in trouble in two specific areas - other people's wives (or not their own) and other people's money.

At any rate, I agree with the person you quote. It'd be a bit hypocritical to start renaming streets when we have slave owners on our money. Some very good people had some very serious flaws that we shouldn't whitewash, and that should come out into the open, but that shouldn't take away from their impact on society or humanity. Also, I think there's need for concern that in any rush to strike King from the record means that people will want to downplay his message. What alternative is there then? Who fills the gap? Malcolm X? Louis Farrakhan?

[Cow Poke]

I don't know what the Billy Graham rule is (is it the one where you don't go into a room alone with a person of the opposite sex who isn't your significant other?) At any rate, I agree with the person you quote. It'd be a bit hypocritical to start renaming streets when we have slave owners on our money. Some very good people had some very serious flaws that we shouldn't whitewash, and that should come out into the open, but that shouldn't take away from their impact on society or humanity. Also, I think there's need for concern that in any rush to strike King from the record means that people will want to downplay his message. What alternative is there then? Who fills the gap? Malcolm X? Louis Farrakhan?

The flip side of that is - why tear down statues and rename schools because we had some very good people who did wonderful things for our country, but had some very serious flaws and owned slaves.