Originally published on my TPM-DC blog, before TPM gave me the axe.
Opinion by Dr. Goldstein
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."
If Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. was resurrected he would have nothing to do with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). If he came back from the grave and visited the SPLC today I believe it would probably go something like this:
Rev. King would look at the list of concerned Americans the SPLC smears on their list of "antigovernment 'patriots'." Then he would shake his head in disgust and say "You bash these people who dislike the wars, corruption, injustice, torture camps and covert operations of the government? You smear these people who speak out against todays wars and tyrannical oppression both at home and overseas? My whole life was about leading the people into a nonviolent revolution against the oppressive government of the day and it's tyrannical policies. I used the term 'marvelous new militancy' to describe the movement I started. I coined the phrase 'citizens have a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws' in my letter from the Birmingham jail. I personally was in the crosshairs of a covert operation by the FBI and other sinister government agencies that wanted to destroy me."
"I won't support the SPLC or any other quack group that wants to smear antigovernment patriots. I never had an SPLC membership card, and I don't want one today. I was assassinated by a highly trained sniper many years before the SPLC was hatched. I was an antigovernment patriot. I hated what the government was doing, both at home and overseas, and I dedicated my life to changing it. And yes, I even spoke passionately in defense of America's Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, just like Ron Paul's does today. Should I be lumped in with the people you list on your 'Patriot Movement Timeline'? Go ahead if you wish. Us patriots are pretty thick skinned."
"At my Lincoln Memorial speech I said 'When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir'. "
"Free speech and freedom of assembly were the main tools I used in my struggle. I certainly do not agree with every word that every person on your "patriot list" is saying, but I strongly support their constitutional rights and freedom of expression. Did you know that same Bill Of Rights I used also permits gun ownership and the formation of militias? Go ask Ron Paul. The doctor will explain it to you."
"I fought the U.S. government until they had me killed. I gave my life to end apartheid in America. If you really seriously want to follow my example, then start fighting Israel's racist apartheid The Palestinians have a right to exist, and a right to live free of Israeli occupation and oppression.
Apartheid is evil whether it happens in America, South Africa or the Middle East. We fought the first two successfully. If you want to destroy the evil menace called apartheid then here is your golden opportunity to finish my work."
"Move your offices to Gaza and the West Bank. Stand up to the Israeli government's systematic annihilation of the defenseless Palestinian families. When we marched to Selma we had to deal with horrific violence but I will be honest about this. The violence in Selma was slow-pitch softball compared to the white phosphorus bombs, helicopter gunships and the massive bulldozers Israel uses against the brown-skinned people of Palestine. Please get to work finishing my struggle against apartheid. If you do that you can proudly hold your heads high and say you are fighting for my cause."
"Whatever happens, please stop making stupid lists of patriots like me who oppose government policy. That is what the FBI and the CIA did to me and you know how that story ended."
Some Important Notes
Dr. King was a fervent advocate of the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, just like Dr. Ron Paul . My point is that Dr. King and Dr. Paul were (are) both hardcore constitutionalists. Yet Dr. Ron Paul is smeared by the SPLC as having a "noxious effect on the body politic" because he has a problem with the botched raids of federal "jack-booted thugs". Golly gee - I just don't think Reverend King would have been a cheerleader for the jack-booted thugs either.
Dr. King hated the Vietnam war and America's global military entanglements. He was a member of the anti-war group Clergy and Laymen Concerned about Vietnam which coined the phrase "a time comes when silence is betrayal." Dr. King recited the very best anti-Vietnam speeches ever. From day one Dr. King saw through the government's smokescreen of propaganda and lies, as Dr. Ron Paul does today. The list of similarities both men share is truly remarkable.
Everybody in the world should read the speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., especially America's Patriots. The world is changing and entering into a period of great turmoil leading to World War III. Courageous patriots, who challenge government as Dr. King did, will determine what America becomes. The words, lessons and strategies of Dr. King have never been more relevant.
This speech is an awesome starting point for those who wish to study the words of Dr. King. He lays bare the personal inner struggle that patriots who oppose the government must deal with.
A Good Chuckle
Writing this opinion was serious business, so I want to thank "antigovernment patriot" John Stadtmiller of the Republic Broadcasting Network for giving me a good laugh. Stadtmiller was contacted by the "Intelligence Report" unit of the SPLC about doing an interview. Stadtmiller's reply:
"I would rather pour gasoline on myself and light it than speak to anyone in your organization."
