On this day on which we celebrate the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I am always reminded of why it is that we must continue to be vigilant in continuing his fight for justice and equality.
It would surprise many, as it does me, that Dr. King can still inspire controversy. He has become such an accepted part of the American narrative that you would think that these objections would have gone the way if those old segregationist dinosaurs like Jesse Helms who fought so hard against this holiday.
It is especially surprising when we look at the sanitized version of Dr. King that has become that celebrated standard. We hear the "I Have A Dream" speech and we go to the mountaintop with him. We see the marches in Alabama and the police dogs and brick throwers. We don't hear his words speaking out against the injustices of the Vietnam War or see his speeches railing against poverty and calling for revolutionary change in our economic reality.
But much to my amazement even the sanitized King is too much for some.
When I first came to North Carolina to attend law school at Wake Forest University I was quite surprised that the school did not honor the Dr. King holiday by canceling classes for the day.
My view was shared by others in the law school community. My first year the National Lawyers Guild, an association to which I proudly belonged, wrote an open letter to the Dean asking for the faculty to take up the issue and take action to have Dr. King's holiday as a day off to honor his work and his life. The second year, we presented a petition signed by a large number of the students.
Both attempts at encouraging change at the law school were basically ignored. The school would continue to honor the day by holding a discussion on issues of race so that we would celebrate the day appropriately. The paternalism of the then all white administration and nearly all white faculty (my how things have changed) was not lost on those of us pushing for change. What was especially disconcerting to us was the fact that we always had the Monday before MLK Day off, starting the semester on a Tuesday. This "Mystery Monday" made the solution to our demands so easy to accomplish that it seemed that the administration was simply being intractable just to show they wouldn't be pushed into any decision.
During my third and final year it was determined that bigger actions were needed. The Lawyers Guild and the Black Law Student Association joined forces for a plan to organize a class boycott and noon time rally at the law school. Notices were sent out to all students announcing the events and encouraging everyone to take part and attend. Those of us taking part in the boycott sent notices to our professors explaining we would be absent and encouraging them to cancel classes as well, which many did. Speakers were scheduled, media were notified and the plan was put into place.
I was scheduled as the first speaker at the rally. I spoke about what I felt we as future attorneys were charged by Dr. King to do in our lives. That we would be put into positions where we would come face to face with racism whether it be from a client, a fellow attorney or even a judge or our bosses. Would we have the courage to stand up to this injustice and speak out or would we sit by and remain silent? It would not be easy to speak up and it might even mean suffering hardships along the way. But if we were to live up to the challenge of Dr. King's legacy then that is what we would be called to do. And, of course, any small injustice we might suffer would be inconsequential when compared to those suffered by Dr. King himself and all the other martyrs of that dark time in our nation's history.
The boycott was a success. The next year and ever since Wake Law has had no classes on this day. And hopefully many of my fellow students who attended that rally and listened to my words and the words of the other speakers were emboldened just a bit to have the courage to speak up rather than remain silent.
That was 15 years ago. You would think that we would have seen less and less of a need to speak up as we continue to progress as a society. We have a black President for crying out loud, one who was elected with more votes than any other candidate ever received. There's talk of a post-racial America where people are truly judged on the content of their character rather than the color of their skin.
But as always the more progress we see the more the exceptions are brought to the forefront. Anyone who follows politics or even simply reads the comment section of any newspaper website knows that the hatred and injustice of the old guard racism still exists.
Of course it is one thing to hide behind the anonymity provided by a screen name on a message board or chat room and another to shamelessly air your views for all to see.
I came across the latter yesterday. One of my "friends" on Facebook, a person I know but with whom I would otherwise not socialize, posted on her status something to the effect that since she didn't celebrate MLK Day and couldn't understand why anyone would, could she send her kids to school so she could take the day off in peace. I know in her mind her garden variety ignorance and bigotry was an attempt at a joke, albeit a very unfunny one. But what followed was downright alarming. Other of her ignorant and bigoted friends posted various guffaws and agreements. But some went well beyond that. One of her friends posted the following: "I wish they had killed six more so we could have the whole week off."
To the credit of some of her "friends" there were some rebukes made toward the ignorant and the bigoted. But for the most part the others joined in. Of course all of them defended their comments and the comments of the others as not being racist. I bet they even have black friends (although they're probably "colored"). Apparently defining racism is another things they no longer cover in our public schools.
What this little example showed to me is that there still exists plenty of opportunities for us to stand up against bigotry and hatred every day. We still have opportunities to take up Dr. King's challenge and be a voice for justice every day. Apparently my former Facebook friend and her other cohorts were never faced with anyone willing to call them on their prejudice. Pity.
The only question that remains is will we take up this challenge or will we remain a silent co-conspirator? Which will you be? Which will I?
Monday, January 16, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Why Does Tim Tebow Bug Me So Much?
OK. I know this post is going to piss some people off. I'm broaching one of those subjects you're not supposed to discuss in polite company and anything that is the least bit critical of someone who professes their Christianity ad nauseum is looked down upon by the rabidly devotional, so I'm telling you up front, you might not like this post. But that's never stopped me before.
First off, let me say I actually am glad that Tim Tebow is seeing success in his NFL career. I always thought he was a very talented quarterback -- he's the only person in college football history to win the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore, for instance. I like the fact that he is a throwback type of quarterback, one who isn't afraid to run with the ball and take a hit once in a while. He's an actual "back" rather than a snap taker like so many of the wimpy prima donna quarterbacks we've seen over the years. He may not be the most graceful or the most talented athlete, but he has grit and determination and I like that. I also like the fact that he is succeeding when all the "experts" said he would never be able to play at the professional level.
So, what is it that bugs me about Tim Tebow?
You know, it isn't even that he is so expressive about his religion. His over the top reaction to a good play, what has become known as Tebowing, kneeling in prayer with his fist planted against his head, his eyes squinting to show he's praying really, really hard doesn't really bother me. Whatever. To each his own. Not my style, but if this is his way of expressing himself, so be it.
I think what it is that bugs me so much is the kind of cultish following that his on-field antics (and let's face it, they're antics no different than the Icky Shuffle or jumping into the stands in Green Bay) have received by the more fanatical religious groups in this country. Some fans have taken to wearing Tebow jerseys that have "Jesus" on the back instead of "Tebow." His wins are called "miracles." Religious fanatics have credited his wins on divine intervention. Even last week, just before Tebow embarked on one of the greatest playoff performances of any quarterback in NFL history, there were reports that a "halo" mysteriously appeared over Denver's Mile High Stadium as if God were giving His divine blessing on the Broncos leading them to their win.
Folks, let's get a grip.
Tim Tebow is not Jesus. His wins are not miracles or the result of some higher being intervening on behalf of the Broncos. God, however you see him (or don't see him as the case may be) doesn't care who wins a football game. There are simply bigger issues in the universe to deal with. His win on Sunday had a lot more to do with the Broncos offensive execution and the failed defensive game plan of the Pittsburgh Steelers than it had to do with which team had more faith.
The fanatical attention that has been brought to Tebow reminds me of what I consider the worst kind of religious discourse. That of religious supremacy. Whatever religion you belong to, I am always turned off by those who use religion as a means to both see themselves as better than someone else and in turn denigrate others. If your religion helps you deal with life's twists and turns, if it helps you be a better person, if it helps you treat others and yourself in a better way, if it helps you find peace in your life, GREAT! And really, I don't even worry if you want to help someone else find those same good things by introducing them to your religion. But if your religious beliefs are such that you simply think that you are better than me or someone else, that you are deserving of preference in society and those who are unlike you are deserving of less because of their beliefs, then I don't want anything to do with you.
Tebow reminds me of those people I have seen over the years going to Mass who make a big spectacle of their worship. Those who flail around or do the various motions of the Catholic Mass (which are pretty understated or at least are supposed to be) in an exaggerated manner, as if to show everyone else who is in attendance just how much more devoted to God they are than everyone else. I usually call these people the "Pharisees" after the religious elite in Christ's time who took such exception to the actions of Jesus because it went against the accept teachings at the time in the Jewish faith.
There's another aspect to this which is a cultural thing that a lot of my friends here in the South simply won't understand. Where I am from, religion is not something you wear on your sleeve. I can't quite explain to you how taken aback I was the first time I was asked by someone shortly after moving to North Carolina where I went to church. This is simply a question you would never ask in the North. I admit that I found the question to be quite offense and it made me deeply uncomfortable, although now I understand that it is simply a standard question that is part of normal conversation in the South and not meant in an intrusive manner, but simply as a way to endear oneself to another and possibly invite the person to your church.
Being a Catholic, although far from a traditional one, I've had fun with this concept over the years. For instance, a neighbor was having a church group over at their house for a social gathering after services one Sunday and mistakenly gave them directions to my house rather than theirs. He came over to inform me of this so I would know where to send them if they came knocking on my door. I told him we'd just take them in, tie them to a chair and convert them and then maybe we'd send them his way.
I've always believed that religion is something that doesn't have to be shouted from the hilltop, but rather would be best shown by your actions. I identify more with the hymn "They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love," rather than "Onward Christian Soldiers."
What probably bothers me the most about Tim Tebow is that he appears to be buying into his own hype. His replies to some of the very faint criticism he has received have become more overblown and more aggressive. I'm starting to think that he feels that he actually is playing on behalf of God or that his religion is bestowing on him the success that he is having. This is sad, actually. If there is one constant in sports as in life it is that no one is successful all the time. There will be times when you are up and times that you are down. Just a couple of weeks before Tebow's incredible victory against Pittsburgh, he had a game where he threw more interceptions than completions. Was this God showing disapproval? Did Timmy have one too many swears that week for him to have God on his side? Of course not. Just as his religion had nothing to do with the success he had the next week.
Look, I hope the best for Tim Tebow. Like I said, deep down I'm rooting for him. I just don't buy into all the hype and dislike all the cult like hero worship that his religious antics are causing. I hope he keeps a level head and that he learns to see success and failure as going hand in hand. Keep things in check, my brother, and remember that pride goeth before a great fall.
And no, you won't see me Tebowing any time soon.
First off, let me say I actually am glad that Tim Tebow is seeing success in his NFL career. I always thought he was a very talented quarterback -- he's the only person in college football history to win the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore, for instance. I like the fact that he is a throwback type of quarterback, one who isn't afraid to run with the ball and take a hit once in a while. He's an actual "back" rather than a snap taker like so many of the wimpy prima donna quarterbacks we've seen over the years. He may not be the most graceful or the most talented athlete, but he has grit and determination and I like that. I also like the fact that he is succeeding when all the "experts" said he would never be able to play at the professional level.
So, what is it that bugs me about Tim Tebow?
You know, it isn't even that he is so expressive about his religion. His over the top reaction to a good play, what has become known as Tebowing, kneeling in prayer with his fist planted against his head, his eyes squinting to show he's praying really, really hard doesn't really bother me. Whatever. To each his own. Not my style, but if this is his way of expressing himself, so be it.
I think what it is that bugs me so much is the kind of cultish following that his on-field antics (and let's face it, they're antics no different than the Icky Shuffle or jumping into the stands in Green Bay) have received by the more fanatical religious groups in this country. Some fans have taken to wearing Tebow jerseys that have "Jesus" on the back instead of "Tebow." His wins are called "miracles." Religious fanatics have credited his wins on divine intervention. Even last week, just before Tebow embarked on one of the greatest playoff performances of any quarterback in NFL history, there were reports that a "halo" mysteriously appeared over Denver's Mile High Stadium as if God were giving His divine blessing on the Broncos leading them to their win.
Folks, let's get a grip.
Tim Tebow is not Jesus. His wins are not miracles or the result of some higher being intervening on behalf of the Broncos. God, however you see him (or don't see him as the case may be) doesn't care who wins a football game. There are simply bigger issues in the universe to deal with. His win on Sunday had a lot more to do with the Broncos offensive execution and the failed defensive game plan of the Pittsburgh Steelers than it had to do with which team had more faith.
The fanatical attention that has been brought to Tebow reminds me of what I consider the worst kind of religious discourse. That of religious supremacy. Whatever religion you belong to, I am always turned off by those who use religion as a means to both see themselves as better than someone else and in turn denigrate others. If your religion helps you deal with life's twists and turns, if it helps you be a better person, if it helps you treat others and yourself in a better way, if it helps you find peace in your life, GREAT! And really, I don't even worry if you want to help someone else find those same good things by introducing them to your religion. But if your religious beliefs are such that you simply think that you are better than me or someone else, that you are deserving of preference in society and those who are unlike you are deserving of less because of their beliefs, then I don't want anything to do with you.
Tebow reminds me of those people I have seen over the years going to Mass who make a big spectacle of their worship. Those who flail around or do the various motions of the Catholic Mass (which are pretty understated or at least are supposed to be) in an exaggerated manner, as if to show everyone else who is in attendance just how much more devoted to God they are than everyone else. I usually call these people the "Pharisees" after the religious elite in Christ's time who took such exception to the actions of Jesus because it went against the accept teachings at the time in the Jewish faith.
There's another aspect to this which is a cultural thing that a lot of my friends here in the South simply won't understand. Where I am from, religion is not something you wear on your sleeve. I can't quite explain to you how taken aback I was the first time I was asked by someone shortly after moving to North Carolina where I went to church. This is simply a question you would never ask in the North. I admit that I found the question to be quite offense and it made me deeply uncomfortable, although now I understand that it is simply a standard question that is part of normal conversation in the South and not meant in an intrusive manner, but simply as a way to endear oneself to another and possibly invite the person to your church.
Being a Catholic, although far from a traditional one, I've had fun with this concept over the years. For instance, a neighbor was having a church group over at their house for a social gathering after services one Sunday and mistakenly gave them directions to my house rather than theirs. He came over to inform me of this so I would know where to send them if they came knocking on my door. I told him we'd just take them in, tie them to a chair and convert them and then maybe we'd send them his way.
I've always believed that religion is something that doesn't have to be shouted from the hilltop, but rather would be best shown by your actions. I identify more with the hymn "They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love," rather than "Onward Christian Soldiers."
What probably bothers me the most about Tim Tebow is that he appears to be buying into his own hype. His replies to some of the very faint criticism he has received have become more overblown and more aggressive. I'm starting to think that he feels that he actually is playing on behalf of God or that his religion is bestowing on him the success that he is having. This is sad, actually. If there is one constant in sports as in life it is that no one is successful all the time. There will be times when you are up and times that you are down. Just a couple of weeks before Tebow's incredible victory against Pittsburgh, he had a game where he threw more interceptions than completions. Was this God showing disapproval? Did Timmy have one too many swears that week for him to have God on his side? Of course not. Just as his religion had nothing to do with the success he had the next week.
Look, I hope the best for Tim Tebow. Like I said, deep down I'm rooting for him. I just don't buy into all the hype and dislike all the cult like hero worship that his religious antics are causing. I hope he keeps a level head and that he learns to see success and failure as going hand in hand. Keep things in check, my brother, and remember that pride goeth before a great fall.
And no, you won't see me Tebowing any time soon.