A couple of hours left. Not too late to say...

[Number23]

Happy Birthday, sir.

Your legacy and your work have inspired the entire world and its history.

MLK Biography, Nobel Prize Committee - http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html
The King Collection, Morehouse College - http://www.morehouse.edu/kingcollection/index.html
The King Center - http://www.thekingcenter.org/Default.aspx

[Fire1]

1. Ditto. n/t

[Number23]

8. Hey, did you know that you're the reason I changed my avatar to a Georgia peach?

I just remember what you said in the BOG about me "always being a Georgia peach" and I thought that was lovely so I looked for a peach avatar.

Although, now sometimes when I look at it, it looks like an orange.

[Fire1]

9. I figured as much! LOL!! I thought it was a great idea and it

looks just like a peach, so leave it alone! lol!!!:loveya:

[firedupdem]

2. Thanks...

I got ready to post something earlier, but I was sidetracked.

Happy Birthday Dr. King!

[FrenchieCat]

3. Happy Birthday......Happy Birthday to you-a!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po_A5RAadCM&feature=related

[Fire1]

4. Stevie Stevie!! Thanks Frenchie. n/t

[FrenchieCat]

5. Also.....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=388x12860

[Fire1]

6. My God! DO WE MISS HIM!! That was beautiful. n/t

[TheBigotBasher]

7. Amen.

One of the greatest of men to have ever lived.

[Number23]

11. "One of the greatest of men to have ever lived."

Simply could not agree more.

Starting college at 15?? Nobel Peace Prize at 35??? Leading a movement that morally, spiritually and legally uplifted one of the most oppressed and disenfranchised groups in this country when he was barely in his 30s?? When you look at what he achieved at such a YOUNG age, it's almost impossible to not feel woefully inadequate in comparison. :)

[quiet.american]

10. Yes! Dr. King's work, life, sacrifice and death literally changed the world I was born into.

No words can describe my admiration for his courage, wisdom, love and strength.

If you have a chance to check out his book "Strength to Love," please do.

[Number23]

12. Excellent suggestion, qa.

For anyone who's interested, I included a little blurb about Dr. King's book and a link to Amazon:

"King is also very critical of those sectors of the Christian world that have historically used the Bible and Christian theology as tools for promoting slavery, American racial segregation, and South African apartheid. Indeed, in the sermon entitled "A knock at midnight" he refers to the Christian churches' historic support of racism as one of "the shameful tragedies of history." And he is also critical of those Black churches that have reduced Christianity to either a frenzied form of "entertainment" or a snobbish social club. These are hard words that contemporary Christians need to hear and heed."

"...King's radicalism, his willingness to critique the failings of the Christian world, and his rejection of a rigidly fundamentalist style of Christianity have made him a target of ugly criticism from some more conservative Christians. (Consider, for example, author Paul McGlasson; in his 1994 book "Another Gospel" he condemns King as a "false prophet.") And I fear that others have tried to "sanitize" King's strong message. And that is why "Strength to Love" is such an important book. It is an important historical document of a critical era. And it is also a bold proposal of a Christian path that is compassionate, committed, and open to new truth."

http://www.amazon.com/Strength-Love-Martin-Luther-King/dp/0800614410

King's struggle with religion is one of the things that makes him so compelling and so fascinating. This was a man born of the church from generations of ministers and yet, he still saw the shortcomings of Christianity and yet was somehow still able to use his incredible faith in Jesus and the principles of Christianity to fight for social justice. If that type of multi-faceted thinking doesn't show how deep, insightful and brilliant he was, I don't know what will.

His faith gave him the strength to overcome incredible odds and challenges, but as his infidelity proved he was a remarkable man but still a man nonetheless. I am so in awe of him.