Wednesday, January 18, 2012

967 Martin and Ludwig

967 Martin and Ludwig

(Note to readers:  Since Monday, 1/16/12, I have received a pound and a half of e-mails asking where my annual Martin Luther King rant was this year.  Most said my Shrapnel reference and link to a four year old post was inadequate.  So here’s what I have to say this year, reluctantly.)

Martin Luther King, Jr. has been fossilized by a culture which doesn’t know him and doesn’t understand him.  This space regularly and annually makes two points about Dr. King:

1.  You can’t put words in his mouth or thoughts in his head and therefore anything anyone says about what “Martin would think” today is guesswork, if not wrong by definition.

2.  Dr. King preached thousands of sermons and gave thousands of speeches in his lifetime and we remember only four words of one syllable each.

That said, those are four mighty words.  Four sounds in a particular order that resonates as widely and with as many are the opening notes of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.

“I have a dream” and “da da da daaaa.” have the same rhythm.  Yet they’re just about all that’s remembered.

The Fifth is not generally considered Beethoven’s best.  But when you get past the corny and over used da da da daaa... there’s some mighty good music there.  

And when you get past the over used “I have a dream...”  there’s some mighty good vision and insight and advocacy there.

So, some day when you have the time, listen to the whole of each all the way through.  But also, you can find plenty else that Martin said.  And most of it is as timely today and as powerful as it was when he said it.


Shrapnel:

--Here’s something to remember, especially if you’re in the supermarket without your glasses:  there’s a difference between “Benefiber” and “Beneful.”  The former is a food additive and the latter is a dog food.  (What happens to your dog if you combine them in one bowl -- or to you?)

--Shame on you, GEICO, for crossing over and running what may be the most annoying  ad in television history.  This company’s advertising is usually top notch... funny, entertaining and informative.  But the one with the little piggy squealing “wee wee wee” all the way home makes you want to go out, find a Gecko and stomp on it.

--Careful what you say and believe.  There is no truth to the rumor that in the interest of transparency and clarity, Bain Capital is going to change its name to Bane Capital.  Did the guys who founded Cerberus Capital know that Cerberus is the three headed dog who stands guard (and presumably admits new comers or at least checks invitations) at the gates of hell?

Have You Noticed?  Guys who commit two murders and get two life sentences never have to serve the second one.

I’m Wes Richards. My opinions are my own but you’re welcome to them. ®
Please address comments to wesrichards@gmail.com
© WJR 2012

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