I am not really a Glenn Beck fan. While I do sympathize with a lot of general feelings around what is going on in the country I do think he is a bit over dramatic about some of it. But hey, that is probably why he is a big star making lots of money and I am not.
I am a firm believer though that the company you keep says a lot about you. I recently read this article in the WSJ which impressed me about the recent rally Glenn Beck helped organize in Washington.
The group has been criticized for holding the rally at the site of Martin Luther King's great speech. How are people offended at this? The statement positions the argument as if no one else has ever held a rally in the same spot after Martin Luther King’s great speech. There have been numerous rallies held in this same spot since then. Why is this one drawing criticism? Is it simply because these people don’t agree with the message? A lot of people did not agree with Martin Luther King Jr.’s message at the time either. Maybe it is the combination of the spot and being held on the same day in history. I still don’t see how it is offensive. Maybe you find it offensive simply because you disagree with the message. I don’t think the message in anyway went against Martin Luther King Jr.’s great message. One article quoted Jim Wallis, president of Sojournersojourne
r
n : a temporary resident
s magazine, as saying “We refuse to let Mr. Beck’s rally cast a dark shadow over the civil rights movement.” I don’t really understand this statement. Part of the rally even acknowledged Martin Luther King Jr., his message, and his great influence on the nation. How does honoring him and our military men and women cast a shadow over the civil rights movement? Nothing said went against the civil rights movement.
James Freeman said it well in his article.
“The day was largely devoted to expressions of gratitude for the sacrifices of U.S. soldiers, for great men of American history like the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and for God.”
Maybe you feel this is just lip service and does not match the rest of the message. I don’t see the hate and racism others say is there. Maybe I am not really listening, or maybe they are not really listening. Maybe we are just not understanding where the other is coming from.
James Freeman goes on to described the attitude of the group:
“One would not be able to find a more polite crowd at a political convention, certainly not at a professional sporting event, probably not even at an opera. In fact, judging by the behavior of the attendees following the event, you'd have a tough time finding churches in which people display more patience as others make their way to the exits.”
I am mystified at how a group described like this and who spent most their time talking about and honoring military personnel and people who have scarified for all of us, can be so easily dismissed and insulted . People have insulted this group with harsh words like:
“It's too bad God hasn't struck Glenn mute as well as blind.”
“They really are the worst of the worst.”
“These are the silly illogical whites, (like there is any other type really!)”
Really? The worst of the worst? I hope that statement is simply inanityinanity
n : total lack of meaning or ideas [syn: {senselessness}, {mindlessness},
{vacuity}, {pointlessness}]
and not reflective of where we are at in our reasoning abilities. These messages about the people at this rally are in complete contrast to each other. It is really concerning that far too often groups with different opinions are dismissed quickly with some type of inflammatoryinflammatory
adj 1: characterized or caused by inflammation; "an inflammatory
process"; "an inflammatory response"
2: arousing to action or rebellion [syn: {incendiary}, {incitive},
{instigative}, {rabble-rousing}, {seditious}]
degrading remark. The issue will not be resolved without understanding and understanding will not be achieved without listening. There are plenty of sane, logical, calm people on both sides. Lets start talking like it and stop dismissing the other group with insults and profanity.
