King vs. Beck Message

Forty-six years ago Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. On this day 46 years later, Glen Beck held a rally there which many believe is a special day. I had prepared to let Mr. Beck rally be a non-event, but it was too much of a temptation to let it pass without commenting. A gathering of tens of thousands of white folks and a spattering of black folks does not make you racial tolerance. What was the message? Dr. King message spoke to the contents of one’s character and inclusion. Mr. Beck message spoke of the contents of one's fears, racial and religious intolerance and exclusion.

The Tea Party followers of Glen Beck are suffering from the Jim Jones syndrome; they‘ve drunk the cool-aide. Their main agenda is to destroy Obama presidency politically. The Tea Party may have temporarily put down their signs but not away. They will be a force for the Republican and Democratic Party in November to reckon with; and the long-term division will take years to heal in this country.