Monday, January 14, 2008

Has Anybody Here Seen My Old Friend Martin?

I've found myself thinking a lot about The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. today.

His Birthday (not the "observed" holiday, engineered to ensure long weekends for office workers, but the actual anniversary of his birth) is tomorrow, January the 15th. That makes him a Capricorn, for what it's worth.

Mr King was born in 1929. He would be turning 79 years old tomorrow, if he were alive. Let's put that in perspective for you.

Martin Luther King, were he still alive today would be Two years younger than Eartha Kitt, who is still recording music and starred in a movie with Vanessa Wiliams, which was released just a few months ago, in may 2007. Ms. Kitt's Batman Costar, Adam West, is also older than Mr. King.

First Lady Rosalyn Carter is also among Rev. King's contemporaries still among the living. Also just a few months older than King are:
  • Noam Chomsky
  • Jack Kevorkian
  • Bo Diddley
I am sure there is a joke hiding in there somewhere. Feel free to write the punchline yourself.

Just a few months younger than King are actors Ed Asner and Christopher Plummer, Architect Frank Gehry, all of whom are still working at the age of 78.

And here's the creepy one. Only 10 months younger than MLK, is "Reverend" Fred Phelps, of the "Westboro Baptist Church" which is actually not what you and I would call a Church, but is rather Mr Phelps's Private residence, where the "congregation" is mostly made up of his enormous extended family (He has 13 children, 9 of whom are not (yet) estranged from the family)

Mr. Phelps is, of course, famous for Hating, loudly and passionately, a rather large percentage of the Earth's Population. If you are not Hated by Fred Phelps, it is only because he has not yet found the time to Hate you specifically. But since he Hates (or claims that God does) the United States, Mexico, Canada, Sweden, and Ireland, as well as all Gay people, and apparently all pastors, regardless of nationality, there is a good chance that you are among the Hated.

Martin Luther King, of course, is not turning 79 tomorrow, because he was gunned down in Memphis almost 40 years ago.

Fred Phelps Still Lives.

Funny ol' World, Ain't it?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

You know, even (maybe especially) in death, Dr. King was a force for civil rights. I think his martyrdom was something of a turning point. I would never wish death on anyone, of course, I'm just sayin' there was a silver lining to that cloud.

Art said...

Fred Phelps is a festering pimple on the hairy ass of humanity.

King, on the other hand, was a great man. I wonder at how much more good he could have accomplished.

Anonymous said...

A comment on the poll:
Yay, chupacabra!! : D That may very well be my favourite monster ; )

Anonymous said...

So Noam Chompski, Jack Kevorkian, and Bo Diddly die and go to heaven. They are, of course, greeted at the gate by St. Peter, and Dr. Martin Luther King, who is assisting Peter. Dr. King has a large book in one hand, and a pen in the other and is making little notes. After a few moments of consulting, all 3 of the recently deceased are allowed entrance. As they cross the thresh-hold, they hear a cry from behind them. It is Fred Phelps, who has also just died.
"This is disgraceful!" he says, infuriated. "It seems they'll let anyone in these days!" He stomps up to the gate of heaven, which slams in his face.
"What is the meaning of this?!" he demands of Saint Peter. St. Peter merely shrugs and turns to Dr. King who, after consulting his book, says, "I'm sorry. You're not on the list."

___________________
Fred Phelps makes my skin crawl.

I had been thinkg MLK would have been older than that - I keep forgetting how young he was when he was killed : (