Early morning, April four...

[curtoid]

<p><em>A shot rings out in the Memphis sky</em></p><p><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/Martin-Luther-King-1964-leaning-on-a-lectern.jpg/180px-Martin-Luther-King-1964-leaning-on-a-lectern.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>While his birth date has become nationally recognized as a Federal holiday and national day of observance, there are some (particularly in the Anglican church community) who view today, the day he died,&nbsp;as a day of Dr. King's martyrdom. There are even special services planned today in connection to this.</p><p>My initial point to this is that it&nbsp;just seems odd enough to me when I hear the Pope or Mother Theressa being mentioned as &quot;Saints&quot; by the Catholic Church - contemporary figures, from my life time, now in the context of something that goes back 100s and 100s of years. Something that was ancient before this country was even founded. But that's totally me and my modern perspective; I'm sure if felt odd and old to people 100s of years ago too.</p><p>MLK being thought of as a martyr by the church is not something i had thought about, but if you follow&nbsp; his religious and non-violent legacy, you can see where the point can be made. I guess it's the political aspect of who he was that still overshadows discussions of him and his rememberances, and the fact that he was American, that made me initially scratch my head about this too - martyrs and saints happened years ago and in different lands.</p><p>I may not be on board with them, but I have a lot of admiration for people who refuse to use the Bible and religion (specifically Christianity) as something that is static - addressing the modern miracles and sacrifices that do happen today - not in some dusty or sandy Holy land 2000 years removed from our reality. It may very well be revisionistic, but to people who have faith it could also be hopeful that the Bible is a living document. It really fascinates me.</p><p>Like I said, I may not be onboard with any one particular belief system, but (unless they are attention whores from Topeka, Kansas who think they are the next Noah!) I am hesitant to just dismiss this and them - no one, from the believers to the doubters, really know for sure what happens next. </p>

[DarkHippie]

I think only Catholics have Saints and Martyrs.

[A.J.]

Wouldn't Malcolm X be a martyr too?&nbsp; Especially after his &quot;conversion&quot; after undertaking <em>al-hajj</em>?

[curtoid]

<strong>DarkHippie</strong> wrote:<br />I think only Catholics have Saints and Martyrs. <p><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font size="2">Anglicans recognize the Catholic saints and martyrs (just look at the names of the churchs), and some Catholics even consider MLK and unofficial saint,&nbsp;however it was King's relationship with the Episcopal church <font color="#000000">that have made him and this day special in many of their church calendars. </font></font></font></p><p><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">&quot;</font><font color="#000000"><font size="+0"><em><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">If physical death is the price I must pay to free my brothers and sisters&nbsp; from the permanent death of the spirit, then nothing could be more&nbsp;redemptive&quot;</font></em> </font></font></p>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by curtoid on 4-4-06 @ 11:27 AM</span>

[BoondockSaint]

That U2 lyric is wrong by the way.&nbsp; He was actually shot at 6:00 at night.

[Earlshog]

<strong>BoondockSaint</strong> wrote:<br />That U2 lyric is wrong by the way.&nbsp; He was actually shot at 6:00 at night. <p>or so they would have you believe.... </p>

[SatCam]

I thought this thread would be about Billy Staples' birfday :(