by Robert Wilkinson
There are no words adequate to describe what James Earl Ray did 56 years ago today, except perhaps that dreams can in fact be assassinated. And I am reminded of a song.....
Some years this song inspires, other years it’s the saddest thing I’ve ever heard. Here’s the remarkable original live performance by the equally remarkable Dion Dimucci from November 1968 on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour of “Abraham, Martin, and John.” I also found this great duet with Dion and Aaron Neville live on Nashville Now in 1993 offering up “Abraham, Martin, and John” as well as this solo performance of ”Abraham, Martin, and John” by Dion.
1968 was truly a lousy year where good men got killed by the pawns of the grey men in the shadows for standing for an ideal. I was 17 and saw the slo-mo trainwreck unfold right before my eyes as the world spiraled into violence and chaos. When Bobby was assassinated I knew all was lost, and the Republican “madmen behind the curtain” had taken over the US. (For any right wingers coming here to take issue, don’t bother posting, since your comments won’t be published. Historical facts prove what happened.)
While "John" doesn't refer to John the Beatle, it's still a royal drag that the best of the best (including perhaps the greatest in 2000 years) all took a bullet for their service to humanity. As I wrote long ago in a song, "Why oh why can't the violent learn to stop making good people cry, and with all the questions I’ve asked myself, the one that stays with me is why....."
For more on the life and speeches of this remarkable warrior for civil and human rights, please go to A 2024 Martin Luther King Birthday Celebration
Here's what's said to be one of the greatest speeches in history. Bobby Kennedy gave a 5 minute speech for the ages in the Indianapolis ghetto, breaking the news that Martin had been shot. Listen to this. If we only had people like this in government, we'd be living in a different world. Listen to this. Bobby Kennedy Announcing the Death of Martin Luther King. 63 days later Bobby was shot by a weasel hired by Republicans to make sure the war machine was fed by Nixon. Those were miserable days.
May all sentient Beings be delivered from violence, racism, hatred, fear, poverty and injustice as soon as possible.
© Copyright 2024 Robert Wilkinson
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