Bushido: Movie-Novel

We build on the work of great teachers.

 Dr. Martin Luther King on the importance of "gaining the ballot"

Truth is not something that can be destroyed.

When I quote someone who spoke the truth – that truth simply is.

If I am wrong, then I will – sooner or later – pay for what I have done wrong.

Please don’t let my mistakes distract us from seeing what needs to be done.

I have quoted Malcolm X.

Benazir Bhutto.

Mohammed Ali.

Today I will quote Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior:

“…we must continue the struggle against segregation in order to speed up the coming of the inevitable.

We must continue to gain the ballot.

(emphasis added)

This is one of the basic keys to the solution of our problem. Until we gain political power through possession of the ballot we will be convenient tools of unscrupulous politicians. We must face the appalling fact that we have been betrayed by both the Democratic and Republican parties. The Democrats have betrayed us by capitulating to the whites and caprices of the Southern Dixiecrats. The Republicans have betrayed us by capitulating to the blatant hypocrisy of right wing reactionary northerners. This coalition of southern Democrats and northern right wing Republicans defeats every proposed bill on civil rights.

Until we gain the ballot and place proper public officials in office this condition will continue to exist.

(emphasis added)

We must continue to struggle through legalism and legislation. There are those who contend that integration can come only through education, for no other reason than that morals cannot be legislated. I choose, however, [to say that] it is both legislation and education. I quite agree that it is impossible to change a man’s internal feelings merely through law. But this is not the intention of the law… the law cannot make a man love – religion and education must do that – but it can control his efforts to lynch…

…Another thing we must do… is to invest our finances in the cause of freedom. Freedom has always been an expensive thing. History is a fit testimony to the fact that freedom is rarely gained without sacrifice and denial.

So we must donate large sums of money to the cause of freedom.

(emphasis added)

We can no longer complain that we do not have the money. Statistics reveal that the economic life of the Negro is rising to decisive proportions. The annual income of the American Negro is now more than 16 billion dollars, almost equal to the national income of Canada. So we are gradually becoming economically independent…

…Another thing that we must do in speeding up the coming of the new age is to develop intelligent, courageous, and dedicated leadership. This is one of the pressing needs of the hour. In this period of transition and growing social change, there is a dire need for leaders who are calm and yet positive, leaders who avoid the extremes of “hot-headedness” and “Uncle Tom-ism” The urgency of the hour calls for leaders of wise judgment and sound integrity – leaders not in love with money, but in love with justice; leaders not in love with publicity, but in love with humanity; leaders who can subject their particular egos to the greatness of the cause. To paraphrase Holland’s words:

God give us leaders!

A time like this demands strong minds, great hearts,

True faith and ready hands;

Leaders who the lust of office does not kill;

Leaders who the spoils of life cannot buy;

Leaders who possess opinions and a will;

Leaders who have honor; leaders who will not lie;

Leaders who can stand before a demagogue

And damn his treacherous flatteries without winking!

Tall leaders, sun crowned, who live above the fog

In public duty and private thinking.”

Gaining the ballot is not something that is meant only for Black Americans.

Democracy is for everyone - how could it be different than that?

The truth of Dr. King's words transcends who he was.

We all need to gain the ballot.

The last 2 elections were rigged.

If we let that happen to us again, we almost deserve what comes next.

Stay on point.

["Pay attention when I'm talking to ya, son" --> Foghorn Leghorn]

Bushido Dot Com.

Lost in the world.

Still looking forward to what is most certainly coming sooner than you think.

[And sort of curious who Holland was…]