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Andy Borowitz's avatar

Now that the federal government is run by white nationalists determined to extinguish Dr. King’s legacy, it’s more important than ever that we remember him. Please consider sharing this post.

Pradnya Sikand's avatar

Thank you Andy for posting Dr King’s courageous, hopeful and affirming words. His legacy is much greater than the hateful rhetoric of our current white nationalist government. We must carry on with optimism and hope and compassion and non violence. We simply cannot let the forces of darkness prevail. 🌹

Stuyvesant Bearns's avatar

TRUMP WILL BE RELEGATED TO THE TRASH CAN OF HISTORY.

kING WILL BE HONORED FOR ALL GENERATIONS TO COME.

Betsy Groth's avatar

I think Dr King’s faith in God saw him through. I wish I shared it.

Kay-El's avatar

The GOP has always been fond of misquoting or taking MLK quotes out of context.

Post restacked.

Mark D Olson's avatar

The GOP has for a very long time been fond of misquoting anyone and everyone on the other side of their racist philosophies. When Barack Obama warned that shutting down the government would mean a lot of people wouldn't get paid, including military people, many of them in Afghanistan at the time, Mark Breitwater reported that Barack Obama didn't want to pay the military. A complete twist that spread through the church I was going to like wild fire. It's just gotten worse, me thinks.

Alice Christian's avatar

You can’t call it the GOP anymore.

Jean Jacoby's avatar

Oh yes you can. Remember Nixon and the Southern strategy? Or Reagan systematically dismantling the unions through unilateral actions and gaslighting working people? Remember trickle-down economics that never did? Pretending the grand old party of Lincoln still was? What we see today is a logical consequence of cynical politics, but also sincere people who voted R because they thought that reflected their culture of hard work, honesty, and personal responsibility. It was living in an alternate reality, not recognizing the enormous role that government played in many aspects of their supposedly rugged individual lives, and ignoring how much the scales were weighted against people whose ancestors didn't come from Europe.

Sharon Herrick's avatar

Thank you for this. This IS the logical consequence of "trickle-down" economics --and the capture of all politics by the wealthy (Epstein) class. The alternative reality you speak of sounds like so much self-delusion----not seeing reality because they don't want to. It's a choice.

RonnieRayB's avatar

The Greedy Old Pedophiles.

John Townsend's avatar

"PDP", The Petty Dictatorial Party"?

Mark D Olson's avatar

What should we call it? I hesitate using the term Grand Old Party but if you have a better name I would like to know what it is?

JerryBier's avatar

Guardians Of Pedophiles works for me, and it's accurate. Mike Johnson is the best example. What he has done to the work of Congress should be grounds for permanent removal from any public office position.

Mark D Olson's avatar

I couldn't agree more. I believe John Thune comes in at a close second. Mitch McConnell is not far down that list!

Ethang650's avatar

Ooo, snap! That is perfect

Annette's avatar

well played, Jerry!

Sandy G.'s avatar

and he's a Christian??? He'll give you a misconstrued bible quote to back any of his nefarious actions.

NEAL O'CONNOR's avatar

"Groping Old Pedophiles" would be apt. Based on the further adventures of Donald Fumbledick, the pervert protector.

Gail T's avatar
2hEdited

Maybe refer to the GOP in the past tense the party can find a way to turn itself around and actually deserve the name again? Like beginning today!!!

RonnieRayB's avatar

Greedy Old Pedophiles

Pam Reese's avatar

It’s hasn’t been the grand old party since Dumbo was wreaking havoc when he was first elected 8 years ago.

Gail T's avatar
1hEdited

It goes back farther than that... when it started using anger and hate speech against its political rivals. 1990's? Or even before? Trickle Down began with Reagan didn’t it? Maybe start there?

Stuyvesant Bearns's avatar

Yes, Trump is a moral cancer that has badly infected America.

BUT, in three years he will be gone and the cancer will slowly be eradicated.

Pam Reese's avatar

That enrages me

GingerLee's avatar

done..thank you for this....the white nationalists' virus has spread like the red tide....trying to choke out all of life except theirs.... in Dr. Kings lifetime words spread slowly around the world... in our world, words spread instantly.. that will keep us whole and strong but we must know when it is the truth and when they are lies to inflame hatred... strength in numbers

Frau Katze's avatar

Previously, Rs used “dog whistles” to appeal to racists. With Trump, it’s out in the open.

John Gregory's avatar

someone called it - even during his first term - more like a gym teacher's whistle.

Annette's avatar

Jim Jordan should know all about that.

John Townsend's avatar

--except Trump is a dog which should be put in a kennel!

Mediacool's avatar

A kennel is too good for him.

Robin Darling Young's avatar

Thank you again as always, Andy for posting the words of a prophet of hope and quoting just the right passage on this cold morning. "Look on my works ye mighty and despair". but Trump's fake reign will end in ruins. Meanwhile, defiance/hope.

Marti Brown, MSN, NP-C's avatar

Thanks for posting Dr. King’s essay. His hopeful realism is a good reminder for us today as we struggle to take back our government from the white supremacists/christian nationalists. It’s my hope that we will not just simply put things back in their past places but refine them, improve them. He is so spot on that change doesn’t just happen with the flip of a switch but rather with hard work, pain and determination. I so appreciate you Andy!

David Kunhardt's avatar

Done.

Katherine Goodman's avatar

We need to reread these words every day because we’re still living this racist reality. The problem has become increasingly acute now that we’re living in the sixth year with a racist president who won office b/c of the huge number of racist Americans

Jean Jacoby's avatar

100%. Racist and misogynistic. Double whammy. We can blame the electoral collage, but he still got 70 million Americans to vote for him--for the second time, even after his shockingly incompetent and corrupt first administration.

Ellen Harris's avatar

Lies, lies, lies, lies, lies—while twisting the knife. It is a mystery why so many fail to see the network making up the web of lies they support as it engulfs and suffocates us.

Pam Reese's avatar

I can’t just like with a heart. What you said is so true!

Myrna Lueck's avatar

Rump is a master of bait & switch. He can turn on his “charm” and lure gullible people into his web.

Mar's avatar

Yes, such a powerful message about hope and realities! Thank you so much for posting.

Amy Cain's avatar

AB, I shared your MLK Jr. post. It’s a somber holiday. Thanks for passing on his heartfelt words on this day of remembrance!

Love, Apc xxxooo

Wis's avatar

Beautiful. So poignant, insightful, hopeful and sad. Thank you for posting this essay, Andy.

Barbara Wilson Parks's avatar

So glad that you posted this today, Andy, particularly given that Trump has removed the bust of MLK from the White House. That is an egregious act by a very incompetent, low level man.

Mark Spiegel's avatar

Will do.

While the Orange Anti-Christ has often compared himself to Jesus, I find the life and works of Martin Luther King are more emblematic of His work.

Here's to a wonderful MLK Day to you, Andy. And thanks for all your good work.

Mary Gilbert's avatar

Done-shared before I knew I had your permission. Thank you for all that you stand for.

Sara Toye's avatar

Shared. Thank *you* for sharing.

Jennie Sails's avatar

Shared on FB. Thank you, Andy.

Annette's avatar

shared on Bluesky - thank you!

Al Gorythm's avatar

By canceling MLK Day as a fee free day at National Parks and substituting his own birthday in its place, Trump found a way to make orange the new black.

The Manchurian Cantaloupe needs to exercise his right to remain silent. PERMANENTLY

Annette's avatar

and Americans should protest June 14 as a fee free day at National Parks and not visit them - that's the bloated yam's birthday

John Townsend's avatar

--and be thrown pack into that melon patch!

Bill Alstrom (MA/Maine/MA)'s avatar

"White America must recognize that justice for black people cannot be achieved without radical changes in the structure of our society. The comfortable, the entrenched, the privileged cannot continue to tremble at the prospect of change in the status quo."

We're working on it Dr. King. Sadly, tragically, there is still a lot of "slavery supporting" DNA floating around the nation and oozing out of the White House. So much work to do.

Jean Behr's avatar

The work goes on.

ISOequanimity's avatar

Amen!

“THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value.“ Thomas Paine.

ISOequanimity's avatar

And here’s Thomas Paine’s postscript after we beat the British: “The times that tried men’s souls, are over—and the greatest and compleatest revolution the world ever knew is gloriously and happily accomplished.” May it be so!

Joanna Crandell's avatar

Thank you, Andy, for sharing a powerful essay that has, sadly, stood the test of time. MLK’s optimism and strength are the virtues needed in 2026.

Joan Tidwell's avatar

Andy, thank you and bless you for bringing these affirming words back to us. Dr King was killed but his message lives on.

Diana's avatar

Yes, but truth is always speaking, even when fools stifle one voice.

John Townsend's avatar

--or many ears become deaf!

djw's avatar

And the DonOld thinks his message will live on after he's gone because he's plastering his name on everything he can see, but he's too stupid to see that every thing he has touched is as mutable as he is.

If even MLK can live in hope, we have to.

Barbara Longbrook's avatar

🕊️🕊️🕊️

Katherine James's avatar

The moral arc of the universe is long but it bends toward justice.

David's avatar

But not by itself! We must fight for it!

Katherine James's avatar

We must never give up the fight

Katherine James's avatar

My favorite quote of his.

John Townsend's avatar

-but if it would only bend more quickly!

Katherine James's avatar

I hate the part where we keep faithfully working for justice in hard times where it seems to stop bending at all. Like this part.

ROSEMARY SCHLICK's avatar

My mother used to say, "The more things change, the more they stay the same." Now, I know what she meant. For every hero of the righteous that we find, we can find a monster too. our current montster seems all powerful, but In my grief, I ask, When will the righteous rise again? The current racist regime cannot cancel MLK. They just CAN'T,

MaryT's avatar

The righteous are rising NOW in my home state of Minnesota. They are literally fighting ICE with ice. The Gestapo Goons have met more than their match in Minnesotans' courage, energy, fortitude....and thermal underwear. Like our Canadian neighbors, Minnesotans are nice until the Red Line is crossed, and then it is active resistance. Our ancestors didn't survive -40 temps to have some fake-tanned bone-spurred despot order our neighbors to be shot in the streets or wholesalely hauled off in handcuffs. Uffdah, by golly gosh, nope (translation: go to hell ICE).

djw's avatar

I am *so* grateful to Minnesota!

Nancy Gold's avatar

I wish I had a pinkie, no, a toenail’s worth of this amazing man’s courage, determination, and hopefulness. Andy, hope you and everyone have a meaningful MLK Day today!

Jack Kraaz's avatar

Thank you for publishing what it is easy to forget.

Nancy Ellen's avatar

"The past is strewn with the ruins of the empires of tyranny, and each is a monument not merely to man’s blunders but to his capacity to overcome them." May these words continue to inspire us to stand up, speak out, and resist. The antidote to despair is action. We shall overcome...

Annette's avatar

deep in my heart, I do believe...

Nell Painter's avatar

I do believe that we won’t be able to move past MAGA-dom until we recognize the strength of hate, especially our foundational anti-Black hate, which has so often outweighed economic interests. Women occupy an unfortunate place in this old and ugly ideology.

Paul's avatar

quite the opposite of the life of inherited wealth and privilege of our current president...

Beth B's avatar

stolen wealth, too

Allyson Ross Davies's avatar

Thanks for this…words we needed to hear again, savor, recall…and use to bolster our own actions in these days.

Mardy High's avatar

Andy, thank you so much for this speech. My heart fills with admiration for MLK's wisdom and vision and beautiful ways of expressing truth. And I ache for the loss; how much better the world would now be if he was still in it.

Susan E Keezer's avatar

I had not planned to start my morning weeping. But reading this sent tears flowing, remembering this remarkable man whose message cannot and should not be forgotten.

It seems at times we have not progressed past 1968 although it is now 2026. However, brave Americans resist the white noise from its leaders and do the right thing. We must continue the battles Dr. King fought, not give up and keep the goals before us. Despite our current status, I still believe in America because it comprises its citizens...not its leaders.

Faye Aune's avatar

Thank you, Susan, for expressing in words what I feel this morning. Dr King's love and optimism shines through the pain. There is no logic to racism or religious hatred. Yet here we are still. Somehow, our resistance must be based on love rather than grief and anger.

Susan E Keezer's avatar

You are correct. It may be the most difficult thing in the world to not react in anger when faced with violence against those of color or those with different beliefs. I see the rise in anti-Semitism. I hear of school systems trying to obliterate slavery and the Holocaust from its history books. And I wonder.

Faye Aune's avatar

I believed deeply that we had come so far as a democratic nation in eradicating these prejudices but that was naive. The entire Trump administration has fueled the hatred and given people permission to openly express that viewpoint. I must believe that our peaceful resistance will turn this around.