What were they thinking?

MLK

Memorial

Washington D.C.

Hello September 2011

and

ohhh boy

it is starting with folks upset,

controversy

and

all sorts of stuff already!

Maya Angelou has already let her feelings and eloquent words be known about the

Martin Luther King Memorial

in

Washington DC

and

I have to tell you,

I too

find the memorial

to reflect an image of something

but

certainly NOT

a man that I remember

who has

"walked the walk along and among the people".

what were they thinking?

and once again

I have to wonder why in the world

people have committees... if this is the end result, and why in the word was

such a great man honored and the work done

by anyone other than brilliant artists

to capture a man of such beauty, such powerful humility

one who has indeed walked the walk and talked the talk with the rest of us

for civil rights and human rights

and

those of us on this soil.

nOW

it does not matter

as a dear friend

LIZZIE

has reminded me

of the color of the skin of a person

who does the sculpture

but

it does matter

the way in which the end result is

viewed..

Many will see Dr King

as

beautiful, just as he was!

A leader of great power, of beauty

and

indeed

"the head of the drumline!"

We were all marching to the beat of

the drum he carried

and more times than not

he marched to the beat of

that powerful drum

that only he could beat

for

justice!

"Is it ME?" I somehow do not think so?

BUT,

again I have to wonder

about committees

why have a committee that does not have active roles in the design, follow through and implementation for such an important thing in our Nation's Capital that will be viewed by

those who come from around the globe

to absorb its history, its sights, its glory.

and

why in the world

is

Martin being portrayed with first glance

as

"above it all"

"higher than the high"

 like a

"dictator who ruled"

in my first glance from this photo

and

separate from the people, I'm thinking.

Martin Luther King

was a man who walked with and for people

of all colors, ALL PEOPLE

never with his arms crossed to indicate

distance from those he embraced.

AND

where were those people of the committee

and

why weren't they on hand to see this through

from the first thought, from each step

and

to completion?

Maya Angelou has gone so far to say

the quote on the memorial

makes Martin look like a "twit".

Now that is saying something I think!

Maya Angelou (who I admire and just love)

is denouncing the designers of the memorial to the civil rights leader for including on its north side the words: "I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness", saying they have been taken out of context, and she is saying it with such solemness that it makes one want to

STOMP for justice

and tear the damn thing down and start over.

If you are going to honor the man

who did so much for so many

it should be done right

in my way of thinking

rather

than remind us of those statues we see

rising in the sky of dictators overseas

that are completely estranged from the people

in both their message and their fear.

Dr King was not one of those people,

he walked with us, beside us

and he

did lead us

in the March for equality, for justice

I am grateful

and

for us.

We walked through hell

and

through the streets arm in arm

for civil rights

for humanity

and

together

had a dream

and

he gave all

so that

one day...

But yet, now he will be viewed as this looming and large figure in our Nations' Capital that stands apart from the people, looking rather cocky there if you ask me, and nothing like

the man he was... and as for that quote that was taken out of context? Well, Indeed, the quotation paraphrases a passage from a sermon given by Dr King in an Atlanta church shortly before his assassination.

Eerily, he was speculating what an eulogy to him might say in the event of his dying.

"Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice," he told the congregation that day. "Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness."

So we can all see why Maya just might go to DC and scratch that memorial writing out

so that Dr King sounds less like a twit; she just might take Oprah with her and together

they may just take the whole thing down

and

start over;

have it built by those who know

Dr King walked with us regular folks

and walked with his head up

but his arms extended to others

rather than crossed with arrogance

and indications of "blocking/distance".

OR

maybe the committee will insist that

this memorial be redone

by those

who

"get it"?

By choosing not to inscribe the full quotation, the designers have done Dr King a disservice, the 83-year-old poet complained to the Washington Post. The inscription makes him "look like an arrogant twit," she said.

"He was anything but that. He was far too profound a man for that four-letter word to apply. He had no arrogance at all.

He had a humility that comes from deep inside. The 'if' clause that is left out is salient. Leaving it out changes the meaning."

Now many will say; others will ask...

Where was Maya Angelou during the building, the final says of all this? It appears she was not there, but was an advisor... as were many other strong voices that could have made a strong impact...

On that > I do not have the answer, but u can bet we will be hearing a lot more about this...

and

I sure do believe this: they (Chinese artists) hired by those here, have certainly done Martin wrong in the remembering of a man that will be seen now through many and different eyes

differently than he was... this chinese sculpture sure did NOT capture the essence of the man; that much is certain, arms crossed, stern look...

 Oh it is going to be some September I'm thinking, fall is in the air, and folks are fired up as well...

The quotation was chosen as a central inscription for the four-acre, $120 million memorial, which stands on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. But due to a last-minute (perhaps one should take their time when doing things of such magnitude?)design change, the excerpt was paraphrased and shortened in order to fit on a different side of the statue. I hope people will remember him as his was and not as he is portrayed on that monument...

We were blessed to have Dr Martin Luther King

reach out his arms of compassion, to lead, to walk beside us...

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

Maya Angelou [oh how i love me some Dr Maya Angelou]

Maya Angelou

has inspired, has touched

has walked in the hearts, souls and minds

of millions.

She is "real", she is powerful, gentle

and

most of all...

she is

a remarkable, beautiful woman.

"Thank-you Maya"

AND then again, so will the Mayor of NY as we enter in to September, 10 days away from the anniversary of a day that changed our lives and the lives of millions who have been fighting for our freedoms since... and I haven't heard anything about the Pentagon... Remember the plane also hit and forever changed lives there as well.

First responders not invited?

Well as I remember it; First Responders were not invited on that day of 9/11 either... some paid the ultimate sacrifice that day, others gave all that they had, some still paying the price of serving, all would do it again I imagine, many were not invited to return day in and day out, round the clock. Many if not all looked into the barrels of AK-47's as they entered the grounds to report; as they responded; as they attended to others; to family members, to aide...

Midnight shifts were there, uninvited then, without handshakes then from mayors, from brass...

So guess this will be no different huh? yes, it does feel differently to NOT be invited, now hearing it is because there is not room for First Responders.... perhaps some of the politicians and wives or press could give up their seats?

WE WILL NEVER FORGET

9/11

We were not invited

but

we were there.

Prayers being sent to all who served

all who showed up

and

those who have served

are

serving

to keep us safe.

Mayor of NY?

Keep your seat sir,

we do not need your invitation

we know where we were when it mattered.

STOMP

Please warriors

hold UP in your thoughts today

EE in Colorado

Dot and Suellen in Southwest VA as they are grieving the sudden death of little Tiki the 4 legged who is now running like the wind across the Rainbow Bridge.

Baby Nicolas here in Tampa who continues to fight to regain strength from his brain injury.

Shannon's brother Rod in Michigan

fighting stage IV throat Cancer now with treatment.

Jean in Northern Va recovering from spinal surgery yesterday with MRSA now in intensive care, we are with her and family in strength for the family as they wait/hope/

Our warriors here are a powerful lot,

and

we are holding you all UP.

HOLD tight to hope, faith, compassion

and

KINDNESS friends!

and

don't forget to laugh

even

if

it's at self!!!

Walk in Beauty,

The sage is fired up, on the winds...

DRSES

http://www.drsherryeshowalter.com/