Smooth Patriotism. This phrase really popped out at me when reading MLK's "Beyond Vietnam" speech last night. I realize this is off track from what the discussion was today but I think the phrase sums up so well blind patriotism - making it nice and supportive and not causing friction. King said he needed to go "beyond prophesizing a smooth patriotism to the high grounds of a firm dissent based on the mandates of conscience." It would have been convenient and easy to stick with what is expected of him from all sides, but he did not. He sees in this a natural progression from the work he is already doing and seemed surprised by those who think he has gone off track. As he said, how can he tells others to go the route of non-violence and not speak out when his government is employing violence as a solution. Perhaps when put in the context of the short Civil Rights Movement (1954-1968) those people who did not like him expanding into the Peace Movement wanted him to stay within the bounds they approved of where change seemed doable (for lack of a better word) and relatively safe.
The other thing wandering in my mind today while listening to Davarian discuss the Black Power Movement is Liberation Theology. Starting late in the 1960s, early 70s perhaps it was influenced by the Black Power Movement as they both sought to go beyond the political power and understood that socioeconomic factors had to be changed in order to bring about any social inequality. And, like the Black Power Movement it went beyond national borders. Just a thought.
As usual I learned a lot today. I definitely see myself juxtaposing the Minuteman Statue and the photograph of the Black Panthers on the courthouse steps in California with their guns if I teach U.S. II again. What a great discussion!
Cindy Crohan
10th Grade U.S. History
Introduction to Law grades 10-12
Natick High School