NPR has been playing documenteries and having discussions about MLK for the past few days now, and it was not until just yesterday that I found out about MLK's highly controversial stance against the Vietnam War. He only began publicly protesting against the war in the last years of his life, and it resulted in him losing support not only from most of the American public, but also from the majority of the African American population as well. (The latter of which really boggles my mind. Americans really hate communism that much?) And not only the American public, but some very powerful people (including the heads of the FBI at the time) ran smear campaigns against him and would do almost anything to take him down.
It's times like this that I really begin to buy into Nietzsche's whole overman/superman thing. How many people could continue fighting for their beliefs (or even continue believing their beliefs) when so many people not only disagree, but are malicious in their disagreement? And to continue even when you lose most of your supporters? Yes, politicians find themselves in this position more often than most, but what makes MLK's situation more unique is that the message he preached was essentially one of equal rights and non-violence. Seemingly harmless beliefs, and yet it inspired so much hate and anger.
Which, I suppose, is why he has a day dedicated to him. So here's to MLK and to all the people who are so much stronger than the average man. :)
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A quick update on my life since my last post:
- The process I've had to go through in preparation for South Africa is the most tiring thing I have ever done in my life, especially since much of it had to be completed while I was still in China. I've had to to make dozens of phone calls, send dozens of emails, made about ten visits total to three different hospitals (one of which was a local Chinese hospital), made three visits to the South African embassy, and even had to have a fingerprint criminal background check done. Oh, and my family has had to spend hundreds of dollars on medical fees, and I had to contact both Kenyon's accounting and financial aid offices multiple times and they STILL messed up my desired loan amount. x____x
- BUT in spite of all my bitching, I've had a good vacation so far. Watched Black Swan, The King's Speech, Tron, and Tangled in theatres. (Planning to see The Fighter tomorrow.) Also watched Despicable Me and the Last Exorcism of Emily Rose on DVD.
- Managed to watch some anime too. Rainbow, Kemono no Souja Erin, Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei, the Disappearance of Haruhi, and I finally started Bakemonogatari. ON THAT NOTE, I'm officially preregistered for ACen. Hopefully, I won't still be suffering from jetlag. ^^;
- Have eaten lots of sushi, Thai food, and banh mi. :DD
Also, this. I guess Changmin has been foisted with all the awkward, effeminate outfits now that Jaejoong is gone. Poor kid. :P
