We are, of course, amazed that our readers occasionally disagree with our brilliant and witty essays. In fact, sometimes quite a few readers think that The Outrage editors are wrong, misanthropic, idiotic, selfish, deluded, or all of the above.

Mother Outrage always told us that even the dull and the ignorant should have their say, so we've allowed space below for those dissenting opinions (and for shameless flattery).

Read the 1st set of comments about this Outrage!

Great words Straun Communications, but typical from the insensitive eyes of many white Americans now threatened by a false reality that ever oppressed minorities are now the cause for your fleeting dreams.

You see Straun, We often here America was a great nation when your founding forefathers gather in Massachusetts, New York & Philadelphia to initiate and build the Constitution even though at the same time, the atrocities of Armestad was an everyday occurrence. We often here America was the land of freedom when a whole race of Indians were simply annihilated for Americas' growth in 'God We Trust'.

Your editorial outrage is quite true in some respects to identify problems but fails like most systematic emotional pieces, to explain why & how and then suggest a realistic solution.

All the inadequacies you mention involving the Black churches, Christmas day, reverends, MLK birthday, real heroes, death count in U.S. wars, political correctness and the qualifications of Sainthood etc., are merely pomp & circumstances to illuminate the same animus, evil, bombastic emotions of historic abuse this nation has bestowed upon its own captives and there children. America is great in physical might much like Rome was and will sooner or later divide from within.

Today America wants to make the struggle of minorities her downfall instead of understanding her foundation was set on the injustices of others. Americans must understand, 'God is not Mocked', America will reap what she has sowed. That 's why today we still live in a land where special laws 'Civil Rights' must be enacted upon a Constitution of paper written 100's of years ago to cover all human rights.

Today we have too many Bigots in high places who are still networking to hold on to 'yesteryears' traditions and spoils from there tyrannical, racist and evil forefathers, instead of letting go and sharing the wealth among the children of those desecrated.

So in closing I say to you my friend, it's not about today and dreams. It's about hundreds of years of well entrenched patterns of injustices which has become the blue print of our soceity and ultimate failure.

Until we realize that, we will only look at fleeting dreams, compare our pride to poor or less powerful nations and never see own reality until we strike the iceberg. God Bless.

So how about a solution to the problem? One that doesn't alienate people who are fond of the holiday, while at the same time providing a little more balance in American life.

How about "Civil Rights Day". Yes, it doesn't go all the way in that it still makes an issue of race when a perfect world wouldn't even care, but we don't live in a perfect world. We honor two Presidents for their work in making America a free country, and we make them share a holiday.

We honor all Americans that died fighting to keep America a free country, and they share a holiday. But let us not forget that America was not a free country for all people until relatively recently.

At the very least we should honor the people of all races that worked and perhaps died to make this country equally free to people of all skin colors and genders.

Not focused on any imperfect single person, because even Washington and Lincoln weren't perfect, but rather on the group of people as a whole.

Civil Rights Day.
Think about it.

Sigh. Did the "dream" exist?

In my 48 years of being allowed to breathe, I've not seen so much hype on one person - if he is the moral icon for negro youth in the US as the mass media is force-feeding us, we are in deep trouble. Of course, Mr. Clinton is carrying on the tradition. Write me if you have found the agenda.

Bigotry does exist. See Webster's. Before stone-casting check your own geneology. My great-aunt (maternal side) and uncle (other side) spent the time to research where we came from and it's not a pretty sight.

My name indicates German and my father's side was "pure" back to the records listed to the 15th century. Right.

Add genes from mongol, slavic, turkish, celt (always wondered where the green eyes came from), and a hodge-podge from Russia. Maternal much more fun. Celt, Spanish, African,several milkmen, Hebrew; I can't cast stones. My blue-eyed, blonde ex-wife has an even more interesting heritage.

The "dream" is not black, white, or whatever fascism is politically correct. Common sense; we all live on the same mote of mud in the middle of a beautiful universe. This era of demigods should pass.

I'm not really outraged by today's topic, merely surprised that you don't know the real reason behind Martin Luther King, Jr. day: A January Federal Holiday for all federal workers (who were probably the ones to initiate the idea).

MLK just happened to be born in January. Nothing more - nothing less. The anniversary of his birth is just being used as another excuse for a 3-day weekend. Think of it as a blessing. With federal workers at home, there is less chance of them screwing up.

Having worked with hundreds of federal employees, I can only say: "Thank you, MLK, for being born in January!"

The author deserves a Pulitzer for this one !

Amen!!!

One has only to look as far as the (black men) Alan Keyes or Tony Evans to find this character that we all should be striving for.

BTW, I am a conservative WHITE person :) :)

In response to your Martin Luther King day outrage....AMEN.

I have some thing to say that me and my dad talked about last nite.In another generation people will not even know what DEC - 7 was it is almost forgotten I am sorry but PEARL HARBOR is still very important day to this country and how many people get that day off. What about all those lives did they die in vain.

Another day is VETS day the day we are suppose to thank those who fought for our freedoms that we so richly enjoy today. I have nothing against MLK but what about LINCOLN is he also to be forgotten in time it seems there will be no history past the 1960's.

It gives me solace to discover others have similar thoughts. It seems that our national days of celebration have turned into just mindless paid time off.

And those who babel the line of Political Correctness are doing nothing more than participating in and articulating Orwell's "New Speak." Thanks for saying what many of us know.

We have a dream was excellent. The only thing else I can think of is that I have a dream when people take responsibility for themselves. When they take responsibility for their children and the whole country is not turned into victims.

When mistakes do not turn into law suits. When people help one another instead of seeing one another in court.

And where people honor their word. What they say they do, the back up and teach their children to do the same.

Excellent! I have thought the same thoughts for Lo! these many years. The various comments above lead me to say that I am heartily tired of the "pre" MLK Day hype by the media and the actual 'event' when there is NOTHING in the media except plaudits for this self-avowed member of the Communist Party!

Let's give our plaudits to real Americans - unhyphenated - those who are today in a war to keep our freedoms from slipping away to nothing.

Thanks for vocalizing so aptly! Keep up the good work

An AMERICAN grandmother

Whatever MLK was or was not as a person, leaders, revolutionaries, all, must be judged by what they do. MLK was a doer.God rest his soul.

Thank you for that rage! I have long waited to see where people of all colors are free. Free from all the problems that prevent humans from being free.

We should celebrate that in our classrooms, tell that to our children. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a great man who had great dreams. At that time, black men and women were prevented from their constutional rights.

Now, in the day we look on to, all men and women, as the human race, are fighting for their freedom. We should celebrate the man and his dreams, but should all join together to realize his dreams.

Equality is what he was saying, not that thirty years down the line we should once again be fighting each other for the equality we all deserve.

Once we as a people can realize that, his dream has come true.

Bravo. I have a dream as well, that one day we can have opinions like you so elegantly stated without losing our jobs, being lynched or branded racist.

The joke is that I believe these are the real beliefs of our nation and one day we will realize that we are the majority, both as to votes and contributions, and act accordingly.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

-- Martin Luther King (1929-68), speech in Washington, August 27, 1963

From what I can see, Dr. King would not see eye to eye with the present black leadership. I would have agreed with the statement he made above. Too bad it is not applied today as it was written.

Generally, I find myself agreeing with you folks. I can even find some points of agreement with you in re: Dr. King. Specifically, being assassinated does not make him perfect. However, I think that this time you are over-reaching.

I do not think that two weaknesses in his life disqualify Dr. King from speaking out to us on moral issues.

Had one found a racist incident in his life, that would perhaps indicate hypocrisy. Sexual peccadillos and an indescretion as a student are not in the same category.

You deplore the emotionalism in his speech. For goodness sake! Who would have listened to him, to say nothing of following him, if he spoke like Al Gore? A good rousing speech is exactly what we conservatives needed from the likes of Bob Dull!

Maybe then we'd not have a philanderer for president!

Often, before people will act, their emotions must be stirred up. Consider the emotions being played upon by such as Louis Farraclown. King tried to speak to the best in us.

Returning for a moment to his failures, let me suggest you follow the words of another martyred leader: Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.

Gregg Shepherd

P.S. In case it matters, I am not "black". I do like to call myself an American.

i'm glad you stopped short of ragging mother theresa, none of the metioned icons can walk on the same ground as her about critizing blacks, amen to that you can not begin to or you will be branded a racist

An excellent article I totally agree with! I for one am getting tired of all the "hyphenated" Americans. Why can't we all simply be proud to be American?

Where can I find out more about the real life of Martin Luther King, Jr.?

I have heard over the years about his many sins, but have never actually read any good biographies about him. Does anyone have a good recommendation. I am a mclemore4@juno.com

Right on. Best OUTRAGE that I have read.

Well said Sir

You hit the nail right on the head. Basically this "holiday" isn't about M.L. King, it's about politics.

This country has forgotten what's really important in a fog of political correctness and commercialism. Everything is racial. The way I look at it there are two kinds of people in the world.

A resounding AMEN. I also have a dream. This site has fulfilled it! THANKS PEOPLE!!! oleman...

There aren't enough people with which to share this editorial. As long as we can espouse the "impossible dream" then there is hope.

profoundly critical of mr king; yet you quote j.edgar hoover, a lying, hypocritical, cowardly transvestite. i think blacks are capable of choosing their own heroes.

Right on brother! We need more Armstrong Williams, more Walter Williams, more Alan Keyes and people of their calibre, not phonies like MLK, whom J. Edgar Hoover called "the most notorious liar in the country." Keep telling it like it is, and may The Force be with you!

Amen!

While MLK's worthiness is open to debate, many of his public utterances do capture the hopeful spirit of an America now seemingly dead, though not yet buried. For that, I suppose, he's worthy of quote.

Still, as you point out, we've compressed Washington and Lincoln into one day, together will all our other presidents, we pay lip service on Memorial Day but mostly view it as the start of the summer vacation season, we haven't celebrated Veterans' Day in I don't know how long and, well, the list goes on.

It's been a long time since we celebrated what is great about America - perhaps it's time we do so again.

Thanks for a thought provoking Outrage. Despite the howls of indignation from the unthinking, it surely reflects the true thoughts of the vast - but silent - majority of our country.

I applaud your comments and I agree with them without reservation.

You are the voice of truth and reason in a land where the truth is a political liability, ethics have become a lost art, reason is nonsense and too many cultures have made self-pity their God.

I whole heartedly agree with your outrage. Its about time we had a day of honor for the average man. The men and women of this nation, black, white, red yellow and green for all I care, who go to work everyday and make this a better place or try and make this a better place to live for all Americans. The race rhetoric has got to stop if America is going to continue to succeed as a nation.

We are not black, white, red, yellow or green, we are AMERICANS! and we should live like we are the free people we claim to be.

Not the puppets and parrots of the mass media and the politicians, who use us, the average man against one another.

We are here for a higher purpose, to help one another become better people, and together become a better nation.

Many of the statements you make are right on. This day we celebrate is a complete mockery and I think that Martin Luther King Jr. would think so too.

Think about we celebrate a great civil rights leader by giving people the day of work and students, the day off of school. I think there is something sick about that.

Also, as someone else commented we are not celebrating those that came before Dr. King.

Dr. King followed somebody elses dream, and people now hopefully are continuing his work. Hopefully, your wish will come to true because I feel that is my wish too.

Martin Luther King was a great American and he is one of my heroes. It is obvious he is not one of your heroes.

What puzzles me is why you are so guarded in your negative comments on this man. I wonder what stopped you today from being crystal clear in your opinion. Come on folks, lets not hide--clarify please.

I just fell into this page and I must say you not only read my mind, you read my heart, this will be listed on my favorite list! Keep up the good work & there may, someday, be hope for us who feel the need for balance!

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. -- Martin Luther King (1929-68), speech in Washington, August 27, 1963

At one point I had memorized MLK's speech, because it did have some good points to make.

Not long ago I had a young black woman in my face (let me point out that I am white) cursing and screaming about how racist I was and that I judged her on her skin color.

(The altercation started because she tried to cut in front of me in a grocery store line and I politely said, "I was standing here first.")

I recited the above quote to her, and explained. "No, I'm judging you on your character, and you are displaying a poor one at this time." She denied the quote was real. I can't say that I'm racist, I'm not. But I am an attitudist.

I don't have time or patience for people automatically judge that I am a bad person because I am not of a "minority" race. (I beg to differ, I call myself a Celtic American, thank you very much.)

The only thing thatI can see wrong with your article about this "great holiday" is that it should have been shouted fom the roof tops a couple o months earlier.

I am not a racist and would be all in favor of honoring a few of the black greats that have truly done a great service for their country and fellowman.

For starters, how about Booker T. Washington, the geat many G.I's that never came back from the wars or that did come back all shot to hell to a country that jeered and booed them when the came back from prison camps and the minds all messed up because of what they had been through.

These are just a few of the great black people I would be happy to honor with a holiday set aside for them. Lets get real America!

Outstanding.

This has needed to be said for a long, long time.

Now, let's post it on every bulletin board in the country!

I am happy to know that someone else share the same dream! Thank you so much!

This is a real shame. Is there nothing better to write about on Earth than this? You are really scraping the bottom of the barrel, and this time, you finally hit muck. With every period, I was looking forward to hearing another stupid statement.

Are you attempting the 'sit a monkey at a typewriter' experiment? You should really improve before you only have columns once every two months and all you have to scream about is abrasive bathroom cleansers.

Powerful essay.

Welcome back to my mailbox. I missed you!

Jeff

Your commentary today was excellent. I am sending it to other family members and friends.

Thank You for your comments.
Blaine Randall

There is only one "real" reason for most of the things not happening as you "dream" and that's simply because it/they can never be allowed to happen.

Too many people (white, black, and others) will no longer have a job, power, or any real meaning in life.

Is there anyone out there who thinks that the entire industry we've built up around the "race problem" in this country will be allowed to fall apart so we can be a real "United States"?

Good article!

Finally, someone else sees it as I do. There are so many good people who do so much good, quietly, behind the scenes of life, and I am only celebrating them on this day.

A mere mortal, an immoral one at that, does not deserve my honor. Thank you for a wonderful OUTRAGE!

This OUTRAGE has got to have more truth and promise than anything you have ever done!!! Keep it up and someday we may ALL be able to realize this dream and not be made to feel like a racist whenever diaagreement comes into focus. Thanks for this forum and keep up the good work. SEE YA!

What are you advocating? The length of our holidays as a function of the honoree's contributions to the nation? A week for our war dead, a long weekend for Lincoln and an afternoon for MLK Jr?

That's just silly, MLK Jr and the civil rights movement are fully worthy of a day of honor. You guys are usually right on, but this dream is a little carried away.

Thanks for a very fair assessment of our "politically correct" cult(s). It's a direct consequence of our limited cognition, that this once free Republic is in the shape it is in today.

Of course our controlled Main(?)stream"news"-media, Liberal Teachers, left-wing politicians, both elected and/or unelected (appointed), et.al., are mostly to blame for this.

If the American Voter would be as informed about our Constitution, the Bill of Rights, not to mention our great past American History, as they are knowledgeable about every overpaid "Athlete" or non-Classical Music "Artist"(?), America would not be following in the footsteps of the former great Roman Empire.