Those were the days: when was America greatest? When was life in the US best?

Back before the internet, back before the 24-hour news cycle, back before cable TV, back when the Evening News was only on for 15 minutes a night, back when people actually had to read a newspaper to get most of their news, back when police officers were respected public servants and not shot on site, back when the Constitution was respected by jurists, back when colleges we're not a breeding ground for wacko leftists, back when you could leave your front door and your car unlocked, back when we had no problem identifying our enemies and knew how to put fear in their hearts, back when a citizen of the United States overseas was threatened harm by a foreign government that government felt the full weight of the US Military, back when the black community had an inspirational leader like Martin Luther King, back when America was exceptional.

Dr. King said a lot of things but the most important thing he taught us was to look past color... To a world where we wouldn't be judged by the color of our skin but by the content of their character.

Whites, it must frankly be said, are not putting in a similar mass effort to reeducate themselves out of their racial ignorance. It is an aspect of their sense of superiority that the white people of America believe they have so little to learn. The reality of substantial investment to assist Negroes into the twentieth century, adjusting to Negro neighbors and genuine school integration, is still a nightmare for all too many white Americans…These are the deepest causes for contemporary abrasions between the races. Loose and easy language about equality, resonant resolutions about brotherhood fall pleasantly on the ear, but for the Negro there is a credibility gap he cannot overlook. He remembers that with each modest advance the white population promptly raises the argument that the Negro has come far enough. Each step forward accents an ever-present tendency to backlash.”

You have every right to hold narrow little hateful beliefs. But if you do, you don't get to invoke Martin Luther King.

Martin Luther King was an avowed enemy to people who think the way that you think. He doesn't belong to you. His writings, actions and words are too clear for you to whitewash him.

If you read much that Martin Luther King said... you would be horrified.

I'm very selfish when I do the assessment and all I really care about is medical advances.

Things are much better now than they were 10, 20, 50, 100 years ago - and they continue to get better.

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If I try to look at a bigger picture, I look at medicine again and social advances - and once again I'm looking at now.

giujohn wrote:

Back before the internet, back before the 24-hour news cycle, back before cable TV, back when the Evening News was only on for 15 minutes a night, back when people actually had to read a newspaper to get most of their news, back when police officers were respected public servants and not shot on site, back when the Constitution was respected by jurists, back when colleges we're not a breeding ground for wacko leftists, back when you could leave your front door and your car unlocked, back when we had no problem identifying our enemies and knew how to put fear in their hearts, back when a citizen of the United States overseas was threatened harm by a foreign government that government felt the full weight of the US Military, back when the black community had an inspirational leader like Martin Luther King, back when America was exceptional.

Could we add: Back when most people felt gratitude for being in a country that offered anyone with talent and energy to advance in their life. Back when entitlement was not a mindset of the masses. Back when "human rights" did not include the belief that everyone was to be living a life on an "even playing field," since some people are ahead of the pack since birth. Back when people understood that the societal pie is not big enough for everyone to get a humongous slice. Back when people were happy to not be living through a depression like their parents. Back when "wealth inequality" was as silly to proselytize as watching cartoons for adults. When everyone understood that Americanism was a secular religion of sorts that one didn't have to be "square" to believe in it.

I think a lot of right wing Americans hark back to the 50s not because it was better then but because it was better in America. America had a booming economy post war, had escaped any bombings and emerged from the war much better off. Europe was pretty much bankrupt, still had rationing, in many way worse than during WW2 and had to repair a bombed out infrastructure. Back in the 50s most Europeans envied the lifestyle of the average American.

Not any more. Now lifestyles aren't that much different, although Europe's healthcare is so much better than America's.

Back when most people felt gratitude for being in a country that offered anyone with talent and energy to advance in their life. Back when entitlement was not a mindset of the masses. Back when "human rights" did not include the belief that everyone was to be living a life on an "even playing field," since some people are ahead of the pack since birth. Back when people understood that the societal pie is not big enough for everyone to get a humongous slice. Back when people were happy to not be living through a depression like their parents. Back when "wealth inequality" was as silly to proselytize as watching cartoons for adults. When everyone understood that Americanism was a secular religion of sorts that one didn't have to be "square" to believe in it.

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Back when most people felt gratitude for being in a country that offered anyone with talent and energy to advance in their life. Back when entitlement was not a mindset of the masses. Back when "human rights" did not include the belief that everyone was to be living a life on an "even playing field," since some people are ahead of the pack since birth. Back when people understood that the societal pie is not big enough for everyone to get a humongous slice. Back when people were happy to not be living through a depression like their parents. Back when "wealth inequality" was as silly to proselytize as watching cartoons for adults. When everyone understood that Americanism was a secular religion of sorts that one didn't have to be "square" to believe in it.

This is simply untrue. Or, would you please give a year when you think this was the case?

Martin Luther King's movement was about wealth inequality and human rights. If the country "offered anyone with talent and energy to advance in their life" then there would have been no need for Martin Luther King or the Black lives Matter movement.

I challenge you to give me a year when you think that your words ever applied, a single year. Then we can look at the reality of what was happening at the time.