Glenn Beck plans to have a rally Saturday in Washington, D.C. Like most made-for-TV events in Beck's career, this seems innocent enough.
Only problem for some is it is scheduled to be held at the same location, the Lincoln Memorial, where the Rev. Martin Luther King delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech -- and it's on the anniversary of the historic oration.
Some think that Beck is being disingenuous when he claims he wasn't aware of the anniversary of the civil- (and human-) rights speech, which is often hailed as one of the greatest speeches in American history. Beck says the location and timing of his "Restoring Honor" rally is merely coincidental. The talk-show host calls it "divine providence."
LA Times reader Michelle T commented, "Just another demonstration that Glenn Beck and his viewers are racist. How stupid does he think people are claiming that the rally being on the I Have a Dream Speech anniversary is coincidental? Claiming that it's divine intervention demonstrates he is far from being a true Christian. Christ would have had nothing to do with a hate monger like him."
"I hope he says Obama hates white people again. That would make it truly hilarious and ironic," wrote dmblum1799.
Ucvbn Bjfyuvs said, "Glenn Beck's dream is a fascist (corporatist) dictatorship."
Not everyone, however, was against the rally or the outrage. Some of their comments after the jump...
PeteMoylan wrote, "Democrats are outraged that something is taking place at the location where MLK gave a speech. Aren't these the same people that are wanting a Saudi funded victory mosque to be built at Ground Zero? I saw Chris Matthews condemning people for opposing the mosque because of its location and then the next segment he was condemning Beck for having a speech at a certain location. We see what is the most sacred to liberals."
To which reader cbdebris countered, "'Aren't these the same people that are wanting a Saudi funded victory mosque to be built at Ground Zero?' Sorry to be the bearer of bad news: the same Saudi royal who is funding the COMMUNITY CENTER blocks from Ground Zero is also the biggest shareholder in New Corp (think FOX News) after the Murdoch family.
michael g asked, "Note to the L.A. Times: We all know how abundantly Left of center you folks are, how out of touch you are with the majority of Americans. But, I do have one question: What are you gonna do when tens of thousands of Americans show up to hear Glenn and Sarah speak?? The raucous appaluse, the waving flags, the blatant patriotism. How are you going to spin it then...??"
Sister_Hairy predicts, "Here me now, BECK will announce his bid for the Presidency and really subvert Kings honor, which might or might not be a good thing."
What's your opinion? Do you think Glenn Beck is genuine when he said he didn't know that his rally would be at the same location and on the anniversary of MLK's famous speech? Do you think it matters? After all, Dr. King said near the end of that speech that he dreamed of a time when we would allow freedom to ring, "from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing..." Therefore shouldn't all people, regardless of background or political beliefs have the freedom to rally wherever they want, especially at a place known for ... freedom?
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
-- Tony Pierce
twitter.com/busblog
Photo: Glenn Beck on March 2, 2009. Credit: Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times