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Response to MLK Legacy Story While the January 14 cover story on Rev. Charles Elliott and George Burney gives well-deserved praise for the commitment of these two men and appreciation for their passionate work honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., it seems the article missed an opportunity to also focus on the new generation of young activists of color who are on course to transform the conversation on civil rights.
Mr. Burney wants to focus the blame on what has been conveniently called “black on black violence,” adding “the white man is not killing us.” But the truth is that our society is still dominated by systems designed by white people for white people, and people of color continue to suffer and die because of them. The writer Michael Jones paraphrases Burney that, “the problem is the disconnect between millennials and members of the Civil Rights generation.” This would have been the best opportunity for LEO to have acknowledged that the torch has been passed to a new generation of African American youth leaders and activists, angered, energized and inspired by thousands of other who have pulled together to lead a new movement. White people have also showed up in large numbers to attest that “white silence=white consent” and to join the calls for equality and an end to systems that devalue and devour people of color.
In Ferguson and nearby St. Louis, there have been nonviolent protests every day since the shooting of Michael Brown coupled with other injustices involving the killing of unarmed black men. The black- youth-led #blacklivesmatter movement has spread nationally to focus on police violence and the continued ravages of systemic racism in the United States. The significance of this new movement has not gone unnoticed by John Lewis, another giant in the Civil Rights struggle. He recently said “What is happening is not like a fire-cracker where you … make a lot of noise, and you’re gone. It’s more like a pilot light that continues to burn.”
LEO, please follow up with an article on the “next generation” of MLK’s legacy. Louisville Showing Up for Racial Justice David Horvath, Carol Kraemer, Noelle Tennis Gulden, Carla Wallace
The Ark Encounter Where are the Christians? How come they are sitting by watching the Kentucky legislators renege on their rebate incentive program offered by the state’s tourism office with Answers in Genesis’ theme park, the Ark Encounter.
If AIG doesn’t get thrown out of this agreement with Kentucky, then they are required to hire atheists and all sorts of non-Christians to work at their theme park. That’s like hiring an atheist as your head pastor. What’s wrong with you Christians in Kentucky? That wouldn’t even fly in New Jersey. There would be a flood of people in the streets before we would let that happen. AIG wouldn’t be able to give the Gospel at the Ark theme park either. What’s wrong with your Kentucky legislators? Don’t you know that AIG is a Christian organization? What do they expect?
You Kentucky Christians are looking like wimps. Stand up for yourselves. Get out there and demand that your legislators do what’s right instead of bowing to pressure by atheists groups outside your state.
We here at the Creation Science Hall of Fame are hoping that we could construct our building somewhere between the Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum. Just think of the revenue these projects will bring to the state of Kentucky. Your gas stations, lodging, stores and restaurants would be booming with tourists. Get with it, Kentucky. Do what is right and don’t be afraid to give an answer for your beliefs in our Lord.
Nick Lally, Chairman Board of Directors Creation Science Hall of Fame Tranquility, NJ
