No, Mr. Lott, MLK’s belief in “reparations for descendants of American slaves” doesn’t strike me as “surprisingly extreme.” In fact, it’s very much befitting “a man we are used to associating with peace, love, and equality.”

Mr. Lott’s articles are getting increasingly absurd. Interesting how he devoted 2 paragraphs to King’s faults and mentions in passing his role in making great strides for racial equality (something that Mr. Lott has in the past demonstrated he is very ignorant about, in “Mascot without Malice”)

First off, no one is saying that King was perfect. But people do believe that his role in the civil rights movements greatly overshadowed his faults. And I think his statement, “[i]f a city has a 30 percent Negro population, then it is logical to assume that Negroes should have at least 30 percent of the jobs in any particular company, and jobs in all categories rather than only in menial areas” does not sound “extreme” at all. If race were truly not a factor in society, then yes – that is indeed what I would logically assume as well.

From what I gather about the MLK celebration, it is not just blindly celebrating King’s cult of personality (while ignoring Washington’s). The theme of this year’s celebration if “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Yes, it commemorates King, but it is also calling attention to the ongoing struggle for social justice, with events dealing with race, gender, healthcare, the environment, diversity, etc. Maybe Mr. Lott should have taken a look here: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~mlk/calendar/

Of course, this is not to say that we shouldn’t also have a celebration for Washington. Perhaps Mr. Lott would be interested in taking the initiative? (That is, if he can do it in a way that won’t alienate most of campus).

Once again, Mr. Lott, your commentary borders on ludicrous. This article is akin to asking why there is no “white history” month while there is a black history month: EVERY OTHER MONTH IS WHITE HISTORY MONTH. George Washington gets more than the credit he deserves (being on the dollar bill, having his name known by virtually EVERY PERSON IN AMERICA, being the first president), whereas King pretty much just has this one day. As you point out, every great man—even Washington—has his vices. Your insistence on utilizing an ad hominem argument to denigrate the value of this day is simplistic and embarrassing. Good day, sir.

Let us consider the concept of reparations for descendants of those wronged. Every person in the world is a descendant of seriously wronged persons or seriously wronged themselves. Black or white or brown or yellow or green or blue or red. Every person on this earth. So go ahead, get started on the research and spend the rest of your lives deciding who is to blame for everything that has happened in history and then have court cases to determine the payments. I think that the exercise of reparations and even the thought of it is an insult to everyone involved. The idea that some payment has a relation to a serious wrong is outrageous, however if the person is still alive who was directly wronged they should have an option of requiring restitution for what has been taken from them. Otherwise for following generations it is nothing more than another “social payment” with another label. Roger, as usual is correct. The characterization of Columbus as Lenin or Hitler in a ship is an extreme one and there I have a difference of opinion with Roger for tossing him overboard without a serious hearing.

What a fine idea. Quotas by race. Dr. King was opposed to quotas by race and his most famous speech stated that point directly. Outright lies in comments are fine because the media engages in outright lies on a continuous basis, but they need to be recognized for what they are and after a few examples of it from a particular source it is time to see them and understand what it is they are trying to accomplish. Always remember that when it is a lie…the goal is a bad one….so when you see people on the left lying or people on the right lying what they are working to do is wrong. Always.

There indeed are discrepancies between the ways these two national heroes are treated on their namesake holidays. When trying to determine why this is, however, it would be wise to consider our memories. Humans are fallible and short-lived. Nobody for generations has had his or her life directly touched by Washington and his movement and actions. MLK’s movement, however, has directly touched the lives of many alive today, including (likely) college administrators who instigate and support celebrations like this one. So the reason these two heroes are hailed differently is likely due to time, not due to Dartmouth’s hypothetical left-wing pro-minority conspiracy to discriminate against white men, as Roger Lott implies in his articles.

Just look at the rhetorical gymnastics that Max J. has to perform to excuse the month-long MLK binge and the dead Washington, no holiday or even a College-wide squeak, dichotomy. No one for generations has been directly affected by George Washington’s movement and actions? As the days, months and years roll by, it is increasingly clear that a certain large, disturbing chunk of the people in this country are not fit to vote. Max J. is obviously one of them. No one is affected any more by George Washington’s movement or his actions? All MLK was doing was to perfect the Revolution that George Washington led in making it for everyone, in the fullest sense. MLK was a part of George Washington’s movement and actions. George Washington was the most important person in the Revolution as well as the founding of the country, in his movement and actions…since this nation still exists as do its founding documents, there is no intelligent way to deny that of all Americans no single one was more important than was George Washington. So, it requires a ridiculous invented argument and Max J. provides the excuse. Roger is calling attention to the deep left wing nature of the people and activities that are promoted and those that are ignored on the campus. Take an American History course, Bud.

It’s particularly shameful that Lott chose to include this part of the quote in his claim that MLK was more extreme than people realize: “jobs in all categories rather than only in menial areas.” Oh, yes, how dare Dr. King believe that African Americans should be able to be doctors and lawyers and teachers.

And gee, Roger, when can we expect your diatribe against celebrating Thomas Jefferson? If marital affairs are sufficient for you to bash Dr. Martin Luther King, surely you must be opposed to celebrating Thomas Jefferson on the 2-dollar bill, the nickel, and $100 Series EE savings bonds. Afterall, Jefferson had an affair with his slave Sally Hemmings. Why, we could even remove Jefferson from Mount Rushmore and replace him with another figure. Doesn’t need to be a polarizing figure like FDR on the left or Reagan on the right, why, we could pick someone less politically charged like Martin Van Buren!

(For the sarcasm-detecting deficient, I have no opposition to Thomas Jefferson on currency or Mount Rushmore.)

Moreover, kudos to Washington for freeing his slaves upon his death, but I’d be a lot more impressed if he had freed his slaves during his lifetime. Wisely opposed pressing the issue of slavery out of concern for the country? Bull on two levels. First, again, hard to press the issue of slavery while owning slaves. Second, for a guy who likes talking about freedom and liberty when it comes from conservative talking points, you seem cavalier when it comes to excusing the enslavement of African Americans. Founding the United States was important, but hardly more important than preventing enslavement.

Washington, King, and all figures have flaws. Nobody (except you, Roger) claims otherwise.

OH GOD. I need to stay off the D’s comments; it’s only slightly better than reading Youtube comments.

It amazes me just how much criticism Mr. Lott’s articles garner. I don’t always agree with him and sometimes his articles border on controversial, but I think it’s safe to say that this article in particular is not one of them. Lott is simply pointing out that even though some of our historical figures had major faults, we should not shy away from celebrating their achievements, especially when their achievements include helping found a nation as great as ours.

Oh and @Exasperated ‘14 1) Celebrating George Washington has nothing to do with White History; it has to do with American history. 2) G.W. gets more credit than he deserves? He his arguably the most important figure in the entirety of American history. I find it remarkable that you think that because we honor him by showing him on our currency and learning about him in grade school, we are somehow giving him too much credit. 3) There was an obvious point in Lott’s use of what you call “an ad hominem argument” which has nothing to do with denigrating the value of MLK day.

Good day, sir (or madam)

To Bobby Billy: Look up the word ‘directly’ in a dictionary and contemplate how it applies in my post above.

Possibly the reason that there’s a month-long MLK day celebration but no such thing for George Washington is that all the people that would put such a celebration on are too busy whining about another completely compatible celebration to actually organize anything.

Also: Washington Washington, Twelve stories high made of radiation. The present beware. The future beware. He’s coming, he’s coming, he’s coming.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex2hj5rLN48

Dear Bobby Billy,

Just to get it straight, MLK was interested in providing civil rights and ending discrimination for minorities, namely blacks. Our dear old friend GW wanted to avoid paying taxes so he could preserve as much of his immense fortune as possible. He was oh so morally righteous that he found it advisable to use one of the holiest days of the Christian religion to sneak up on and kill the enemy, knowing that no sane person would ever expect an attack on a day that celebrates the birth of the soldiers' lord and savior. Not that I care, I’m Jewish.

But word, Washington was a great guy.

To Max J.: Look up when Martin Luther King, Junior died. Quite a few around the campus who were “touched” byt the man directly or the movement and actions in the student body..none there, in the faculty…I would say few to none directly and ditto for the administration. Also. MLK could not have existed if it weren’t for George Washington.

The outrageous idea that the American nation "movement" hasn't touched anyone at Dartmouth looks like it may actually be true. Dartmouth is the People's Republic of Hanover, so maybe it is past time to secede from New Hampshire, like the "Movement" in Vermont to secede from the United States. Sure, Hanover could incorporate itself with Vermont then it would have the socialist representation in U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders that it so richly deserves. Look up direct hmmm..., look up the direct movement....Try to remember more of what you wrote...look up the meaning of the word movement. Other wise your idea isn't too bad other than MLK is at best an ancillary figure compared to George Washington no matter how you look at the two. That is, of course, unless you're nuts.

I don’t think it’s wrong for Mr. Lott to suggest we have a celebration for Washington. What I do take issue with is yet another example of Mr. Lott’s belittlement of anything having to do with racial equality (see his previous articles on the Dartmouth Indian mascot and the Orozco murals), despite his lip service to the contrary. It’s fine for him to want to point out the very real things Washington (and the other Founding Fathers) did for America. But in the process, he insists on denigrating MLK, which is frankly unnecessary. MLK wasn’t perfect (neither was Washington, for that matter). But for people of color (such as myself) MLK’s contributions are very real, and very direct. Without activists like him, a sizeable proportion of America would not be able to benefit from the things that Washington stood for, and the definition of “citizen” would still mean “white male.”

As for his “extreme claim” that the United States shoud provide reparations for people affected by slavery – why not? It is almost certain that while MLK was alive, former slaves still survived and their children were directly affected (economically, politically, and socially) by the legacy of slavery. Reparations were given to the survivors of Japanese internment camps – why is it ridiculous for MLK during his time to ask for reparations, especially if slavery was far more oppressive?

As Mr. Seidman says – if people are genuinely interested in putting together a Washington (and other Founding Fathers) celebration, I think people would be open and appreciative of it. The College is not some monolithic entity that has at some point in the past decided to slight Washington and deify MLK instead. But maybe just complaining in the D isn’t the most constructive solution. And preferably, someone could put together such a program without belittling another program that celebrates important milestones in the history of people of color in America.

Dear Angela,

Please read my earlier post and make a response to it or give it up. Do you read the other comments or are you oblivious or do you only respond to the columnists who don't respond in the comments? My post answered your later post conclusively and yes, for all time, so your comment had already been pre-answered. Also, Roger is all good with racial equality, in fact he supports it and wonders why Dartmouth gives a month with 26 events for MLK and nothing and no event for the most important individual in the history of the country and some make the credible argument that George Washington is the most important political figure in the history of the world. Deal with that.

Smart Synic’s comment is so stupid, his nom de plume should be revoked. MLK was interested in equal rights for all, not special rights and quotas for blacks. That’s what you are interested in. The whole civil rights movement has been hijacked by a series of people who want it given to them or taken fof them. As far as George Washington wanting to save his “enormous” fortune, that disgustingly uninformed canard has been dealt with and disposed of so many times I thought that particular lie had died. That idea of self serving on the part of the Founders was only in the sense that they knew that they and we all deserve to be free. No one, no one…who was driven by preserving their money, has ever risked their life continuously for any comparable period to what George Washington did in the Revolutionary War as well as the French and Indian Wars…no one, ever. It proves that you are clueless as to history. The only people still plying this wholesale lie are communists, socialists and a certain slice of domestic Democrats. It takes a special kind of dumb to not only believe that trash about GW, but to expose yourself as being that fundamentally ignorant. Go have a talk with anyone in the History Department who is sane. Then report back. So righteous that he attacked the Hessians….on Christmas Eve, he attacked…he who was so worried about his fortune risked his own life over and over for years including this raid on mercenaries fighting for the British, crossing a river at night in a blizzard to attack mercenaries who were occupying what we had declared to be our country. There is no doubt that Smart Synic doesn’t approve of the American Revolution, so we must ask what Revolution does he approve of…the Bolshevik Revolution? Was that one where they did it for all of the right reasons? Unfortunately there is a large proportion of the Dartmouth student body who wouldn’t know a moral if it bit them and they are biting them. I can’t wait until they are let loose on the real world with their heads full of mush.

If I were on campus I would first petition the President and the Deans for the day off on the federal holiday of President’s Day…as Washington doesn’t even have his own day anymore and begin immediately to organize a real tribute and observance in his illustrious memory. Perhaps history professors and Economics professors and students and people from the area or state could be invited to speak…an excellent meal or two could be organized and a wonderful celebration of the liberty that we continue to enjoy as a result of George Washington’s Movement would be a jumping off point for continued education on the fabulous life and career of not only George Washington but all of the founders. This part of history, our history is seriously lacking in the schools and colleges in this country and Dartmouth is participating in continuing to bury the Founders…it is time to dig them up and “dig” all the “Cool” that they did. Get it together D people!!!

If anyone is interested, one of the best speeches that was never given is Washington’s Farewell Address. Has anyone read it, or read it lately? It is one of the greatest speeches read or just written and distributed for reading at leisure that it has been my distinct pleasure to read. The Farewell Address is beautifully written and timeless. It speaks to all of us at all and any times. I recommend it to everyone and the Dartmouth campus in particular. IT would be a good assignment for the entire student body to read it and have a seminar on the substance of it during the weekend of President’s Day.