Lost dignity

Republicans took the spirit of Martin Luther King as an ally

As the November midterm congressional elections approach, political passions in the United States are heating up. The Republicans, who suffered a crushing defeat two years ago, are trying to take revenge in the wake of criticism of President Barack Obama and his fellow Democrats. Last Saturday, two public events took place in Washington, the participants of which debated each other in absentia.

The event in the center of the capital, organized by Republican Party activist and host of an opinion show on the Fox News channel Glen Beck, became more widespread and visible. At his call, tens of thousands of conservative Americans arrived in Washington in an organized manner from all over the country by bus. They called on the administration to stop spending taxpayer money uncontrollably, interfering in the economy and social sphere, and especially to stop “the destruction of socialist Obama’s health insurance system.”

The action was timed to coincide with the 47th anniversary of the famous “I Have a Dream” speech, which was delivered by US black rights activist Martin Luther King on August 28, 1963. The organizers of this event tried to make maximum use of historical memory. Glen Beck spoke from the steps of the memorial to Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president to free the country from slavery. It was from this place that Martin Luther King addressed the Americans.

Beck's lengthy speech was interspersed with recordings of King's speeches, and he himself constantly appealed to the Almighty. “Today America has begun to turn its back on God. The country has been wandering in the dark for a long time. “What is happening in the country now is beyond imagination,” the speaker said and called on his compatriots to “pray” and “restore the dignity of America.”

Speaking next was the former governor of Alaska, who competed in 2008 for the post of vice president of the United States and the likely candidate of the Republican Party in the 2012 presidential election, Sarah Palin, said: “It is with a light heart that I join you today, patriots. To those who understand that there is nowhere to retreat.” She invoked the “spirit of Marin Luther King”: “That spirit that helped civil rights activists overcome oppression, discrimination and violence, will help us too. Look around; you are not alone. You are Americans!

Meanwhile, a group of human rights activists and public figures held a street march in memory of Martin Luther King near the Lincoln Monument. “Our country is making great progress, but we still have a long way to go. The dream has not yet been achieved,” said popular Washington preacher Al Sharpton, also recalling King’s speech. He was skeptical about the Republican action on “such an important day for America” and called on the participants of his march to “be prepared for provocations” from opponents. However, things did not come to the point of clashes.

Petr ISKENDEROV