Yuka
Topic: Civil Rights
Title of article: MLK Memorial Inscription to Be Removed
By Brett Zongker, Time Magazine
February 10, 2012
498 words
Main Ideas
On Friday, the National Park Service announced plans to remove an inscription from Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and replace it with the full quotation from the speech “Drum Major Instinct.” Although the executive architect of the memorial, Ed Jackson Jr. proposed adding words to the beginning of the inscription instead, federal officials decided that change was necessary. Many agreed that the paraphrase, which reads, “I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness,” did not reflect King’s words accurately. The actual quote reads, “Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter.” Jackson didn’t want the inscription to be replaced, because any new granite added to the monument will not match the original granite’s color. Nevertheless, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar says, “With a monument so powerful and timeless, it is especially important that all aspects of its words, design, and meaning stay true to Dr. King’s life and legacy.” When officials consulted with the King family, King’s daughter Rev. Bernice King also agreed that correction is the right decision.
Conclusion
This article stresses the importance of making memorials, and making them well. Since memorials are meant to preserve memories, it is important that they are accurate and true to the person’s legacy. Although having the memorial look appealing is important too, many people will value the meaning in King’s words more.
I really liked how you had the quote of what is written on the Martin Luther King Jr. monument now and what they are thinking about adding. I agree with you that a person's legacy should be as true as it can possibly. This was a great article to pick! i really enjoyed reading your current event.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with the park service and Salazar that it is the right thing to do to change the inscription. From a design point of view, Jackson has a point that the aesthetic of the monument is very important to it's legacy. However it is much more important to have the inscription accurately represent Dr. Kings true words than to have the monument merely look nice.
ReplyDeleteI agree that change is in order; to chop up the words of Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech, changes the passion, and prestige of the quote altogether. Although there was conflict about the granite difference which changes the beauty in the monument, the question posed should have been why the quote was not accurately presented in the first place. It is moving to know that MLK's words and memories will never be forgotten, and the difference that he has made in the world, by using his own words, and not what the public wants them to be.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the National Park Service that a change is necessary. I think that changing the inscription to the true quotation from his "Drum Major Instinct" speech is the perfect idea. I believe that having the most accurate words from Martin Luther King Jr. is very important, since he played such an important role in American history. Although I do understand Ed Jackson Jr. point of view that he does not want to replace the inscription since the new granite would not match the old. But i think that it is more important to have Martin Luther King Jr. actual words so that people can always remember the inspiration and change that he brought to this country.
ReplyDelete