Honestly, MLK Jr seemed a lot less communistic than other civil rights figures of the time. MLK Jr preached about Jesus and once said “Communism and Christianity are fundamentally incompatible”.
King was constantly labelled such because at the time the USSR and the Cold War were still the largest threat to American society and way of life and perhaps even continued life on earth, meaning it was used as a label for your enemies in the sociopolitical sphere. It didn’t help that the Russians claimed to promote equality which was a word King used often.
Now Malcom X and the Black Panthers? Those were some commie mfers. Malcom X wrote a letter directly to President Truman claiming to be such, and the BPP hardly tried to hide it either.
The Sword and the Shield by Christopher Andrew and KGB defector Vasili Mitrokhin:
King was probably the only prominent American to be the target of active measures by both the FBI and the KGB. By the mid-1960s the claims by the [Communist Party of the USA] leadership that secret Party members within King’s entourage would be able to “guide” his policies had proved to be hollow. To the Centre’s dismay, King repeatedly linked the aims of the civil rights movement not to the alleged worldwide struggle against American imperialism but to the fulfillment of the American dream and “the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.”
[…]
Having given up hope of influencing King, the Centre aimed instead at replacing him with a more radical and malleable leader. In August 1967 the Centre approved an operational plan by the deputy head of Service A, Yuri Modin, former controller of the Magnificent Five, to discredit King and his chief lieutenants by placing articles in the African press, which could then be reprinted in American newspapers, portraying King as an “Uncle Tom” who was secretly receiving government subsidies to tame the civil rights movement and prevent it threatening the Johnson administration. While leading freedom marches under the admiring glare of worldwide television, King was allegedly in close touch with the President.
Makes total sense for him to say that since at the time all of the communist powers banned religion.
I think King would be down for less authoritarian communism, but being politically active at the time he was I understand why he may not have explored that as an option
I mean I’m an atheist too, but it’s not hard to imagine why a Christian minister living in 1960 wouldn’t consider communism as compatible with their personal beliefs
They shouldn’t necessarily pay taxes, but should no longer have a special tax designation. They should be placed in the same category as other not for profit social clubs. Think groups like Shriners, Mason’s, a community operated community center.
I’m not well versed in tax law so maybe that would mean paying some property taxes. But it places them on the same level and removes many of thei special privileges
Well yes but then every church would have a different tax filing status based on its operations and scale, or in other words “they should have to pay taxes.”
Honestly, MLK Jr seemed a lot less communistic than other civil rights figures of the time. MLK Jr preached about Jesus and once said “Communism and Christianity are fundamentally incompatible”.
King was constantly labelled such because at the time the USSR and the Cold War were still the largest threat to American society and way of life and perhaps even continued life on earth, meaning it was used as a label for your enemies in the sociopolitical sphere. It didn’t help that the Russians claimed to promote equality which was a word King used often.
Now Malcom X and the Black Panthers? Those were some commie mfers. Malcom X wrote a letter directly to President Truman claiming to be such, and the BPP hardly tried to hide it either.
The Sword and the Shield by Christopher Andrew and KGB defector Vasili Mitrokhin:
Makes total sense for him to say that since at the time all of the communist powers banned religion.
I think King would be down for less authoritarian communism, but being politically active at the time he was I understand why he may not have explored that as an option
Me, an atheist in the US:
I mean I’m an atheist too, but it’s not hard to imagine why a Christian minister living in 1960 wouldn’t consider communism as compatible with their personal beliefs
I am an Athiest but I don’t want to take away the rights of others to worship. They do need to start paying taxes, though.
They shouldn’t necessarily pay taxes, but should no longer have a special tax designation. They should be placed in the same category as other not for profit social clubs. Think groups like Shriners, Mason’s, a community operated community center.
I’m not well versed in tax law so maybe that would mean paying some property taxes. But it places them on the same level and removes many of thei special privileges
Some of them sell services and merchandise. Look up Joel Scott Osteen, dude has mansions and giant “megachurches”.
I am very familiar, but pretty much everything that allows him to embezzle that much money comes special rules that apply to churches and “ministers”.
If it were a normal social club the rules would change.
Well yes but then every church would have a different tax filing status based on its operations and scale, or in other words “they should have to pay taxes.”
Differences without distinction.
Agreed, and I also don’t want them forcing their dumb bullshit into our schools or government. My post was a lame attempt at a cheeky joke.
When both the FBI and the KGB are plotting against you, you did something right, wow!