Chins, Snakebites and Assasinations

Last week saw the passing-on of two sporting greats Eric Bristow from the world of darts and Ray Wilkins from football (or soccer if you are reading this on the other side of the Atlantic). These sad events, not least of which because of the relatively young age of both men, created quite an impact amongst pundits and sportsmen, both current and previous. I myself heard of Eric's passing whilst watching darts, the two men on the ocke (Daryl "Superchin" Gurney and Peter "Snakebite" Wright) struggling to maintain their composure as the news was announced live to a shocked crowd of some 5,000 spectators. I was also shocked, but not by this but of another event, or should I say non-event!!

Last week, Wednesday 4th April, marked the 50th Anniversary of one of the greatest human beings ever to walk the face of the earth, ever to grace the pulpit with their presence; Reverend Dr Martin Luther King Junior. His name alone is something extraordinary; he was an Baptist minister, son of a Baptist minister - nothing extraordinary there - but if one considers the fact that at a time when African-Americans, were not just considered second-class citizens by many in the USA (especially the south) at that time, but in some cases were branded sub-human with limited intelligence, he earned his BA in Sociology, studied to become a minister at Crozer Theological Seminary, then went on to earn his doctorate in Systematic Theology at Boston University, his achievements were nothing short of sensational! Being named "Martin Luther" is also quite extraordinary, considering his championing of Civil Rights in the USA; he was as direct and significant as his namesake Martin Luther, who challenged the established church with his 39 articles. King's impact on society in the USA could be considered as significant as Martin Luther's impact on the Church; as the main spokesperson for the Albany Movement he advocated challenging the endemic and institutionalised racism of the USA through nonviolence and civil disobedience. An amazing orator whose "I have a dream speech" not only set out the agenda and objectives of the Civil Rights movements to the world,  but set the gold standard for public speaking in a powerful discourse that has been quoted, plagiarised, studied, referenced and replayed on numerous occasions over the past 50 years (although personally I prefer the "Mountain Top" speech and its prophetic nature. One could wax-lyrical about this man, whose portrait watches over me as I type this blog. This Christian man, this African-American man, this brave man, this astounding man who was assassinated on the 4th April 1968. Who didn't chuck flighted pointed pieces of metal at a target whilst downing several pints of Guinness. Who didn't kick a synthetic pigs-bladder around a field of grass whilst earning hundreds of thousands in the process. But who, following the example of his King and Saviour, paid the ultimate price for advancing the way of peace and love. In spite of all this and the significant legacy of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr, that benefitted and still benefits millions of black people around the world, are tributes to him on the anniversary of his death were somewhat silent. On a day when we should be hearing his speeches broadcast from the mountaintops, taking the opportunity to rejoice in how far the world has come, yet rue the fact that it hasn't come far enough, the UK (at least) sought to honour a professional footballer. An apparently humble, nice, generous man all the same, but only a footballer............
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Ray Wilkins, MBE
14 September 1956 - 4 April 2018
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Revd. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr
5 January 1929 - 4th April 1968

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