Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. day (today)

Today is a Federal holiday called "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." day, which made me wonder:

• Where did MLK get his doctorate?

 

Boston University

Visit www.state.ny.us/mlk/bio.html for further info.

 

Boston University. It was discovered after his death that he plagiarized about 1/3 of his dissertation, but the school refused to revoke the degree. You think anyone else would have gotten a free pass?

 

Re: Re: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. day (today)

Just what the hell is that supposed to mean?

 

Re: Re: Re: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. day (today)

It means that if L. Karl Ben, Jr. or Bruce Tait pulled that kind of stunt, the degree would have been revoked in a nano-second, and with good reason.

In spite of his other worthy accomplishments, the man was an academic fraud, and should have "Dr." removed from any references to him.

 

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This is an insult to say the least. This is the time that I expect "flipkid", who claimed unparalleled knowledge of black issues, to take the bull by the horns and defend that great son of America and Africa. It’s obvious that racists despise MLK today because he rejected the then status quo and fought nobly and unremittingly for true emancipation of black people in this country.

Ike Okonkwo, PhD

 

It seems certain that Martin Luther King Jr. plagiarized various sources. But he is not honored as a paragon of probity. The following response seems appropriate: http://www.unl.edu/DailyNeb.arch/Fall97/Dec/121297/stories/121297/letters.html (scroll down to the last letter on the page, starting with "This letter is a response to Mr. Harbison's guest column ...").

 

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I think that he says what he means and means what he says. There are individuals who still unashamedly effervesce strong hatred of MLK and what he stood for. I am glad that despite the fact that MLK’s exemplary life was abbreviated by a racist assassin’s bullet several decades ago, his dreams subsist.

Ike Okonkwo, PhD

 

Oh, c'mon, Dr Ike. Of course MLK Jr was a plagiarist and an academic fraud. Does that disqualify him as a national hero? Of course not. All it means is that academic stuff is pretty well detached from reality. Besides, I can think of loads of heroes from the civil rights movement who did NOT plagiarize their degrees. MLK Jr stands for them in the civic calendar, not because of his dissertational probity or lack thereof, but for a significant contribution to new knowledge (where have we all heard that phrase before?) rendered in a more consequential arena. Remember, this is secular liturgy, not a tenure committee.

But he wasn't half the preacher his daddy was. Not even close. No sir.

 

1. People who plagiarize their dissertations should have their PhD's revoked.

2. MLK plagiarized his dissertation.

3. Therefore, MLK should have had his PhD revoked.

Seems simple to me. Where's the hatred in this argument?

 

Good article. What advocates of that obnoxious idea always forget each time they insinuate that his named be stripped of the title “Dr.” is that MLK received several honorary doctorates and some of them were posthumously awarded.

Ike Okonkwo, PhD

 

I am sure Bruce can speak for himself, but I see nothing in his comments that denigrate or attempt to belittle MLK’s vision, philosophy or accomplishments. Instead, I believe it is you, Dr. Okonkwo, who is being unfair. First, you do not refute his argument that if anyone else had extensively plagiarized his or her doctorial dissertation the degree would have been revoked. What do you think your alma mater would do if it were proven that you had plagiarized your dissertation to the extent that it has been proven MLK plagiarized his? Second, you imply that Bruce’s comments are racist and selectively edit his quote in such a way as to support your implication. I, for one, believe an apology is in order.

 

I do have a minor complaint about the civic beatification of MLK Jr. It's the street signs. While it's well and good to name or rename streets after MLK Jr, when I saw a street sign in Pontiac, Michigan that had to have an extra plate affixed to it so that the entire moniker of "Doctor Martin Luther King Junior" Street or Boulevard or whatever could be posted, it occurred to me, using Fussellian analysis, that MLK Jr will really be honored and commemorated when things are just named "Martin Luther King" whatever (only in Atlanta might this cause confusion) or, even better, just "King" whatever. After all, we rarely specify which Washington or Lincoln or Eisenhower something is named for, however meritorious Grover or Andrew or John S.D. might be. We know it ain't them. The laborious use of titles is a bit banana republic, and it would be much higher class if MLK Jr's street signs, parks, schools, etc., were spared them.

 

The man has been dead for several decades. What difference does it make? He is no longer around to defend himself. He was a great preacher and a great liberation theologian. I am sure that there are other Americans that plagiarized people’s work. I am not suggesting that it is ok to steal. I am rather saying that some people focus only on that negative aspect of King's life just to create the impression that he wasn't really a great man and that is an utter nonsense. I think that MLK’s name always comes to the fore because of what stood for. No matter what is said in this forum, I will always revere his name and so will many others for whom he fought the crusade of civil rights.

Ike Okonkwo, PhD

 

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Calling me a racist? Now I know I'm right, since that's the easiest way to try to end a debate when you have no comeback. That's a cheap way out Ike, I thought more of you than that.

Back to the point at hand; What do you think should happen to someone if they're caught plagiarizing 1/3 of their dissertation? Just because MLK was black, I'm not willing to give him a free pass. I think Boston University has set a terrible example.

 

I concede that one man’s hero may be another man’s villain. Chances are that there are other fraudulent men, perhaps founding fathers of this country that are worshiped as heroes. Nobody has called any of these founding fathers a fraud despite readily information that shows that some of them made bogus claims that could not be substantiated to this day. Are there racist in this forum? Yes. Did I call Bruce a racist? No.

Ike Okonkwo, PhD

 

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No, I did not call you a racist. Please read my post again.

Plagiarism amounts to stealing of an intellectual property. If the due process of law has been exhaustively applied and the committee that reviewed his works concluded beyond all reasonable doubts that a third of MLK's work was plagiarized, the degree should be revoked. Did MLK plagiarize? The committee that reviewed his work said so. Was MLK entitled to the due process? Yes. Did MLK have the opportunity to exercise his rights of the due process? The answer is no because MLK is no longer alive and we will never hear his side of the story. I am not a lawyer but I know the due process is required before conviction can take place. If MLK were to be alive today, I am sure that the committee will like to hear what he has to say before revoking the degree. It’s like trying a dead man in a court of law.

Ike Okonkwo, PhD

 

I concede that one man’s hero may be another man’s villain. Chances are that there are other fraudulent men, perhaps founding fathers of this country that are worshiped as heroes. Nobody has called any of these founding fathers a fraud despite available information that shows that some of them made bogus claims that could not be substantiated to this day. Are there racist in this forum? Yes. Did I call Bruce a racist? No.

Ike Okonkwo, PhD

 

I beg to differ with Harris's comments...

Abraham Lincoln did give his life fighting for something. Many of the others risked theirs to fight for the country in which Harris now lives and works. He is a prototypical USA hater and it isn't worth the time to read his rantings. MLK may be a great man but he is no greater than many others.

 

Re: I beg to differ with Harris's comments...

I totally agree.

Ike