BELOW ARE 13 LETTERS OUT OF HUNDREDS........
America who sounds like this now?
We must have an "End Game"
Peace on the streets
Peace-UP THOR
Subject: Selma article letters
To: "John Ernst" <HolyGhost13NThor@yahoo.com>
Date: Thursday, April 30, 2009, 10:30 AM
Quotes from a sampling of letters in response to the
Confrontation in Selma article in Extension magazine:
1) "My subscription to Extension ran out with this issue.
It saved me from canceling.
From now on you can get your support from the Communists,
the beatniks, the radical left kooks. That is what your rag
has degenerated into--a rag."
2) "It might have been better if some of the poeple who came
to Selma to demonstrate for the cause of the Southern Negro
had stayed at home and swept off their own door step instead
of sweeping off the door step of Selma."
3) "Those priests, nuns, ministers and rabbie, etc., who
took place in the 'march' were from out of the State, and
knew of the conditions only from the propaganda which they
had read, or heard. Those priests, nuns, and ministers who
lived in the State, and knew the conditions first hand, were
conspicous by their absence."
4) "Setting aside the fraudulent 'civil rights' issue, I
would like to inform you of 1) Over the Labor-Day weekend of
1957, at Monteagle, Tenn., at the Highlander Folk School,
Martin L. King, your 'hero,' was photographed among
Communists at a meeting. 2) Karl Pressian, a counter spy
for the FBI for 22 years charges Mr. King with belonging to
60 Communist fronts. If he is promoted by your otherwise
enjoying periodical, I will have to drop it from my
readings."
5) "I am not a segretionist. But Archbishop Toolen and many
other priests and Bishops have labored a long time in the
South. And surely they deserve the same consideration that
the northern people expect to be extended to Cardinal
Cushing. I think you know what I am talking about without
going into detail. Cardinal Cushing also told the Nuns to
stay out of the Demonstrations as did Archbishop Toolen.
Incidentally, where were the Demonstrators when the
Hungarian freedom fighters were murdered? And this is only
one example. The people of Alabama can leave their State
any time, but how can the Cuban people get out of Cuba? And
what about the voting scandles in Chicago? Is it all paper
talk? All I know is what I read in the papers."
7) "...When the flashbulbs quit popping and the crocodile
tears stop flowing for Selma, perhaps this mass hysteria
will subside. Perhaps our roving religious leaders will
return to the stark realism of true Christian principals as
practiced daily by their fellow priests and sisters. When
one of our priests places martin luther King above the
"Antiquated structures in the Church" and writres like one
just 'saved' at a revival meeting it is better that we pity
him than publish him. What has happened to the Catholic
tone of Extension?"
8)"With your two page spread on "The Significance of Selma"
in the May issue of Extensiom--the letter of approval from
Archbishop Lucey of San Antonio on "Marching Nuns"--why not
also carry the opinions of Archbishop Toolen of Mobile and
Cardinal Cushing who suggested that nuns stay in the
classroom where they belong?"
9) Re. my subscription expiring with August issue--do not
wish to renew Extension, owing to your May and June issues
carrying such fan-fare regarding "The March from Selma to
montgomery. I am a native of the state. also reared by
Mercy Sisters of the Union and Benedictines. I cannot
appreciate a sister leaving her classroom and joining in
sympathy with martin luther King and his followers. I was
taught not to take part in non-Catholic services of any
kind. Also fully think a sister belongs in her classroom or
cloister. Here in Alabama we have a bishop who has proved
what can be done for the Negro if you go at it in the right
way. Why, not visit Alabama and learn for yourself the true
facts. I may not live for the day where a bomb will explode
shocking the nation regarding the Rev. King. I agree with
Mr. Edgar hoover of the FBI where he said "King is a grand
prevaricator." I know such tactics of his cannot last too
long."
10)...the cover of a recent issue of Extension showing
Sheriff Clark, the back view of a nun, etc., was the one I
object to most of many of your recent covers. Your magazine
is no longer a religious publication, but a political one.
How do you know that nun was really and truly a nun? Did
not Cardinal Cushing recently speak to a large group of nuns
in Boston and tell them to stay home and do their duty? Go
and do likewise!"
11) How good of the Holy Spirit to relieve Sr. Mary Peter
from the tedious and taxing task of feeding the poor,
nursing the sick, and clothing the naked and motivated her
to march. The nuns I am associated with can use help, the
sisters still living are still laboring.
12) The coverage of the Selma march, and Communist inspired
riots, and disorder in my Extension were a disappointment to
me. How can a Catholic magazine print such immoral and
treacherous things. If martin luther King wants peace so
bad, why doesn't he take his gang of imposters to Moscow,
and get the Russians to stop exporting war all over the
world?"
13) "My introduction to Extension was the may issue with the
cover, "Confrontation in Selma" and the June issue. My
first reaction was whatever would the magazine have printed,
had there not been a Selma march. the praise of the
religious participants and the glorification of the victims
are beyond my comprehension..."
Cover, in color
ReplyDelete#SELMA Selma Movie #SELMA50 ... front cover mission magazine 1965, Selma in Color on cover. I saw it long ago, Dad showed it to me.. My father was a Marcher, he was not there to be a safe white journalist. He went because it was right. He went not knowing if they would beat or kill him. This point is very important, because as a Marcher those 50 miles could you imagine what he felt like, Amen. shh he hates it when I tape him.. Chef John "The Ghetto Gourmet" The fact later he used his voice to tell the world, not the point, Kings Point, BUT today. NOT the point. today it is an American Point. We did this as Americans standing for our beliefs, ready to die for what is right, "For too long good men have stood idly by as ..." M. L. King https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuwyBfE8hjA o The movie was incorrect in one part, as I recall from the picture in the front cover. The police were NOT at the END of the bridge & NIETHER were the Marchers. They were feet apart, feet apart. A picture of crossed arms, and all sorts of faiths, sisters, fathers, orthodox, Jewish, Baptist, catholic, Methodist, the white ethos of America woke and walked right to the line of fire. The pic with the men in blue shirts white and blue helmets, all the Police. It was line of people against VIOLENCE HATE, Then something happened, I don't know what but to think humanity touched that moment and the Police moved, Yes with the singing the fear the guns and dogs, the screamers. That why this is so important. Young people listen, white where there, Italians were there, Irish were there, Polish, German, negro AMERICA was there
These letters represent the view of Martin Luther Kings Thinking and a public a country in turmoil. Sound familiar?
Keep reading
Chef John aka THOR
“Selma Alabama, 1965’ a Turning Point”
ReplyDeleteI was speaking with my father Jerome Ernst, who had witnessed first hand the “Confrontation in Selma Alabama” during the height of the civil rights movement. His passion of his experience in Selma and the pride that he felt of being there and, furthermore a player at a pivotal moment in the civil rights struggle is evident as he begins telling me quotes from a Catholic magazine the Extension for which he wrote and received a journalism award. He reads the words of the people he interviewed allowing for the emotion of the interview to spill out in his voice. I’ve been kicking my self for not having a tape recorder going, for I was hearing a part of history. Even after 40 years the excitement of that day still poured forth in the telling of the event.
I asked him to send me the article which he did as well as letters he received. These caught my eye and I became engrossed in the mind set of that day. Out of thirteen letters three of these using quotes like “Why doesn’t he take his band of imposters to Moscow” accuses Dr. King of being a communist and have links to communist organizers. One even goes so far as to state that the civil rights movement is controlled by the communists. The major two issues that are discussed besides civil rights, lay with discrediting Dr. King and his supporters by tying him to communist activity, and the other revolves around the actions of priests, nuns, and/or the directives handed down by the “brass” of the Catholic church. Over half of the responses speak on the remarkable actions of priests and nuns marching side by side with Afro-American’s and the considered radical King and his supporters. My father explained how even within the Catholic Church there was argument and conflicting orders and opinion about what was happening. Archbishop Toolen, who had Selma as his local responsibility, gave strict orders that none of his parishes would march. Dad laughed at the memory and explained how priests and nuns followed his directive about not marching; instead they organized or filled other positions that were vital to the operation. Archbishop Lucey of San Antionio gave praises to the marching nuns, on the other hand Cardinal Cushing who hailed from Boston, supported the march and issues, yet not the actions of the nuns joining in the marching and putting themselves in the way of harm. Stating that “nuns stay in the class room where they belong. I found on curios letter from a nun who speaks about Sister Mary Peter marching. I find her words powerful yet, for me confusing for I cannot tell whether she commends the actions of her sister or condemns them. I do feel from her short two sentences that she is a woman who recognizes suffering and feels a spiritual calling to alleviate the pain of those who need help. The biggest squawk that compels a verbal response reflects the underlying unrest of a moral Christian community place in a struggle that is at fruition. The fact that a major established institution as the Catholic Church began its involvement in a social issue that was tearing at the moral conscience of America was a social milestone.
Thus began the first involvement of Northern White churches and their congregations in the civil rights “battle” movement. I say “battle” for things had become violent and bloody. Truth that some people don’t want to hear is that an un-seen player in the civil rights actions was white people were on the front lines. As we look back from the social conscious of today; we are incensed and confused by the voice and picture that they represent, that lay in the south. Even as we see these people were Christians and active in their Catholic Parish, their fear and resistance to change was a shadow of the social unrest that lay ever present in the South of the 60s.
THOR
"The basic ethos of a nation law raw, as the police shooting and riots of today and the society of violence. It's existence is not conducive to the health of the society of America, from Prisoners to Police and all points in Poverty black, white, ...white black.. (My buddy Ronnie... color,, guess? with not a prejudice bone in him at 12 used to hate it when I called myself a "Nigonkey" a word I coined combining "Nigger" and "Honky"; I was a confused young man. Still friends to this day, Inspiration for a song. Talking to Grandma" "A few more minutes" is what he said when he found his mom... R.I.P. Mrs. Hutchinson) and there for the world.
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