Drivel Starved Nation,
I try my best to keep my personal life, my beliefs, my debts, and my numerous non-fatal diseases personal. However, I must share the incredible weekend I just experienced.
Oh, I’ll get back to insulting you and the rest of the DSN later. FYI.
Warning, troublesome images lie ahead.
Several weeks ago we saw a segment on “60 Minutes” regarding a new museum. It had an immediate impact on me and I made the decision on the spot to “kidnap” my wife for a couple of days. Last Thusday morning we hopped a plane to Montgomery, Alabama. Why you ask?
To visit The National Museum of Peace and Justice and the new Legacy Museum.
The angst that is now permeating our country is nothing new. And indeed, it has been much worse. This trip reminded me how dangerous we can be to each other.
You all are smart enough to do further research on these incredibly important museums. Here are just a couple of cell phone pics to give you an idea how over 4,000 people left this world;
I had never been to Montgomery, but I was in high school in the 60’s and the Civil Rights movement was front and center when politicians were not getting assassinated or villages being napalmed in southeast Asia.
I don’t want to make this a long post, it is truly out of character for this space, but screw it, this was an amazing experience that I will make sure my children and grandchildren share before I croak.
If I were to do this again, I would add Atlanta for some fun, drive to Montgomery (it is less than 2 hours I was told) and drive back to Atlanta. Flying to Montgomery is not easy and it is expensive. This city is super clean and the people are incredibly friendly. Oh, don’t miss the Rosa Parks Museum either – it was really enlightening.
On the flight home I pondered that sometimes we have to leave our comfort zone to become well rounded, responsible voices of humanity.
My last thought was the irony that Montgomery, Alabama, arguably the epicenter of racial injustice in America, just may become the center of racial healing.
Thanks for allowing me to share this experience with you.
-John
Wow, John. Those are truly gut-wrenching images. That people would kill other people over such trivialities, just because of their skin color. I’m continually astounded at the racism in this (and presumably many other) country. I find it inexplicable, though I’m slowly learning a bit more about how it remains so pervasive. As with so many social injustices, I feel helpless to have any impact. I guess – as you did – I need to get out of my comfort zone a bit more.
Thank you for sharing this.
That was the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
Simply a terrific museum, as thought provoking as it is gut wrenching.
-John