Not So REAL TV!

This blog topic has been a long time coming. First let me say I have never been a fan of reality TV, because I've always been suspicious of the percentage of "real-ness" that exists in "Reality TV." Nowadays we have reality shows that span the entire gamut of society's entertainment appetite. And, that's what network execs are attempting to satisfy; "society's entertainment appetite." We have reality shows about so-called "Real Housewives" (yeah right), all the way to a show about the best funerals. Unbelievable! How morbid and absurd! Is this society's entertainment pallet? Is this the entertainment appetite that TV execs are attempting to satisfy? I'm sure network execs would say the TV ratings would tell us yes this is exactly what is happening. The ratings for these types of shows are through the roof. And they continue to rise despite the depths of deplorable behavior and raunchiness that seems to be a fixture with most of these kinds of shows. It seems the more cat fights and the more drama that a show can muster, the higher the ratings and the more popular the cast ultimately becomes as a result.

But, my question is at whose expense? At what expense do these shows high ratings come? Who is ultimately at risk here? On the surface it would seem like pure entertainment. You can turn on one of Real Housewives of Atlanta (RHOA) to escape the doldrums of your own mundane life. But, the larger question at stake here is how real Reality TV is really, and more importantly what type of damage has been done to the various roles as well as ethnicity's portrayed on Reality TV? Shows like RHOA or Basketball Wives are supposed to portray “A Day in the Life” of Spouse A or Spouse B for whatever sports figure or athlete that they are married to. For the most part this is the case, however the life of most of these women are not realistic nor are do they exemplify the typical role of a housewife that many woman can identify with. (Well maybe that’s one reason why so many women watch the show!) They watch because they are not only physically removed (because the show is not about them) but socially removed (because many are not privy to the lifestyle that these women are portraying). However, what does bother me is how African American women behave on shows like these, because it does nothing but contribute to the stereotype that they are nothing but gold digging opportunists who prey on unsuspecting (stupider) men; who just couldn’t resist their feminine charms. You have women like Kenya Moore; former Miss USA, model/actress, who I’m told on RHOA is by far the raunchiest and ghetto-ist of all the women on the show. Oh, and by the way she is not even married and therefore not a “housewife.” So, what qualifies her for a Reality TV show like this? What kind of example is women like Ms. Moore setting for our young impressionable youth aspiring to walk in her shoes? Does she even care who’s watching? From the looks of things, she absolutely doesn’t.

What are the ramifications that these reality shows carry with them? I believe what it really boils down to is a question of "Reality vs. Reality TV," I would argue that reality TV really isn't reality. For example, the show "The SisterHood" which is supposed to chronicle the lives of 5 First Ladies who are wives of husbands that are real pastors over real ministries. However, you discover after watching the 1st episode that only 2 of the 5 women are actual First Ladies whose husbands are real pastors over real ministries. (Exactly! I was thinking the same thing.) Why would they only have two "Real First Ladies" on a show that is suppose to be about "Real First Ladies." I guess it makes too much sense. Nevertheless, on this show you are treated to all of the tawdry details of each of these "First Ladies." You see them at their "best" and you definitely see them at their "worst" (Which by the way is most of the show. LOL) So we can see the show was founded on a misleading premise, and if its starts on a shaky foundation then what kind of reality are we really trying to build here? And what continues to suffer is the church's image and credibility in our world. The church's image continues to be damaged by the its supposed "caretakers." Here's a video of the 1st Episode in its entirety.

Then you even have shows about funeral homes and shows that chronicle the lives of Gospel artists; attempting to give viewers and inside look into their lives, but unfortunately what you are left wondering is how are their lives any different than anybody else seeking to make some money, or simply to be "famous." You have some that believe showing the human component of some of these "celebrities" that we see everyday will somehow garner a greater appreciation for what they do. But, really more harm is done than good, because the focus appears to be more on their lives than the God in them, which is suppose to be the focus of their lives. It's sad when you look at Mary Mary's reality TV show and Real Housewives of Atlanta and you can't see a difference in the overall content and disposition of the so-called stars of the show. It seems in looking at the gospel artists of these reality shows, what you discover is that they want to be more like the world they were called out to lead to Christ. And, this is my real angst behind the proliferation of these types of shows, if we as Christians have been called out to be a light and to be different; according to God's Word, and yet these shows seem to only illustrate how great our desire is to be like everybody else. Our attitudes, dispositions, proclivities and the like are truly shared by everyone else. By virtue of our desire to be included in these shows, illustrates are longing to be just like everybody else.

Maybe this desire is really what is "real" in these reality shows, the desire to be famous. The desire to attain celebrity status. The desire to be special or elite, and these shows give these otherwise conspicuous people an opportunity to be noticed, an opportunity to be in the limelight if nothing but for 15mins. Interestingly enough, you got some of the more savy Reality TV stars who have parlayed their 15mins into a lucrative career for themselves. The Kim Kardashians and NeNeLeaks of our society are looked at as contemporary business women who know how to market their particular brand. And, their fame and notoriety is an example of that. No real talent, no really special gift or ability other than an "eye appeal" or an "personality" that has translated into some huge financial dividends. And, in both shows, if the desire for fame and notoriety is the real motivations of these "First Ladies" and "Gospel Artists" then I think we know all we need to know about their "ministries." So, for me the perception of these "Christian" Reality TV shows is that they are parodying and propagandizing what real ministry is, which is the collateral damage these types of shows have had on the church and everything associated with it. The result of these shows is the church is bastardized and caricatured for entertainment sake, and the real power that supposed exists within its walls is never experienced.

The question for our readers in addition to Reality TV going to far, what are some other ways that "Christian" Reality TV has effected people's perception of the church? Has it effected the way you see the church, has these shows effected the way you see those "Reality TV Stars" in other settings? Do you think "Christian" Reality TV is benefiting or harming the overall perception of the church as well as anything associated with it(i.e. gospel music, pastors, first ladies, etc.)?

Would love to get your thoughts and opinions.

Be Blessed

Michael S. Nimmons
CEO/President Michael Nimmons Ministries, Inc.
www.michaelnimmons.com

"WE ARE TRAYVON MARTIN"

Trayvon Martin

This is an article Pastor Nimmons wrote for the April edition of the Greater Grace Temple Newsletter regarding the case surrounding the death of slain teen Trayvon Martin.

 

It seems that the spirit of violence has encapsulated not just the city of Detroit but the entire country. Everywhere we look there appears to be some more news about a violent altercation or event that’s taken place in one of our cities across this country. Recently, the nation and even the world has come together in support of the family of slain teenager Trayvon Martin, who was tragically killed by self-proclaimed neighborhood watchmen “George Zimmerman” for simply looking “suspicious.” Trayvon was shot and killed inside a gated community in Sanford Florida by Zimmerman; who has yet to be arrested, because of the State of Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law. Protest and demonstrations have taken place all across the country, in hopes of shedding more light on this case and ultimately bringing Zimmerman to justice. 

Abreya Jones & Ashely Brown; two Hamtramck women recently killed

 This case hits home in so many ways and for so many people, as we see this spirit of violence plaguing our city.  During a rally for Trayvon Martin in this past Monday, people dawned hoodies and held picket signs demonstrating and protesting this senseless killing. Some also spoke out about the recent homicides and murders in our city. What about the Bianca Jones, or the two women who were killed in Hamtramck, along with countless others. While it is easy to separate and segment each of these crimes by location and circumstance, there are more things that tie them together than what separates them. If we want this violence to end, we can no longer see this as a Detroit problem or a Sanford problem, but this is a people problem. And, ultimately when we cry out for Trayvon, we are also crying out for the hundreds and thousands of young people that are loosing their lives everyday around this country. John Donne said it best, “No man is an island entire of himself, every man is apart of the continent, apart of the main. If a man dies it diminishes me for I am involved with mankind. So, never send to know for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee.”

All of us are affected by the loss of even one life, and not knowing someone shouldn’t preclude us from empathizing with their personal pain and struggles. At the end of day we all are human, regardless of race creed or color. At the end of day, we all ARE TRAYVON MARTIN!

THE EXCORCISM OF NICKI MINAJ

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I have debated back and forth about whether I should write a post regarding Nicki Minaj's Grammy performance, primarily because it was so outrageously blasphemous that I believed the average person didn't need convincing. In fact, during her performance as well as several days later people were still talking about how sacrilegious and utterly profane it was. If you missed her performance, feel free to click on the video player at the top of the blog to see for yourself. However, BE WARNED, you are clicking this button at your own risk.  What prompted me to write this blog is again the growing boldness and the audacity for which the music industry continues to target the church as the subject of their blasphemous antics.Here again, is prima-facia evidence of the music industry using one of its biggest stages to take aim at the church as well Christians across the globe.

Nicki Minaj's Grammy debut was entitled, "The Exorcism of Roman." And, for those who don't know who Roman is, it is Nicki's alter ego. Which as she describes is her rougher, tougher personality that "likes to fight." Here she is giving a more detailed description of her alter ego "Roman."



We've seen an increasing number of celebrities mention their "alter egos." Beyonce had "Sasha Fierce" even though, recently, she claims to have "killed" Sasha Fierce because she really didn't need her any longer. Beyonce went on to indicate that her two personalities seemed to have "merged."Lady Gaga channeled her male alter ego "Jo Calderone" in the 2011 MTV VMA's. Is this becoming a trend? Where artists are introducing the world to an alternate personality to give people a closer look at another side of themselves, or is there something far more sinister going on? I tend the believe the latter is true, what Hollywood is calling "Alter Egos" I call "Demon Possessed." There is absolutely no other rational way to analyze this irrational behavior. What's also interesting about these "alter egos" is; at least for Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj, they both are male. Why is that? What message are they trying to send to their millions of impressionable fans out there? That gender is a matter of choice rather than it being purely biological. Even though, the Gay and Lesbian movement wants you to believe that sexual preference is indeed biological or a result of a chemical imbalance in their DNA, forcing a person to prefer one sex over another. However, this couldn't be any further from the truth. But, it seems with the appearance of these 2 male alter egos, that the over-arching message is that gender is relative. And, a person is free to choose what gender that want to be, instead of that being decided by the one who created us in the first place; God. Sending an even more confusing message to the young impressionable children that follow these artists, that it's ok to want to be a boy if you are a girl, or to desire to be a girl if you are a boy.

Nicki Minaj

But, I digress. Now to her performance, which was loosely based on the movie "The Exorcist." After seeing it performed live, you couldn't help but feel confused and at the same time upset with the boldness and the audacity with which the church of God continues to be targeted by the music industry. The Catholic Church has already expressed their displeasure with Ms. Minaj's performance, as it included a pseudo Pope, a priest along with several other references to the Catholic Church. Even some of her own fans took to social networks like "Twitter" and "Facebook" to express their displeasure with her performance. Her performance was being "billed" as something we have never seen before, which raised some viewers expectations of what they were about to see. While my expectations were lowered even the more, because that is usually code for a more edgy, irreverent, raunchy and profane display. And, I was not disappointed from that perspective. There was a mixture of live and recorded moments during the performance that added to the dramatic presentation.  And, Nicki acted as well as rapped during her Grammy debut. There was even a scene where she crawled up a wall, reminiscent of "The Exorcist" movie.

Then of course, there were the occult as well as Illuminati images and references made during the performance that continued to beg the question of what is really going on here? At one point Nicki was handcuffed to an elevated gurney, where she seemed to have been taken captive. Surrounded by robed dancers; who appeared to be her captives, in what seemed to be a church like setting. She's ultimately released and amidst simulated sexual acts with these priest-like figures, Nicki is now becoming entranced by her captives. And, if you've ever read any of the blogs from the Vigilant Citizen, you will know and understand how all of this appears to be apart of a greater message concerning the inner workings of the music industry. This elaborate staging and special effects, was really a way to demonstrate to those on the outside looking in just how sinister and evil the industry-itself is. And, what you have to become to achieve the heights of success and fame that is the prize of every aspiring artists. There are really two (2) ways to look at Nicki Minaj's performance. On one hand it could be viewed as a celebration or a tribute of sorts; a dark and sinister ceremony which seems to be the rite of passage for every artists seeking fame and notoriety. And, on the other hand it offers great insight into the world of music and celebrity that the average fan may never see. One that should be extremely "eye-opening" and revealing; providing valuable information to those who look at the exterior profiles of these celebrities and want to be so much like them. A word of warning to those who are reading this with a strong sense of skepticism, if nothing else her performance should have at least shown us the line of demarcation between the world and the church. Her performance speaks volumes about what the music industry thinks of the church. And, it not very much at all!

In light of all of this, how did seeing Nicki Minaj's Grammy performance make you feel? Personally, I'm not as upset with her as I am with the real purveyors of these blasphemous messages; who remain nameless, faceless puppet masters controlling the puppets of the industry from behind the scenes. Ms. Minaj, is indeed a puppet that is being used because of her willingness to be used.  She, like many of the other puppets of the Entertainment industry have been coerced into submission, because of their strong desires for wealth, fame and notoriety. An artist willingness to do anything to fulfill these desires is the fuel that drives the puppet masters of the industry to use these unbridled desires to entice their unsuspecting puppets to promote their sinister agenda. So, for me while watching artist like Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga, Rick Ross, Jay-Z, Beyonce and many others perform; their performances are just answers to the question of how much am I willing to do to show how committed am I to the agenda of those responsible for my new found success. At the end of the day, how much is success worth? Is it worth my continued exploitation, or more importantly is it worth my soul?

Your thoughts?


Pastor Nimmons

"Who Told You Were Naked?"

Here is some morning inspiration from #PSTRNIMMONSTV to get your day started off right!

Be Blessed!

Pastor Nimmons

The Walk of Shame

Head Coach of Penn State Joe Paterno fired

The past few days have been very sad to say the least for the Penn State Football program. Mired in scandal and controversy, the news surrounding this case has sent the entire country reeling and rocking. This scandal stinks on some many different levels we find it hard to grasp and really don't know where to begin. When the news broke about the reports of child molestation by a former defensive coach of the Penn State Football program, we were shocked and mortified by it. And, as the horrific details of the story begin to unfold, it seemed very hard for us to believe and even understand.  A 10 yr old boy being sodomized by former defensive coordinator Gerald Sandusky and then Grad Asst ( at the time) Michael Queary walking in on this horrific scene; who after seeing this grotesque display of molestation, called his father and then reported to his boss, now former Penn State Coach- Joe Paterno. How about calling the police? Why not intervene and stop Sandusky from violating this 10yr old in this horrific way. So many questions.

Since the details of this event has come out, countless others have come out as well. And, what is most disturbing is that Joe Paterno; probably the most revered and respected football coach in America, did very little in correcting things, or maybe he believed what he was doing was actually that? No one really knows. But, now this Hall of Fame Coach of this storied program on last night had to begin the walk of shame away from a life that he has known for over 7 decades. Next to Grambling Coach Eddie Robinson, Joe Paterno is the winningest Coach in College Football with 409 wins. Amazing. And, it seemed like he was at a point in his career where he could exit on his on turns. In fact, he was planning to do exactly that, as of early Wednesday, Joe Paterno was going to retire as the Penn State Head Football Coach at season's end. But, amid this current scandal and controversy the Board of Trustees voted on yesterday to fire this head coach immediately as well as the University President Graham Spanier. Two of the universities more powerful men, who used their power and influence to cover a molestation scandal that has rocked us to the core of moral being.  What a sad day for Penn State, what a sad day for America.

I echo the sentiments of my friend and journalist for ESPN, Jemelle Hill (@Jemelehill) in her column this morning that "this is a justified end for Joe Paterno" seemingly harsh words for such a well respected sports figure, and yet very appropriate given all that has come out regarding this scandal and the immense cover-up. How could he let this type of activity go on at a university that he basically run as one of the most powerful mean on campus. This is the lingering question that we may never have the answer for. We initially help Joe Pa; as he was affectionately called, in the highest esteemed, and believed that if confronted with this time of situation, would respond as any right thinking adult would and should. Alert the authorities of this matter, notified the University President of what was going on, confronted Sandusky with the allegations and completely removed this pervert from the university and its student population until this investigation was completed or for good, if found guilty. But, what we discovered was that no such thing was done. In fact, Joe Paterno openingly admitted to having not done enough. He said, "this is a tragedy it is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more." An open admission of guilt on the part of the man who morally participated as a co-conspirator in the perpetuation of another man's evil deeds. Dr. King said, "our lives began to end the day we become silent on things that matter." And, he went on to say, "there comes a time where silence is betrayal." And, in a real sense Joe Paterno betrayed the trust of those young boys with his silence. By not speaking up and out about what was going on at his school, in his football program, was the ultimate betrayal. And, this is why he was forced to take the walk of shame. This is not how we envisioned Joe Paterno's exit from college football; this is not how anyone believed he would leave the game that he loved. And, yet this seems to be a "justified end" for former head coach Joe Paterno.

Our continued thoughts and prayers are with the families of the effected young boys. And, we pray that the all responsible parties are ultimately brought to justice.

Your thoughts?


Pastor Michael S. Nimmons

I AM TROY DAVIS

Troy Davis

I'm sure you have seen this picture everywhere within the last 24-48hrs. This man-Troy Davis, who was known to some, but it seemed entire world became acquainted with on yesterday as we waited with baited breath for a stay of execution from our nation's highest court. I must admit I didn't know much about Troy Davis before yesterday. I am not an activist by any means, but somehow on yesterday I-like many of you became engaged in this man's life as if he were one of my relatives. His life seem to galvanize an entire generation of young and old, black & white, rich & poor, Democrat, & Republican.I felt just as close to him as those hundreds of people standing outside of the Georgia State Prison hoping and praying for a stay of execution on this man's behalf. The marvelous things about this was how fast the world became acquainted with Troy Davis' plight and how deeply it seemed to effect us all when we heard that his final appeal to the highest court in the nation was denied.

I must admit throughout the day as I was keeping up with what was going on via Twitter & Facebook (mostly Twitter @PSTRNIMMONSTV), I truly believed that at some point we would hear good news that another stay of execution was granted or even that his execution was commuted or absolved, because of a lack of evidence, or because of 7 out of 9 witnesses recanting their testimony or because of no weapon was ever found...you know because of the truth eventually coming out. And, not just because of those facts about the case, but because of the overwhelming support that this man had received not just from the community of his peers, but from the more influential people of our country and even the world. From Nobel Peace Prize Winner-Desmond Tutu, to Pope Benedict XV. Former President Jimmy Carter also weighed in on the fate of this young man, and believed his case deserved a closer look. On twitter, the likes of notables such as Russell Simmons (@UncleRush), Big Boi  of Outkast (@BigBoi), Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian), James Fortune (@MrJamesFortune) and others voice their concerned for the possible execution of what appeared to be an innocent man. How could this unconscionable act be committed in a country founded on the principles of innocent until proven guilty? And, yet it seemed that there was a conscious effort at every level of law enforcement to sign this man's death certificate without any care or concern for the ramifications of killing an innocent man.

After bible class last night I rushed home to watch the developing story on CNN as it continued to unfold. Protesters were outside of the prison in Georgia and outside of the Supreme Court in Washington until the wee hours of the morning in disbelief of what had taken place. My heart went out to Troy Davis' family, again not knowing them, but empathizing and sympathizing with them regarding their unfortunate situation. And, after hearing the mother of the slain police office talked with Anderson Cooper on CNN, my heart was saddened by her cold & seemingly cavalier attitude towards Troy Davis, as much as it was for her son officer MacPhail who was killed that fated day back in 1989. I waited to hear from the Georgia State Corrections spokesperson as they came out and addressed the media and indicated that Troy Davis' time of death was 11:08pm. And, his last words to the family were

"...despite the situation you are in, I'm not the one who personally killed your son, your father, your brother. I am innocent. The incident that happened that night is not my fault. I did not have a gun. All I can ask ... is that you look deeper into this case so that you really can finally see the truth. I ask my family and friends to continue to fight this fight. For those about to take my life, God have mercy on your souls. And may God bless your souls."

He maintained his innocence until he took his last breath. God is the ultimate judge and he is the only one the knows what happened to office MacPhail and who the real culprit is. My prayer is that if the facts of the case are true and Troy Davis was NOT the killer, then whoever pulled the trigger on that fated day some 20yrs ago will be brought to justice.

Johnn Donne-the poet, wrote very poignantly  about the relationship that we all have to one another, "No man is an island entire of himself, every man is apart of the continent apart of the main. If a man dies it diminishes me for I am involved with mankind. So, never send to know for whom the bell tolls it tolls for thee." He and Dr. King both would agree on the interdependence of mankind, and how, "we are all tied together in a single garment of destiny," as he once said. What effects one of us ultimately effects us all in some way shape or form. And, I guess the message in this blog is simple, the events of yesterday personally impacted my life and this is no exaggeration. I truly felt like one of my brothers was lost on last evening. I did not have to know Troy Davis personally for his life to have effected me personally. Knowing someone does not always have to be a prerequisite for empathy, but we all were touched in some way by someone that we didn't even know. And, so the question becomes what do we do now? It would seem that we have lost the battle, and Troy Davis was the unfortunate casualty of a system of justice that failed all of us. But, the war on the death penalty, the war on poverty, the war on drugs, the war on violence the war on injustice continues. We mustn't sit idly by and wait for this to happen again, but we must become as Ghandi once said, "...the change that we seek." We have to actively pursue justice in our communities, schools, neighborhoods, churches, local, state and national governments. We mustn't give up the fight until as the Prophet Amos so eloquently put it, "...judgment (justice) rolls down like waters and righteousness, like a mighty stream."


I AM TROY DAVIS! WE ARE TROY DAVIS....AND WE MUSTN'T EVER GIVE UP!


Your Thoughts?


Pastor Michael S.Nimmons
www.MichaelNimmons.com

A FITTING TRIBUTE...

Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial Statue

Aug 28th 2011 marks the 48th Anniversary of one of our nation's most memorable and historic events. This date marks the anniversary of the historic March on Washington lead by slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This march brought over 250,000 people to our nation's capitol, and on this autumn day in August Dr. King would give his most famous address entitled; "I Have A Dream." This stirring address given by Dr. King still rings in the hearts and minds of Americans as a pivotal point not just for the Civil Rights Movement, but a watershed moment for the entire country and maybe even the world.

In just a few days this historic occasion will be marked with what is being celebrated as one of the proudest moments in Black American History. Next to the inauguration of our nation's 1st Black President, this is truly a moment that will never be forgotten. On Sunday, August 28th the world will witness the unveiling of the newest addition to the collection of monuments in Washginton D.C. The MLK Monument will be officially unveiled, towering over 30ft tall, a fitting tribute to a man of monumental character and stature; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Crowds are expected to converge on this site from around the country and the world to witness this historic event. Pres. Barack Obama will be on hand to speak during the official unveiling and dedication of this beautifully sculpted Dr. King Monument. This will truly be a celebratory moment for our nation, as we pay tribute to a man who's tireless dedication to the movement of Civil Rights has brought us to where we are today. It's certainly been a long time coming, and we are extremely proud of what the monument stands for an represents.

This 120 million dollar endeavor was not just met with enthusiasm and excitement by those who were directly and indirectly responsible for its erection, but it was also met with controversey as well. Some groups spoke out against the design, the size, the scupltor and even the granite chosen for the statue. Chinese artist Lei Yixin was chosen to sculpt this enormous statue of this revered icon. And, his choosing was met with much criticisms, not just because of his race but because of his past projects as well. Lei has done scupltors of such leaders as Mao Zedong; who according to Anu Lau; chair of the Human Rights Guild, had one of the most egregious human rights records in the world. Some thought this monument should have done by an African American, after all Dr. King was an African American leader, And, who better to capture his ethnicity, likeness as well as his spirit than an African American. However, from the onsite of this campaign, Harry Johnson, President & CEO of the MLK Memorial Foundation set out to select an "extraordinary" artist to scuplt this monument, inasmuch as Dr. King was an "extraordinary man." 

This project took more than 15yrs to become a reality and even longer than that before it became an official campaign not just by the King family, but by the hundreds of thousands of stake holders that helped to make this dream a reality. This is the only monument dedicated to a non-president and the only African American statue in Washington D.C. The design itself is taken directly from his "I Have A Dream" speech, where he refers to "from the moutain of despair comes a stone of hope." The monument is comprised of three 30 foot stones, two of which are divided at the entrance, where visitors can walk through and see the third stone situated in the middle of this circular garden. And, Dr. King's likeness is carved out of the third stone which is called the "Stone of Hope." And, in this circular garden are 15 notable quotes of Dr. King's hand carved into stone that visitors can read as they take in the breath-taking atmosphere from this historic site.

MLK Monument and the Washington Monument

But, I wonder if Dr. King was asked what he thought of this kind of tribute, what would his thoughts be? What would he have to say about a monument erected on his behalf in our nation's capitol? Would he be appreciative of such a tribute, would he be humbled by the gesture; recognized and celebrated as one of our nations notable leaders. Standing along side men that led this country from our nation's highest office, would he feel that this tribute accurately depicted not just his likeness, but his spirit as a moral leader? Or, would he be compelled by his moral conscious to flee any such self aggrandizement as it may appear to be a sharp contrast to the true essence of the life he tried to live. Would he scoff at the amount of money invested in this endeavor, would he believed it would have been better used for some philanthropic campaign to feed the poor or the clothe the naked? Was this a fulfillment of a desire of his, or would he have thought that he himself was not worthy of such recognition? No one's sure what Dr. King would say about this monument, and I no way am attempting to speak for him by asking these questions. It is a simple consideration of what do we believe Dr. King's wishes would have been if he were alive to see this beautifully crafted monument to himself.

As many of our readers already know, I am a long time admirer and student of Dr. Martin Luther King. While I was not alive to witness his eloquence and splendor in the pulpit or participate in any of the historic marches of his time, he still has impacted my life in a very profound way. I have memorized and internalized many of his speeches as apart of my spiritual curriculum, as he was as much a prophet from God as he was a leader for so many people. I too am very proud of this monument and I celebrate with the rest of the country and world in its symbolism of freedom, justice and equality; moral tenets of which Dr. King stood for.

What are your thoughts on this MLK Memorial? What do you think Dr. King would say about it? How do you think he would feel about it as it relates to the continued struggles of our people? I'm reminded of the poiyant words Dr. King chose to sum up his life's most signicificant accomplishments in his last sermon entitled, "The Drum Major Instinct."

"If I can help somebody
As I pass along
If I can cheer somebody
With a Word or Song
If I can show someobdy
He's traveling wrong
Then my living will not be in a vain"

"If I do my duty
As a Christian ought
If I can bring salvation
To a world once wrought
If I can teach the message
As the Master taught
Then my living will not be in vain."

Truly words to live by!


Pastor Nimmons
www.michaelnimmons.com

What a virtual tour of the MLK Memorial