The Washington Post first reported on Friday the decision to change the inscription, which currently reads: "I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness."
The phrase is modified from a sermon known as the "Drum Major Instinct," in which the 39-year-old King explained to his Atlanta congregation how he would like to be remembered at his funeral. He made the February 1968 speech just two months before he was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn.
In the speech, King's words seem more modest than the paraphrased inscription: "Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter." Poet Maya Angelou previously said the truncated version made King sound like "an arrogant twit" because it was out of context.
A spokesman for the U.S Department of the Interior confirmed on Friday that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar decided to have the quote changed. It's not clear how much the cost of any change might be or how it would be paid for."
"Remember those famous Pentagon hammers and toilet seats that cost nearly $1,000? One would think the federal government would have learned its lesson: government agencies, especially huge ones like the Pentagon, need close monitoring lest they flush the taxpayers' money down their very expensive toilets.
Now we find that the Pentagon has outdone its scandal-ridden self. In recent years it has issued 1.8 million credit cards to its workers, who have racked up some 10 million purchases valued at $5.5 billion in 2000 alone. The problem is that many of those purchases might be fraudulent and the Pentagon is not stepping forward to make good on those debts."
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=3930
I, can remember years ago the Pentagon paid, $125.00 each, for large qualities of bolts. However, I think that came with nuts.
Really easy to pay for out of our war chest, out of the Trillions we give to foreign Nations. What joke our Government is. Have each member of congress donate to have the change. We have 535 members of Congress, all upper class making $120 up to $200,000, with over 252 members of Congress that are millionaires.
There may still be some people, that would like to make all Afro-Americans, slaves again, and the "upper class," can save money on labor. God knows, many slaves had a better life, and more food, than many have today, in the poorest neighborhoods; many Americans want to keep them there.
"The Largest Slave Auction
March 3, 1859 On the first day of the auction, the slaves were brought to a long room called the "Grand Stand." Pierce Butler walked among his people, speaking to them and shaking the hands of his favorite servants. Fierce rains kept many of the potential buyers away and the auction began two hours late.
The auctioneer, Mr. Walsh, stood on a platform and began the sale. The first sold were George and Sue, along with their two boys, George and Harry, for $600 each. Eventually, all 436 people were purchased away from friends and family, and from the only home they had known. All of their hearts broke with the knowledge that they would never see each other again. For many of them, "The Weeping Time" would last a lifetime."
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/reform/jb_reform_slaveauc_1.html
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