Conrad, my brother:
I do believe that you are a man of conviction and good intentions, but that you are a victem of your people's history. I spent mylife working with Dr. Kings inner circle. As a civil rights lawyer, a political scientist working on a number of issues, including civil rights in Ireland, I apreciate your interest in Dr. King's methodology and beliefs. I urge you to read Parting the Waters about the formation of the civil rights movement, and if you ever are planing to come to the US, I would like to introduce you to veterines of the American Civil Rights movement. You will find that they ALL to my experice identify with those who marched non-violently at Burntollett and in no way identify with the Organge Order. Can you begin a movement within the structure of the Orange lodge to begin to carry on the work of the Sothern Christian leadership? I can't say, it is like Eldrich Cleaver saying that a United States without racism would be imbarassed to still call itself the United States. However, to begin with, you have to understand, it is not just marching that makes your movement like Dr. Kings, it is what you are marching for. (that for which you are marching for the gamaticisans on Mud cat). Marching for your right to be the majority oppressor is not the same as marching for equal housing - the vote - equal employment, all the things that were marched for at Burntollett. You can march for equal rights of employment, however, but then the Orange lodges would have to be marching for the rights of Catholics, and would they still be the Orange Lodges. If indeed an Orange Lodge had the courage to march for the rights of Catholics to be completely free in thier land and yours, then perhaps you could say that the Orange lodges were begining to inherit the torch Dr. King passed to us. Give it some thought, brother, and maybe you will be someone to remember in the way we remember our brother Martin.
Peace and good wishes
Larry