For many--and it would be fair to say most--Americans, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is simply a day off. It's sad to say, but the truth is that what should be a day to honor King, the man, as well as the ongoing struggle for civil rights is just a day where the kids are home.
Now, I'll admit that I have no plans to attend any event honoring King. But, like I do on Labor Day, Memorial Day and even the 4th of July, I try to learn something new that's specific to the occassion, or at least reflect on what I already know. Surely, I thought this morning, there'll be plenty of stuff on the boob tube. I could get some work done while commemorating the man, albeit in an infinitesimally way.
My stupidity on trusting the television on Side B...
Ah, television. An incredible learning tool, if the viewer and the broadcaster both live up to their ends of the bargain. And digital cable...well, with hundreds of channels, surely there'd be at least one station that can meet my needs.
First, the news networks. No sense in checking Fox or MSNBC, but CNN would probably have a special. Lessee...the usual morning lineup...then "Situation Room"...Lou Dobbs..."Situation Room"...oh, wait, Blitzer is teasing a segment about King's family arguing about his legacy, which I already read about on Saturday. And knowing CNN, it's going to about battling siblings, not King the man.
Well, there's The Hitler/Saddam Channel--er, I mean The History Channel. Most of their day seems to be devoted to the Kennedys for some reason. But there is a whole 30 minute long program entitled "MLK Day: The Making of a Dream," which is the apparent lead in to a repeat of an episode of "Conspiracy?" arching eyebrows about MLK's assassination. That really isn't what I'm looking for, but maybe I'll tune into the two hour "Kennedys: The Curse of Power" later.
A&E. The network with the "Biography" franchise apparently believes a "24" marathon is a more fitting tribute to MLK.
MTV. I know, I know: Fat chance. But every once in a while, some bright-eyed young producer jumps on the chance to air a program that signifies to the the youth market that MTV thinks politics is kewl. "Real World/Road Rules," lather, rinse, repeat.
And then it dawns on me: BET! They've got to have a whole MLK-palooza going on, right? Wrong. A music video show, a different music video show, 'battle of the sexes' game show, more videos and the making of "Underworld," which stars that icon of civil rights and modern black culture, Kate Beckinsale.
The PBS channels? (big market + digital cable = multiple PBS stations) Nothing, although I highly recommend tonight's re-airing of "Country Boys."
The major networks? Not with the Golden Globes (including 1 hour preshow), and the two hour premiers of "24" and "The Bachelor: Paris" around.
And then, by pure accident, I find it. One channel, out of hundreds across the country, gets it. One channel knows what day it is. One channel alone is willing to keep up its end of the deal, although not nearly as complete as Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights and the dignity of American history deserve.
CSPAN-2. Three hours of Book TV, with authors of books about King and civil rights. It's not perfect, but I'll take it. Evidently, I have no other choice.