Martin Luther King, Jr Remembered

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. day, and (of course!) the handsome man in the picture above was this remarkable man.  Smiling.  That’s why it’s one of my favorite pictures of him.  We don’t have nearly enough pictures of him smiling - because he didn’t have nearly enough opportunities to do so.  A part of me wishes he had been born in the sixties as opposed to have being killed in the sixties, but I don’t believe the Civil Rights movement would have had as much success without this incredible leader.

I’ve read a lot of speculations from people lately - about what King’s reaction would be to our war.  I will absolutely not speculate on someone’s opinion, especailly when they’re no longer alive to have their say.  I just want to say this:  I have read a lot of books on this man and on his life.  He has always fascinated me because of his bravery and boldness.  The man stood up before the world and basically said, “I’ll take you on and I will not back down.”  He was killed by hatred…but he didn’t go away.  His words still encourage, inspire and motivate.  His face is as well known and recognized as any President, more so, probably, than 1/3.  He has his own day set aside for all of us to reflect on his life and his word.  The hatred helped to further his cause, not end it.  I believe he’s in Heaven smiling widely over that one!

As for his stance on peace - he was a Baptist minister who believed in peaceful living.  He was against violence.  I totally agree with that assessment.  However, he obviously wasn’t afraid to fight for what was right.  His fight was against people who were from our own society - they were filled with hatred, but they didn’t partake in suicide missions, declare war on other countries, bomb buildings and buses, or drive planes into New York City towers, killing thousands. They were Ignorant, they were Violent, they were Wrong - but they were a different kind of evil and could be dealt with differently than the kind of hatred that attacked our nation on September 11.

 As for where his political affiliations would lie, no one can say.  I believe he may have been the first to rise above all the elephant vs. donkey nonsense, the way he did the white vs. black nonsense.  I believe he would have kept preaching unity over division.  Like I said, a part of me truly wishes he had been born in ‘68 rather than killed in ‘68!

He was a Christian, and I’m certain would respect Bush’s sprituality.  I don’t believe he would agree with everything Bush, everything Clinton, and certainly not everything Kerry. He would have been his own man because he didn’t know how to be anything else.

I hope you’ll research this man and learn all you can about him. He’s a large part of our nation’s history, and you’ll never find a better example of a fighter.

A final thought, many people say that (as a nation) we’re wrong to try to “police” other countries.  That, essentially, we shouldn’t concern ourselves with the horrible way they treat their people.  Whenever I read criticism for our military or our leaders, I always think of a quote from non other than Mr. King himself: