Martin Luther King, Jr.

A few months ago I was in a training program that recounted some historical facts of the Civil Rights Movement in America. The lessons took me by surprise because I was an avid follower of the movement in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s. From today’s perspective I was very much a part of the movement. Back then I didn't think I was all that active, but I did participate in a few marches, one when Dr. King made an appearance in Chicago. That was the one in which he was struck by a rock or part of a brick.

Fellow participants in the class marveled at my role in history! Ahem! Please note I was more an observer of history back then, but I am still in awe of what we all accomplished in the 1960’s. So it matters to me that we as a nation set aside one day to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Here’s a quote from him that still resonates with me:

“Never, never be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”

We are the monitor of our own soul, the ‘within’ of our life. We know what is right; we don’t always do it; but we know. Eventually we have opportunities to fix what we didn't do right in the past. We know this is the price we pay; it is still a good thing to do. Late but good.

Others will judge us. Do not be alarmed. Time will inform you that they are wrong while your thoughts are just. King had this to say about that:

“If you can’t fly, then run; if you can’t run, then walk; if you can’t walk, then crawl; but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”

You know of what he speaks. Others might not. That is their concern, not yours. Or mine! Keep the truth alive in your soul and do the right thing.

Of similar language is this quote, but note the end line:

“We have flown the air like birds, and swum the sea like fishes, but have yet to learn the simple act of walking the earth like brothers.”

‘Like brothers’ indeed; this is the point of justice. We are all alike. We have the same rights. We must fight for our own rights, but also for the rights of others who may be left out of the equation by discrimination.

We are guided by this ethic. We are fueled by this sense of justice. And we are right to do so. As King urged:

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

These are not comfortable things to discuss or live by. There is controversy and animus involved. Talking and thinking about justice helps sort things out. These mental exercises strengthen our understanding and will to do the right thing. Along the way the objections from others mean very little if they represent blockades to doing the right thing.

In the final analysis we learned this in the ‘60’s:

“Martin Luther Kind, Jr. taught us that America is not about blacks and whites. America is about people rights.”

And that broadens the value and perspective of all we struggled for. Many of those objectives were unknown at the time. But the belong none the same.

Bless our nation for having spawned and supported Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

January 29, 2014