Tribute to a Man with a Dream

Hi Everyone,

Well, I presume you all know what today is. Martin Luther King day!Today we celebrate the birthday, the life, and the continuing legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He proclaimed that he had a dream, and he fought for it through all the abuse, the brutality and legal trouble that the Civil Rights Movement endured from 1954 to 1968. From Birmingham, Alabama and Philadelphia, Mississippi to Selma, Washington, and even Topeka, Kansas, the battle King waged had many setbacks and many triumphs. Although his life ended too soon, King's legacy has never faded from this earth. As I write this, it's raining outside my window. I like to think that's justice raining down like a mighty torrent, to paraphrase a quote from Dr. King.

King's legacy has not faded, but it could use more commemorators. In words, from a lonely blog in the urban wilderness of Southern California, to the President of the United States speaking in a large church in the Ivory halls of Washington, DC, we commemorate that legacy in speeches. But we must also commemorate it in action. Whether large or small, actions are the best way to judge a man. Judge them by the fruit they bear, to paraphrase the Bible. That action may be earthmoving, or it could be small, like working in a soupkitchen for an afternoon, or giving money to Red Cross, for those suffering in Haiti, as we will do. Those count, too. You may think what you do is insignificant, but if enough people do those small actions, they add up, and as King would probably have said, then the powerful will have to listen to that call.

In 1954, people felt left out, oppressed, in despair. King urged them to overcome, to not give in. To remain firm in their resolve to resist oppression, without becoming oppressive themselves. He asked the best of us in this country. Though imperfect and flawed, the promise of our country was still there. As it was in 1954, so it is in 2010. People today are feeling left out, oppressed, in despair, which they are. We must not give in to our instincts to give in, to fear others, to scapegoat. That would be the easy thing to do. But to quote Obi Wan Kenobi in The Empire Strikes Back, "If you choose the quick and easy path, that is the easiest path to the dark side." We must look within ourselves, who we are, if we are to change our world.

Though it's difficult, we have to proceed with the faith of Martin Luther King. Perhaps not a belief in the supernatural, but a belief that one day, justice will roll down like a mighty torrent. So, here's my hope. In 2010, the same call that emanated from Washington on August 28, 1963, must be heard and seen again. It must ring, as King said, from the highest mountaintops. From The Blue Ridges of North Carolina, to the Appalachians of West Virginia, to the Rockies of Colorado, to the Canyons of Arizona, to Mt. Whitney in California, let that call ring again. Thank you, and,remember, We Shall Continue to Overcome.

This is the Daily Reeder, Over&out.