IT SHOULD BE A NEW DAY (IN MEMORY OF Martin Luther King)
“We all
stood - amidst this brotherhood of humanity - rapt with attention as King told
of his dream of an America where his four little children would one day live
in a nation where they would not be judged "by the color of their skin but
by the content of their character." Martin Luther King.
What a
powerful phrase. It should replace the tired worn, “we shall overcome”,
rhetoric of the past. Why are there not thousands of voices condemning the
continuation of a fight against those who would continue a fight in anger when
achievement in harmony would be so much better? The blame of failure to succeed
lies within the individual and those who instill beliefs of blame upon
others.” (Huffington Post)
King’s
words are revered today as a battle cry. Not the words about character (they
would be pointing the finger in an unpopular direction) but the call to
overcome unfairness. We have too many churches, learning institutions and
politicians clinging to the injustices of the past rather than the possibilities
of the future.
If an
honest appraisal of our race problems in the United States were to be taken,
one would have to admit to great movements toward equality in most areas of our
society. We hear only about how badly we mistreat our African American
populace and other people of color. This is in fact true, but the reasons
are most likely not due to prejudice.
We
continue to hear about the disproportionate numbers in regards to unemployment,
incarceration, conviction rates and income. We get bombasted with media
hype about how Latinos and African Americans are viewed as dangerous by the
rest of us. About how we view them as incapable of holding higher paying
jobs. Once again there is truth in those statements, but the reasons are
most likely not entirely due to prejudice. The responsibility for curing social
illnesses is one we all bear each and every day. If we as individuals do nothing to make our
neighbors existence on this planet better, then we are failing both them and
ourselves. As a society, we need to start treating cause rather than
blaming the symptoms on someone else.
Martin
Luther King’s dream consisted of an uplifting of his people into a place where
their character replaced color as criteria for equality or inequality.
There can be no denial of his character or the character traits that he
propagated within his community. Whether or not he would be happy with
the advances we have made regarding racial equality is not the question.
Would he be promoting the anger, the resentment and the entitlement mentality?
I don’t think so. He was a person who accepted his
responsibility as a leader and acted in that manner.
We no
longer have that many heroes in our society who promote good behavior, a high
ethical standard and the Good Samaritan attitudes that I was privy to in my
formative ages. The Roy Rogers and Hopalong Cassidys have all been
replaced. Heroes expounding the feats required to overcome evil are at a
minimum, while being replaced by examples of a more dubious nature. Our
young people are in an atmosphere constant input from those outside their
immediate influence. This is not limited to any one ethnic group but
spreads across all boundaries within our country. Our society is what the
majority holds sacred in its cumulative beliefs, ethical sensitivities and
whatever seems popular.
Character
is only relevant to now, in the new society, not what was or what may be a
better for the individual in fact. Age old mores of value are being
eroded by the constant waves of anger, mistrust and feelings of being denied,
the “you owe me because I exist”, perks of life. It is as if the past
descriptions of morality and respect for others have been replaced in the new
heroes with the attitudes promoted by gangsta rappers, shock entertainers,
anarchists, rebels, violent videos. It is no longer an “in thing” to be a
law abiding, hardworking, responsible young adult who works toward achieving
successes in their life.
The
society and country we are to be exists in the nourishment we provide the minds
of our children. It rests upon each of our shoulders to insure the
quality of character that will enhance the beliefs of the future in a positive
manner. All people of all groups within our great country have the responsibility
of positive example, remembering that we are all members of the family we call
humanity.
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