Today is Martin Luther King’s birthday. To understand the significance of Dr. King’s life, one only has to view how his life is forever attached to the struggles of those who are oppressed. How we not only celebrate his life and the contributions he made but also the impact he made on our lives.
Several events this month have returned those troubled times to us.
The two articles both outline the terrible violence that was beset on so many in the 1950’s and 1960’s. These two events stand out in my mind because they were opposite of each other for many reasons.
The first, three civil rights advocates were in Mississippi to help educate and work toward a better life for others. They were brutally murdered by locals that involved law enforcement officers. Despite the involvement of federal authorities, the matter hasn’t totally been resolved. It would appear that one more of those responsible for the murders may face justice over forty years later.
The second, clear across the country in St. Paul, Minnesota, saw an officer gunned down who was responding to a call to assist a person who was having a baby. Recent reports are indicating that the officer was murdered symbolically out of the rage against those who saw the police as part of the conspiracy of the “establishment.” The arrests of two individuals this past week will no doubt bring out many of the memories and emotions surrounding this incident.
In both cases, extremism and violence brought death to those who were symbols of something despised by others. Something that Dr. King preached was counterproductive.
In a time that is wrought with violence and hatred throughout the world, we could do well to be inspired by Dr. King’s “Dream.” I would hope that we learn from the mistakes of the past and work toward a better future.