|
|
|
Jan. 15 is the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was and remains one of the pre-eminent persons of all time with regards to advocating for justice and the dignity of all humans everywhere. The body of Dr. King’s work argued for justice, equality, reconciliation, opportunity (economic and social) for all regardless of age, gender, ethnic association, race, religion or national origins. Those who would argue that his efforts were only for one group are encouraged to research his speeches and writings with an open mind. You will readily come to learn this truth. For he believed the enslavement of one group is enslavement of us all.
It is this writer’s belief that if Dr. King were alive today, he would be both pleased and disgusted with the state of race relations in the United States. He would be pleased with the elimination of anti-miscegenation laws in all states, commonwealths and territories of the United States; striking down rules and laws that sanctioned segregation in public spaces as well as court action protecting the individual from overt public degradation of persons on the basis of their innate conditions. Further evidence that Dr. King’s dream is moving forward, though not fulfilled, is the number of African-American, Euro-American marriages by both genders. One may go to any public place, church or military installation to observe a more than ample number of bi-racial/multi-racial couples proudly walking with their children as well as grandparents their multi-racial grandchildren.
Dr. King would be disgusted by the disingenuous attempts by a few to stoke racial conflict and ill-will among this nation’s people. Yes, persons’ whose ancestors and very few of their current descendants maintain racist, discriminatory attitudes and beliefs towards those of minority ethnic and racial status. What is observed today is an active attempt by members of these groups to label all persons of the Caucasoid/Euro-American race racists. They predominantly parrot this group “racist” though they neither are able to define racism/racist nor are they able to present evidence to support their accusations. The accusation of racist, in this writer’s view, is used to get even, intimidate, belittle or damage most often the innocent. May they never triumph!
I, along with those praying for harmony among all humanity, Happy Birthday Dr. King! May your efforts for peace and harmony live forever.
Stephen A. Peterson
Shawnee
Jan. 15 is the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was and remains one of the pre-eminent persons of all time with regards to advocating for justice and the dignity of all humans everywhere. The body of Dr. King’s work argued for justice, equality, reconciliation, opportunity (economic and social) for all regardless of age, gender, ethnic association, race, religion or national origins. Those who would argue that his efforts were only for one group are encouraged to research his speeches and writings with an open mind. You will readily come to learn this truth. For he believed the enslavement of one group is enslavement of us all.
It is this writer’s belief that if Dr. King were alive today, he would be both pleased and disgusted with the state of race relations in the United States. He would be pleased with the elimination of anti-miscegenation laws in all states, commonwealths and territories of the United States; striking down rules and laws that sanctioned segregation in public spaces as well as court action protecting the individual from overt public degradation of persons on the basis of their innate conditions. Further evidence that Dr. King’s dream is moving forward, though not fulfilled, is the number of African-American, Euro-American marriages by both genders. One may go to any public place, church or military installation to observe a more than ample number of bi-racial/multi-racial couples proudly walking with their children as well as grandparents their multi-racial grandchildren.
Dr. King would be disgusted by the disingenuous attempts by a few to stoke racial conflict and ill-will among this nation’s people. Yes, persons’ whose ancestors and very few of their current descendants maintain racist, discriminatory attitudes and beliefs towards those of minority ethnic and racial status. What is observed today is an active attempt by members of these groups to label all persons of the Caucasoid/Euro-American race racists. They predominantly parrot this group “racist” though they neither are able to define racism/racist nor are they able to present evidence to support their accusations. The accusation of racist, in this writer’s view, is used to get even, intimidate, belittle or damage most often the innocent. May they never triumph!
I, along with those praying for harmony among all humanity, Happy Birthday Dr. King! May your efforts for peace and harmony live forever.
Stephen A. Peterson
Shawnee
