Martin
Luther King Jr. Day is coming up this Monday. I thought I’d listen to some of
the famous words and events of his life and share what I think they could mean
for our day. I listened to his “I Have a Dream” speech proclaimed over 50 years
ago in front of the Lincoln Memorial. I also listened to a recording of his
“Letter from Birmingham Jail.” I rounded out the study of his life and words
with a brief video that discussed the FBI’s harassment of Martin Luther King
Jr.
In his “I
Have a Dream” speech, King repeatedly used the phrases “Now is the time” and “I
have a dream today.” He used those words to urge his listeners to change the
segregationist attitudes and laws of the day. His words are an encouragement to
me to continue in that great effort. Now is the time, not tomorrow, not in a
week. In his “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” King expressed his frustration with
the white moderate who would essentially say, “Yes, I agree with what your
goals, but now is not the time, and I don’t like your methods.” We likewise
encounter voices in our lives that would temper our good ambitions and ask that
we pursue them another day. Yet, as King rightly said, “Now is the time.”
Whether it’s a project we want to start, life changes we need to make, or a
friend we want to reconnect with, King’s words remind us to start today.
Starting, after all, can be the hardest part.
In his “I
Have a Dream” speech, King also expressed his hope that people of all races
would one day feast at the table of brotherhood. Much still needs to be done to
accomplish his vision. Political correctness keeps our society from reaching
that goal. Whenever I have discussions with people about race, politics, and
society, I notice that everybody speaks in quiet, subdued tones. Everyone
speaks in a measured way. People say salutary statements to virtue signal to their
“wokeness” rather than express their true opinions. Those who fail to hew to
political correctness are castigated and ostracized swiftly. I understand the
need to respect each other and not to offend, but frankly, if we are to feast
at the table of brotherhood, we must be brothers and family. Families speak
openly, candidly, and truthfully. Families are not rude, but they say what
needs to be said. Political correctness discourages truthfulness and
candidness, and ultimately, I believe keeps us realizing Martin Luther King
Jr.’s dream of brotherhood.
Lastly, I’d
like to discuss the FBI’s treatment of King. Though not public knowledge until
after King’s death, the FBI sent a letter to King under the guise of it being
from a disgruntled civil rights activist. The letter declared that King was a
fraud and that they would reveal his illicit sex life to the world. In addition
to this harassment, the FBI would wiretap King’s phone communications and bug
his hotel rooms. Robert Kennedy, as attorney general, signed at least some of
the wiretap orders. However, it is likely that the bugging of the hotel rooms
was done without proper authorization. Of course, to the FBI, who were very
concerned with possible communists within King’s circle, it was justified. The
FBI continues with their stellar record today. It’s easy to overlook the FBI’s
abuses when the victims aren’t popular, but the glove fits on the other hand.
The FBI used their power to harass a good and noble person. It’s a good
reminder that their abuse is wrong no matter who they do it to.
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