In another life I worked as an underpaid, overworked government analyst. My first committee assignment was a huge one with a grab bag of pockets of knowledge to learn from building and fire codes, cable tv franchising, and legislative ethics (not to worry, there was no activity in that area). I had everything from Native American land claims to laws about raising and lowering the flag (raise briskly, lower ceremonially).
Then there were days. Every legislator wanted to either change the state’s flower or song, or create something unique. As to days it ran the gamut from ceremonial days to days for which staffers would have paid leave. The only “day” created during my tenure was Martin Luther King Day. It was a momentous occasion. Not a paid holiday.
The first day Martin Luther King Day was a federal holiday I piled into a car towards Washington, D.C. with my then-D.C. roommate’s brother and wife, our mutual colleague and wife and drove to D.C. We watched the Parade, saw an exhibit and ended a long day with a gospel song service at the local A.M.E. church, and none other than Coretta Scott King was in attendance.
Normally we laughed at the days legislators proposed. Not this one. It was the most incredible holiday-themed day of my life, Thanksgiving and Christmas included. My brother-in-law called the other day and asked me if I had any plans for today. I said no, and told him what I did many years ago to honor the slain civil rights leader.
Dr. King’s messages are valid today as they will be in the future. I grew up in a tiny white community but when we moved below the Mason-Dixon line my first friend was an African-American. I have to thank my parents for never saying or showing anything racist. I grew up on Walter Cronkite giving the day’s news and unfortunately the body count in Vietnam.
Abraham, Martin and John (and Bobby) is still a song that stirs memories of a childhood time long ago when we lost our heroes that were not allowed to live to fulfill their life’s full promise due to a bullet. Still, gun violence is a major issue and sellers sell guns to people because other parts of the “system” fail, such as mental health. Ergo, Jared Laughner. No record, military refused him, killed six and injured 14 in front of a grocery store. How can we feel safe at our local grocery any more?
I digress. Dr. King’s life and how he chose to use it to achieve civil rights for the African-American community is an inspiration to all. Alas, one of his mentors for non-violent change was Mahatma Ghandi, who was also assassinated. Sticking one’s neck out a bit is difficult and leads to ostracism and hatred from those on the other side of the issue. Dr. King and other amazing people stuck their necks out a lot, accomplished a great deal and made a lasting mark on society. I would prefer to know Dr. King as he lived, and not as he died. In memoriam for Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King. Dee
Cooking with Dee 