[January 18, 2016] In honor of the contributions made by Martin Luther King Jr., today was set aside to recognize his ideals and the leadership he gave before his life was tragically ended by an assassin. MLK’s principles have been fully incorporated into the American psychic and its moral values, making this nation a better place to live for all its citizens.
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
Fundamentally, MLK believed that the content of one’s character supersedes the color of one’s skin. In one of his most famous quotes above, he says that the character of a person is more important in judging someone than anything else. He was a religious man and what he stood for was based on the teachings derived from the Bible.
Today, there are many who would reject his ideals and leadership because it is based upon Christianity. Some will cherry pick his quotes and translate them into revenge; as we see in the City of Baltimore (see guest blogger articles here and here describing the city’s push in this direction).
The Martin Luther King Jr. Day is really a celebration about the good character in all humans.1 It was established in recognition of the fact that humans are imperfect and that there are certain guiding principles – based in Christianity – that makes us better. One doesn’t need to be religious or believe in the foundation of MLK’s principles but it helps.
A recent trend in Western societies rejects MLK’s teachings (accepts them symbolically) and encourages the treatment of persons on the basis of race. If you are in a victim class or historically not among the perceived privileged class, it follows you are to be given special favors and treatment. Anything less, allegedly, is to be considered disrespectful and racist.
For the rest of humanity that believes in MLK’s principles and underlying values, they are the ones who will be successful. Real leaders teach about Martin Luther King Jr. and treat others respectfully and without regard to race.
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- Here is one of my favorite websites on Martin Luther King Jr. It also provides nearly a million documents about him as a scholar, father, and pastor: http://www.thekingcenter.org/about-dr-king