|
|
January 14, 2005
On Monday we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. Perhaps more than any other person in the 20th century, Dr. King was the conscience of our nation. Inspiring the greatest social movement in American history, Dr. King helped defeat American apartheid and paved the way for the integration of American society. Although nearly all Americans today recognize the good works of Dr. King, it is worth remembering that during his life Dr. King not only met with the fervent opposition of vicious segregationists, but with the "appalling silence of the good people." In an era where progressive principles are under sustained attack, we must recommit ourselves to Dr. King's vision of America and pursue those principles with equal vigor. Although our country has made great strides in the last 35 years, the state of our nation—and the policies of this administration—leave much work to be done. On issues ranging from war to poverty to the infrastructure of democracy, we have failed to fulfill the "dream" in many important ways.
- Dr. King bitterly opposed the Vietnam War and recognized the importance of international goodwill. Speaking of the quagmire in Vietnam, Dr. King said at the National Cathedral in March 1968, "The judgment of God is upon us today...We have alienated ourselves from other nations so we end up morally and politically isolated in the world." Dr. King could easily have been speaking about this administration's bungled approach to foreign policy and misleading justifications for the war in Iraq. As the war in Iraq continues to siphon billions of dollars away from important priorities to our nation here at home, Dr. King's words are more relevant than ever.
- Dr. King demanded we commit ourselves to eliminating poverty from our nation. In 1967, Dr. King launched the Poor People's Campaign focusing on jobs and freedom for the poor of all races. He called for a guaranteed family income, threatened national boycotts, and spoke of disrupting entire cities by nonviolent "camp-ins." King was interested in more than charity—a policy often favored by this administration—and wanted to effect structural changes that would guarantee a better chance for America's poor. "True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar," he said. Today's leaders have not heard the call. In the last four years, poverty rates have risen for three straight years and the number of people without health insurance grown to 45 million.
- Dr. King's progressive vision represented the best of American values. As the debate over the role of "moral values" in American political life continues to rage, progressives should look no further than the writings and speeches of Dr. King for a vision of how religion and spirituality infuse public policy. Unlike this president who has used religion as a wedge to divide groups of people against each other, Dr. King was a man of faith who relied on the prophetic tradition of the Old Testament to achieve social change while at the same time honoring America's historic separation between church and state.
Daily Talking Points is a product of the American Progress Action Fund. |
Daily Talking Points is a product of the American Progress Action Fund. |
