What Would MLK Do?
“We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy.”
In 1963, Dr. King spoke those words before hundreds of thousands of people in Washington DC; but in two days, there will be a scant few people on hand to witness the Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden Jr. as President and Kamala Harris, America’s first Black, female Vice President because of the attempted overthrow of our democracy. It was an insurrection perpetrated by a seditious mob who believe “the big lie” told by the loser of the 2020 election rather than verify the facts themselves.
“Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”
The tens of thousands who stormed the Capitol, incited to riot by the President and supported by his enablers in Congress, left five dead and countless injured as they hunted for the current Vice-President and Speaker of the House on their seditious rampage.
These domestic terrorists are slowly being arrested and will be brought to justice; but most importantly, their leader, Donald Trump has been impeached for a second time for incitement to insurrection and will be tried in the Senate. It remains to be seen if he will be convicted. Yet, his enablers and the traitorous members of Congress whose lives were under threat in the insurrection continue to support “the big lie” that continues to undermine our democracy.
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
While others who know the truth, say nothing out of political salvation.
“The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.”
So, what would Martin Luther King, Jr. Do?
I believe he would call on Congress, on all of us, to have courage.
“Courage is an inner resolution to go forward despite obstacles; Cowardice is submissive surrender to circumstances. Courage breeds creativity; Cowardice represses fear and is mastered by it. Cowardice asks the question, is it safe? Expediency asks the question, is it politic? Vanity asks the question, is it popular? But conscience ask the question, is it right? And there comes a time when we must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but on must take it because it is right.”
This is the darkest MLK Day since America began honoring the Civil Rights leader and these are the darkest times in our nation’s history since the Civil War. But never forget, Dr. King was an optimist.
“Only in the darkness can you see the stars.”
