It was a
turbulent time for all Americans. When
we look back in the history books some say it was the decade of love. My sisters and I were young then and the love
issue we lived and saw as a dream. As I grew older I realize it was only that, a
dream of youthful minds. Where I went to school at the time we were all friends
but my friends and I did not live in the south or the intercity. I went to a
good suburban school where we could not really see the events of the decade
unfolding around us as we lived through the experience. Civil Rights, Vietnam,
and the power in politics was a complete conflict of interest for young and old
alike. Some values of the older generation did not seem to mix well with the
younger generation including the draft, dedication to duty and country. And,
the worst of all this is a generation being condemned by the statuesque for not
wanting to serve our country in a land that offered nothing but controversy
from the day we entered the war. Even worse the North Vietnamese ended up occupying
the entire country with the fall of Saigon in 1974. All those lives lost and
all those Veterans disabled or plagued with the effects from Asian Orange and
other mental problems and for what?
When we
think of the Sixties and we think of it as a decade of peace or the fight for
peace. Go Figure! fight and peace in the same sentence together. In the midst
of this is the idea that this country's leaders not only had to look out for it’s younger
generation and it’s voice but the call to civil liberty. Civil Rights is not all white men were considered equal but all women, minorities, and the
young men women and minorities dying overseas should be as equal as well. This made the
call for peace and Civil Rights an even bigger task and not to mention a
challenge.
One man
stood at the top and brought about change in a peaceful way. Who stood for
Civil Rights all and preformed his entire movement in a civil manner while others followed. Who
is to imagine if the Rev. / Dr. Martin Luther King did not stand up for Civil
Rights from the fifties through the Sixties in this peaceful movement what would
our world look like today? Imagine the chaos on top of all the mounting
pressure of the time brought into future decades. He changed how people
lead in politics while proving that the many were not just going to put up and
shut up any more. He stood for their vote and made what they had to say count
and be heard in the name of justice while not raising a fist or weapon. That not
just a few ultra conservatives, radicals or extremists were going to have a
strong hold on our country any more with their distorted and selfish idea of
freedom. Or, for all to forget the idea to
be a good citizen all you had to do is just follow the rules and not say a word. People
were being repressed and dying asking for the same liberties this country was founded
on when we defeated the British in the American Revolution. With that
foundation Reverend King believed this country belonged to all people and not
just certain groups of people and spoke his mind for all the repressed.
Reverend
King only started the movement, now the rest of us have to finish his chore and a
tall one at that. We have to remind those who run this country we are the ones
who elected them and we are in charge not special interest. Special interests have
not always been beneficial to the many but only to the few. We in many ways
have come a long way from the Sixties whether it has been human evolution or
breaking down the barriers among us keeping us apart. It will all come together
one day when all men and women of all races respect and hear each other’s side
then take action for the good of all people. Look back at how it was then and
how it is now. We can say some things about our times are similar but yet the solutions have
been different with less lives lost. Radical change just angers groups to rise for or against issues that need solving, where
civil change is more of a human evolution and compromise to change. The Reverend King
studied this and used it in his daily life with every appearance and speech he
delivered. Yes, because of men like the Reverend King and others like him of
all races have heard the call of peace we have come a long way. And yet, we all
need to remember we still know we have a long way to go.
During this
Martin Luther King Day work together with others in your community. Help form
the bond that is community by helping each other with a community goal or
challenge. If you have to work this Martin Luther King Holiday think of community
and the Reverend King and find a time in the near future to volunteer or
organize a community effort or project. Your gender or race does not matter
when you spend time to work with and for each other in the best cause of all PEACE and a
better future for us all.
“Law and
order exist for the purpose of establishing justice and when they fail in this
purpose they become the dangerously structured dams that block the flow of
social progress….One who breaks an unjust law that conscience tells him is
unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to
arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality
expressing the highest respect for law.” – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Read More
For the Adults
We Can't Forget the Kids
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