MLK day.

I was just talking to a friend in the coffee shop. He asked what I think of Martin Luther King (Jr.) day. I made a gesture with an accompanying noise. Many would think it inappropriate because they wish this day to honor the man. I have no problem with the man. I like what he stood for. I like what he did. I would consider it an honor if I were able to befriend him. Of course, I can’t. It’s the day I have a problem with. I also have a bit of a problem with the people who treat it like a holy day.

My grievances.

Although Mr. King’s political views were visionary and extended far past the problems of black Americans. His efforts, though, were focused there for all but the end of his life. All of his successful efforts were also in this area. Had he lived, had he not been assassinated, those efforts and his successes would almost certainly have broadened. However, that was not the case. Why single out this man for a day, that day being all about him. Many others have had outstanding personal beliefs. Many others have put themselves in mortal danger for the benefit of those oppressed. Many did this without any public recognition. They, in fact, risked everything for no personal benefit other than the good feeling of having done what is right. Mr. King enjoyed notoriety and political clout. His actions were indirect, and the importance of them is due to the enormous quantity of people that acted behind those actions. Had it been Mr. King espousing his beliefs without that backing I dare say he would have been completely ineffectual.

Gandhi was a great figure in the arena of equal rights. Why do we not celebrate MG day? To this question my friend pointed out that that was a global issue, not a national one. For us to have a federal holiday it need to be a national issue. I can see the logic in that, Christmas and Easter aside.

We don’t celebrate the efforts of untold numbers of persons who individually made an impact in the lives of black Americans. Many times that impact was the saving of their lives. Doctor King’s efforts resulted in black to drink from the same fountain I drink from. The efforts of those who operated the underground railroad resulted in blacks being able to breathe the same air that I breathe. The right to life, in the non-abortion related sense, is greater than any other right we enjoy. What we celebrate on this day is the celebrity of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is not a celebration of human rights. This celebration is set around his birthday, although it is adjusted to a Monday so that it’s a long weekend. It’s not to commemorate any other event in the struggle for human rights than the birth of this figurehead in that effort.

My solution.

Prior to the civil rights revolution in the United States an interracial relationship in the south could get both parties killed, again, the right to life being the most supreme of our rights. The defining difference that Dr. King made was in the lives of the post Civil War southern blacks, who were so terribly and unjustifiably oppressed, and that difference is most evident in the freedom of interracial relationships. If you want to celebrate the difference that this man made in America, celebrate it by a public display of affection with a member of another race. A white man (/woman) walking down the street holding hands with a black woman (/man) is the legacy of Martin Luther King. Feel free to do so today.