There are times when dying is more gentle than living: for instance, some of us have probably known people who were in excruciating pain at the end of a long battle with an illness and people actually prayed that God would take them out of their misery. Aside from these rare instances, I believe that most people in America can be thankful for their current condition and position in life. It is a blessing to live in “the home of the brave and land of the free.” However this country could not always make the case that this was so. America has an ugly past of genocide against the Native Americans, and more recently its history with respect to its Americans of African descent, include slavery and brutal treatment under the racist culture that evolved after the Civil War.
Thanks to the Civil Rights Movement, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., America discarded its racist past in favor of a society that was inclusive. If this great American Patriot were still alive today, we would be helping him celebrate his 79th birthday. Dr. King was born January 15, 1929, and lived a life that changed the course of American history. He once said that he wanted people who are born in the future to understand that the new rights and privileges that they enjoy did not come without someone sacrificing; without someone dying. And he paid the ultimate price for his beliefs by sacrificing his own life.
Dr. King’s working for peace, campaigning for justice and loving his enemies has been recognized by this great country by bestowing upon him the greatest honor of recognition that a nation can offer – a national holiday in recognition of his birth date. Although, the United States celebrates his birthday on the third Monday of January (this year – January 21st), I would like to take a moment to honor his memory with a moment of thanksgiving:
Thank you Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Happy Birthday!
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