Observing Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday as a holiday reminds us that we can overcome. Our republic started with some good ideas, but also with some unresolved issues. These unresolved issues almost led to our republic breaking apart. After a long war we were left with a caste system that mocked our declarations of justice and democracy.
Dr. King started us on the path to overcoming these
problems. We still have much to do, but we have made good start. Dr. King
showed us that we can overcome our hypocrisy by ensuring equal access to
education and the voting booth. He showed us that we can accomplish these
things without resorting to violence. Dr. King seemed to understand that a
caste system dies a long death. Rather than fighting the caste system as a
whole, Dr. King focused on working for equal treatment under the law. He
probably deserves much more credit than he receives for preventing a great deal
of bloodshed in the struggle for equal treatment under the law. It is through
equal treatment under the law that individuals can realize opportunities and
overcome their own hypocrisy and prejudice.
Dr. King reminded us that if we are going to draft people
into the army and levy taxes on them, then those people should be able to vote
and attend public schools.
