MLK

I wish there was no such thing as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

For that matter, I wish there was no Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial in Washington DC, and I wish there were no Martin Luther King, Jr.  Boulevards or Avenues or Streets throughout America.

Don’t get me wrong.  I believe it is appropriate to honor Dr. King in all those ways, and more.  I can think of no other American from the late 20^th Century more deserving.  I would not be surprised if someday his likeness appeared on our national currency. 

The problem is that we as a nation, or perhaps more accurately, as a human race, tend to appreciate our heroes only after they have been martyred.  So, in spite of all his accomplishments during his brief life, I wonder what more he would have done if he could have been with us another forty-five years. 

What would he have said in the wake of the Rodney King trial, verdict, and riots?  How would he have responded to Trayvon Martin’s slaying?  What would he be saying about the disproportionate number of African Americans sitting in our prisons?

We can only imagine.

I like to think, though, that we would have listened.  I like to think that we would have been better because we had listened.  And while I think he would have celebrated the progress that has been made, I’m certain he would have continued to challenge and confront the bigotry and racism that can lurk in even the purest of hearts.

So happy birthday, Dr. King.  I wish we didn’t have this holiday to remember you.

I wish you were here with us instead.