Back in July, we visited the “MLK Museum” (oops) “The National Civil Rights Museum” in Memphis, TN. When we were there we met a woman protesting the museum. Her point, as I remember it, was that Dr. King would not have wanted that museum–he would have wanted the funds used to help the poor, and to fight racism in this country.
I thought about this today, on the day in memory of Dr. King. On Yom Kippur morning, we read from the book of Isaiah:
Is this the fast I look for? A day of self-affliction? Bowing your head like a reed, and covering yourself with sackcloth and ashes? Is this what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? Is not this the fast I look for: to unlock the shackles of injustice, to undo the fetters of bondage, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every cruel chain? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and to bring the homeless poor into your house? When you see the naked, to clothe them, and to never hid yourself from your own kin?
So, in that spirit? Is this the holiday Dr. King would have wanted? Would a man who fought so hard for the rights of children to attend school want a day where children don’t learn (i.e., no school)? Would Dr. King want a day of commercialism, of marketing.
Would Dr. King rather this day be spent fighting the racism that still exists in this county? Yes, we may elect a black as president, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t racist or phobic to those that are different. Dr. King would want us to be fighting stereotypical profiling. All hispanics are not illegal. All islamics are not terrorists. Those in same-sex relationships or myriad other structures should have equal rights and equal access to services. It is a civil rights issue.
Would Dr. King want this day to be spent shopping at sales on a day off? Or would he rather have people working to fight economic poverty. Immigrants often come here for better economic times. So why aren’t we fighting illegal immigration by helping fight poverty throughout the world? Why aren’t we taking this day to do what we can to make the world a better place.
Dr. King fought with the power of words, not fists. We need to look at our words closely, and eliminate the pejorative. Why is “immigrant” a negative thing? Why doesn’t this country have a day that celebrates the contribution of the immigrant to our culture, to show the value of the immigrant. As Peter, Paul, & Mary sang:
Listen, Mr. Bigot, listen to me, I’ll give you a lesson in history
Listen while I tell you that the foreigners you hate
Are the very same people made America great.
Oh listen Mr. Bigot, uh-huh…listen Mr. BigotIn 1492, just to see what he could see
Columbus, who was an Italian set out across the sea
He said “Isabella, baby, the world is round
And the USA’s just awaitin’ to be found.”Well when the King of England started pushin’ Yanks around
They had a little trouble up in Boston town
But a brave, black, Crispus Attucks was the man
The first one to fall when the fightin’ began.Now Bigot, you’re taking one hell of a chance
Your good friends the Duponts, came over from France
Another thing I’m sure will be news to you
The first Mr. Bigot was a foreigner too.You don’t like blacks, you don’t like jews
Well if there’s anyone you do like, it sure is news
You don’t like Poles, Hispanics too
Anyway they serve you up, we don’t like you
So, if you are going to honor the memory of Dr. King, observe the day as he would want.
