© 2005-
By Abad A. Perez
Last year, a groundbreaking ceremony for a memorial of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
took place at the National Mall. The memorial was to be built a half a mile from
the place where this man of peace gave his Holy Spirit inspired “I have a Dream Speech”,
and it will be the first of an African American civilian on the Mall.
I am elated
that this moment has taken place in this country’s history, and I am looking forward
to some day visiting the memorial with my child and wife.
"When Martin Luther King
came to Washington in the summer of 1963," Bush said, "he came to hold this nation
to its own standards. ... He stood not far from here ... with thousands gathered
around him. His dream spread a message of hope."
"An assassin's bullet could not
shatter his dream," Bush said. "As we break ground, we give Martin Luther King his
rightful place among the many Americans honored on the National Mall. It will unite
the men who declared the promise of America and defended the promise of America with
the man who redeemed the promise of America." (Associated Press)
The building of
the memorial of this humble Christian martyr is a monumental event in that it will
be the first memorial of a civilian built on this historic national park. Memorials
at the National Mall & Memorial Parks honor historically only presidents and military
heroes. So perhaps some critics may raise their brows and prepare to complain about
this unique situation that the memory of Dr. King has marked in American history,
however, we must remember that although Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. did not serve
as president of this country, he led our nation better than the best of presidents.
And even though he did not carry a musket as many before him did, and despite the
fact that he was not a warrior during any one of the conflicts that are remembered
at the National Mall, Dr. King stood ground in the front lines of an American social
and moral revolution in a way that would have earned him a Congressional Medal of
Honor for his selfless and heroic act in the face of enemy fire.
I thank those who
understand and remember that Dr. King died for all Americans and not just for his
race. I also pray that as this country faces some difficult decisions about the war
on Iraq, that our President George Bush’s respect and admiration for Dr. King will
help him make the right decision about what needs to be done.
Dr. King, your dream
is still alive and it dwells in the blood of the American people. We are grateful
for your sacrifice, and for the love that you shared with the people of this land.
For now I leave you my brothers and sisters out there on the net, and you Mr. President,
with this words from Dr. King “On some positions, Cowardice asks the question, "Is
it safe?" Expediency asks the question, "Is it politic?" And Vanity comes along and
asks the question, "Is it popular?" But Conscience asks the question "Is it right?"
And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic,
nor popular, but he must do it because Conscience tells him it is right.”
God bless
America! May Christ’s mercy be our way of life.
