What Would Dr. King Do?

Decades after making Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday a national holiday, people are
starting to understand their responsibility in this effort.  For the past few years
now, there has been a movement to make the King holiday more than a reason to take a
day off work or school.  It is now being promoted not as a day off but a day on. 

Citizens are encouraged to spend every third Monday in January serving their community. 
Even President Obama spent the eve of his historic inauguration last year in community
service.  No one is above serving.  It is one of the most humbling things a person can do.

In light of the current state of affairs in the world, there are many things that we
can devote our time, energy, effort, resources and attention to. But since time limits
us, we need to find a passion and pursue it.  Being a world leader may not be your
calling, but you are here for more than just yourself.  There are a number of issues
and problems to be solved and needs that need to be met.

Recalling the tireless efforts of Dr. King, I am amazed at how much he accomplished in
such a short amount of time.  He did more to help people in his short 39-year life span
than most people do in 70 or 80 years.  It wasn't just his prominence (which helped
him reach millions), but his level of commitment.  It's your drive and compassion
that counts even more than the numbers of people you reach.

If Dr. King were alive today, I imagine he would use everything available to assist in
his crusade toward equality for all men.  He'd utilize everything from the pulpit to
the Internet just as he used television and radio in his day.  He would network with
both corporations and grassroots organizations to draw attention to the advancement of
minorities, women and anyone else being shut out from opportunities.

If Dr. King were around to see the endless debates over healthcare, what would he do? 
The famous orator proclaimed over forty years ago: "Of all the forms of inequality,
injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane."  That's powerful, and
indicative of what side of the Congressional aisle he would stand on. 

He may not have understood the extent of health disparities among African Americans. 
Many of the things we do nowadays to prevent disease were not widely known in the 60s. 
However, he did understand there was (and still is) a wide gap in the quality of
treatment between the rich and the poor.  He recognized that minority neighborhoods
have fewer doctors and medical resources.  People can't afford to see doctors as often as they should, and consequently die younger.  Like he said, it is both shocking and inhumane. If Dr. King were alive today, I'm sure he'd be in favor of universal healthcare.

Prior to his death, he was preparing to launch the Poor People's March to draw
attention to economic disparities.  Civil rights was about more than getting a front
seat on a public bus.  For King, it was about economic equality.  If he were living in
this recession, I believe he'd be a staunch supporter of black-owned businesses. 

He'd call for a massive union of middle and lower class people to rise up against
bailed out financial giants.  He'd join with our president and take a stand against
predatory lenders.

     Though Dr. King is no longer here, we can take something we feel passionate about
changing and do as he would do.  What is it that stirs your passion?  Is it Iraq or
Afghanistan, homelessness, lack of healthcare, failing schools, or joblessness?  Find a
way to express your discontent in a nonviolent way.  Then you can do as King would
do live out his dream in your own way.