Observing King's contributions

Today marks the 40th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s death in Memphis. I’m thinking back to last year, when I stood at the preserved Lorraine Motel, where King was assassinated. I was very moved and profoundly sad.

The motel room is furnished just as it was at the moment King was shot, right down to room service dishes with food left on them. I wasn’t alive when King died, but I heard Tom Brokaw say this morning that he believes King is bigger now than he was in 1968 because of the incredible legacy he left to us all. What King was fighting for is now written in law, upheld by the courts and accepted as a part of everyday life, but when he died, his vision, his dream, had not been fully realized. If you haven’t seen the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, which is on the site of the Lorraine Motel, I would encourage you to do so, especially those of you, like me, who aren’t old enough to have lived through the civil rights movement, but are thankful for those who did.

I’ve been getting e-mails from both Republicans and Democratic Campaigns with remarks in observance of the anniversary of King’s death. Here’s what the Republican National Committee, and presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama had to say today:

Obama spoke today in Fort Wayne, Ind., he asked Americans to ‘continue King’s lifelong pursuit of social and economic justice’ according to an Obama news release. Here is some of what he said:

“That is why the great need of this hour is much the same as it was when Dr. King delivered his sermon in Memphis. We have to recognize that while we each have a different past, we all share the same hopes for the future – that we’ll be able to find a job that pays a decent wage, that there will be affordable health care when we get sick, that we’ll be able to send our kids to college, and that after a lifetime of hard work, we’ll be able to retire with security. They’re common hopes, modest dreams. And they’re at the heart of the struggle for freedom, dignity, and humanity that Dr. King began, and that it is our task to complete.”

RNC Chairman Robert M. “Mike” Duncan:

“Today, we mark the 40th anniversary of the tragic assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by honoring his life’s work and his inspirational legacy of faith, freedom, and hope. Dr. King’s vision for America was one of equality and prosperity – the very essence of the American Dream.

“We honor Dr. King’s tireless efforts for a united nation and the pursuit of the American Dream for its people, regardless of race or creed. We believe that every American can realize their God-given potential if provided the opportunities and tools to do so. Access to a quality education, meaningful employment, and a place to call home are the building blocks of this dream, and faith is the mortar.

“Dr. King’s dream is a promise that remains true today and will continue to pave the way to a brighter future for our country.”