Published: January 30, 2008 10:56 am         

Reflections on Martin Luther King Day

On a recent Saturday (Jan 19) and Monday (Jan 21), I attended two outstanding events organized by the Martin Luther King, Jr Commemoration Committee. The theme for these events was “Unity & Diversity = Success.” The participants in both events included prominent black and white leaders in our community, cooperating in a most impressive effort to honor the memory of a man who committed his life to making the claims of the Declaration of Independence and the promises of the Constitution valid for all Americans, not just for Americans of one race or economic class.

In the event on Saturday night, Mr. Wallace Simmons received the Image Award as a man who truly exemplifies the theme “Unity & Diversity = Success.” Anyone who knows much about Wallace knows that he certainly personifies this ideal, as he works tirelessly supporting countless activities and initiatives which are important to the quality of life for all our community’s citizens.

The program on Monday, designed primarily to honor Dr King’s memory, also included moving and appropriate demonstrations of patriotism. The Girl Scouts reverently brought the American flag forward while all stood in respect, after which all joined in saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Then we all sang “My Country ‘Tis of Thee”. Dr Gary Holdiness, the event’s keynote speaker, spoke eloquently of Dr King’s mission to bring the full measure of citizenship to all Americans.

Dr Holdiness spoke of how Dr King sought to achieve unity among the peoples of our country’s diverse population, so that all might enjoy the full benefits of citizenship. The changes brought about by his efforts, and by the efforts of those—black, white and other—whom his efforts inspired during his lifetime and after his death, constitute success that is recognized not only in this country but around the world.

During the weekend in which these events took place I also read an editorial by former presidential candidate and political commentator Patrick Buchanan in which he wrote of his concern that racial diversity is destroying our country. Citing numerous statistics about our increased diversity, as compared to 50 years ago, he wrote that “our racial diversity has ever been the most divisive issue in America—and remains so, as we see daily from Jena, the Imus affair, and the Duke rape case.” He concluded his piece by stating that “this generation is witnessing the Deconstruction (sic) of America. Out of one, many.”

Sobering thoughts. I could imagine many heads nodding in agreement, especially among those who see Mr. Buchanan as a wise expositor on our country’s condition.

However, I do not accept Buchanan’s bleak premise and even bleaker prediction that the diversity of our population will lead to the “deconstruction of America”.

Yes, Jena, the Imus affair and the Duke rape case demonstrate that race is at times still a divisive issue in our society, even though America has come a long way toward overcoming racial prejudice and divisiveness during the past fifty years. However, I would argue that they are less divisive and destructive to our society’s unity than were Philadelphia, Miss., in 1964, or Theodore C Bilbo (and some more recent political leaders), or the Emmett Till case – all of which occurred in a time which many of us are accustomed to think of as the “Golden Years”, when (as many of us thought) we were all one happy, unified body of citizens, benefiting equally from the blessings of American citizenship.

Of course, Buchanan’s discussion of our current diversity is not limited to blacks and whites. Among the groups he expresses concern about are the Hispanics, and he claims that “the Melting Pot—language, law, culture—[once] worked to make us one nation and one people. But that Melting Pot is now cracked and broken.”

As I read that, I think of Jiselle Rodriguez, KHS senior, who came to Kosciusko several years ago speaking very little English and knowing next to nothing about American culture. Today she is a shining star at KHS, even as she helps tutor children – white, black and Hispanic – at the LEAP Center. She will be a princess at the Junior Auxiliary Charity Ball next month. What a wonderful example of how the melting pot does indeed still work.

So as I reflect on the positive, unifying and patriotic experiences from our recent Martin Luther King weekend and on the example of young people in our school system who are finding individual success even as they contribute to unity within our community, I am encouraged. I see that although not everything within our society is on the right track, we are dealing with our diversity better today than we did in those “good old days” of the 1940s, 50s and early 60s.

Therefore, instead of wringing our hands over the growing diversity of our society – a diversity born of those who still believe in and seek to find opportunity in this great land– I would hope that we will work to make our country even stronger, even more unified, by acting where we are, within our increasingly diverse population, to promote individual success and unity within society. If we do, I believe the result will be not ‘deconstruction’ but an even stronger America.



Preston Hughes, a retired Army colonel, is chairman of the American-Turkish Council and Defense and Security Affairs Committee Chairman.