For those fortunate enough to have Monday free, I think
sometimes the day off distracts us from the importance of being actively
engaged in a day on, not just for King’s birthday whenever you observe it but
every day until the goal of equal rights for anyone is transformed into the
reality of equal rights for everyone.
As you may have just guessed from the previous sentence, I
don’t think we’re there. Yet.
We’ve come a long way in many respects a large number of experts
say, but here on the ground, I think we can all agree there are miles to go before
we can sleep. But please don’t allow the distance we’ve yet to travel discourage
you in any way from celebrating the success of the journey we are already undertaking.
And if you think that sounded a little bit like a pep talk,
well maybe it is but let me also point out if you’re waiting/hoping/longing for
a leader like Dr. King to take us the rest of the way, it might be time to stop
looking at the horizon for a drummer and instead, look in the mirror at yourself for the
reflection of his dream.
There are events marking his birthday to include the Norwich Branch of the
NAACP and Norwich Free Academy hosting a celebratory luncheon whose theme this
year is "Standing on the Legacy of Freedom” this Friday in the Sidney
Frank Center Ensemble Room, which, as it has for the previous thirty-four years,
will honor outstanding achievers from throughout our state and community.
Monday on the federal holiday across the country there will be, of
course, ceremonies and commemorations. Ours traditionally centers on the David Ruggles
Freedom Courtyard at Norwich City Hall with some speeches and preaching (some
of us are in more need of prayer than we let on) on what has been, to my memory, historically a typical New England winter's day and then we all go back to the
lives we lead and the people we are.
But after the
speeches, the newspaper editorials and all the gestures, sincere as they will
all be, why not make the day count for the victims of the recent earthquakes in
Puerto Rico?
This is not the time
to wring our hands in sorrow or clench our fists in anger that so much sadness has
come again to one island and its people, our countrymen. Don’t hesitate because
you think there’s too much to do, but rather so that we can help those who need
help.
The Miami Herald has a
great article about the agencies involved in assisting and
how we can be a part of it. And what better time
to do that than here and now, as we honor the life and work of Dr. King?
-bill kenny
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