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SpeechesMartin Luther King Jr. Annual Dinner
Graham B. Spanier
It's a pleasure once again to be here among the many individuals who continue to honor the legacy of The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. by living his call for action and by celebrating the diversity in our lives.January 15, 2006 Across the country today and tomorrow, parades, banquets, and church services will mark his legacy, highlighting his inspiring quest for racial justice, freedom, and equality. Dr. King shared his vision with us and inspired an entire nation. Now, more than four decades later, we still remember Dr. King at a time when freedom, justice, and diversity continue to be the focus of peoples across the globe. Examples are plentiful: France experienced social unrest this fall, gay marriage and gay rights were in the headlines much of 2005, Hurricane Katrina exposed the juncture of race and poverty, and immigration and border issues continue to fuel debate in the United States. These stories--and others -- remind us that democracy is an unfinished agenda and that Dr. King's dream is not yet complete. In fact, this year's theme "Wake Up! Realize the Dream!" is a call to all of us to acknowledge the work that still must be done to achieve racial harmony and peace. It is a call to embrace our differences, abandon our prejudices, speak out against injustices, and carry the message of freedom with us wherever we go. Dr. King knew that no fight for real justice is ever easily won. He was a courageous spirit who did not waver in his commitment to humanity and equal rights. Dr. King believed that "the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." Each one of us is responsible for carrying out Dr. King's vision. We must continue to cultivate a climate that embraces every member of our community and challenges us to preserve his legacy. At the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., there is a quote on the wall from a noted scholar that reads, "Thou shalt not be a victim. Thou shalt not be a perpetrator. Above all, thou shalt not be a bystander." Today and every day, let's resolve to never be a bystander in the fight for social justice. Let us pledge to continue Dr. King's quest for unity and peace, knowing that our actions will greatly benefit future generations. Have a wonderful evening. |
