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I thought it was a rather sickening irony that, yesterday being Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and in the midst of this sinister political climate we are living in, President George W. Bush stood in a church and spoke of Dr.King as a man whose words and actions we should emulate. This coming from a racist, sexist, war-mongering bigot who wants to invade Iraq and North Korea.

President Bush, as a man who has no business even MENTIONING the great Dr. King, your political rhetoric never sounded less sincere.

April 4th 2003 will commemorate the 35th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, a man who as Oprah Winfrey said yesterday on her tribute show " has done more than most Presidents." No one in recent memory has done more for his people without asking for anything, than Dr. King. His policies of "peace and freedom at any cost" were not just empty words, but prophecies of a better time that was inevitable. He believed in good over evil. he believed in his fellow man. But most importantly, he believed in love.

During the Cival Rights Movement of the 1960's, when pressures from more radical leaders like the Nation of Islam's Malcolm X to abandon peaceful sit-ins and boycotts for a more militant response, Dr. King would not alter his methods of using peace as a means to an end. When he gave his eternal "I Have A Dream" speech, Malcolm X retorted, "while this man is busy having a dream, the rest of us are living a nightmare."

Martin Luther King, Jr. understood the times he was living in. He understood the importance of fighting for what was right, and for the integrity and the freedom of oppressed people everywhere. He was not an idealist, as some, including myself, had believed. Instead he was a visionary, a man not afraid to speak out against the injustices and cruelties of his environment.

In a world that seems to lack the consciousness and compassion of the turbulent 1960's, we could sure use Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, right about now. I can not think of one leader right now, who exemplifies the courage, humanity, and charitable goodwill of Dr. King.

And on April 4th 2003, as (U2's Bono sang in their song "Pride in the Name of Love") that shot rings out in the Memphis sky, the whole world should take heed, and know that the last true great man, who himself foresaw his untimely death, was stolen from us.

" Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter to me now. Because I've been to the mountain top. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over . And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as people, will get to the promised land. AND I'M HAPPY TONIGHT. I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT ANYTHING. I'M NOT FEARING ANY MAN. MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY OF THE COMING OF THE LORD."
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, April 3rd, 1968

© 2003 Aaron Bayley