Fight for Dr. King's dream continues today

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Michael Williams
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing command chief
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  On the night Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed, then New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy addressed our nation with a heavy heart, "You can be filled with bitterness, with hatred and a desire for revenge. We can move in that direction as a country, in great polarization or we can make an effort, as Dr. King did, to understand and to comprehend and to replace violence, that stain of bloodshed that has spread across our land, with an effort to understand with compassion and love."

Jan. 21, 2008 marks the 40th anniversary of Dr. King's assassination. As a young lad growing up in Albany, Ga., I was convinced that every household in the South displayed a prominent photo of Dr. King in their home. I often enjoyed the intriguing stories my mom told me of how our small town was filled with anticipation, excitement and a sense of uneasiness as they discovered Dr. King was scheduled to visit.

After his visit he mentioned our small town during his "I've been to the Mountain Top" address. He said, "When I was stabbed in New York City, if I had sneezed with the blade emerged in my chest, I wouldn't have been around in 1962, when negroes in Albany, Ga., decided to straighten their backs up. Whenever men and women straighten their backs up they're going somewhere, because a man can't ride your back unless it is bent..." My mom's used that story to remind us to always be proud of who we are, hold our heads high and walk upright.

This weekend millions of Americans will travel far and near to honor Dr. King's legacy. Many will gather at the Lincoln Memorial where Dr. King rendered his renowned "I Have a Dream" speech.

Some will attempt to emulate the infamous march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., and others will gather around the world to honor the man that dedicated his life to love and justice for his fellow human beings.

In my opinion, Dr. King was a man of character embodying our core values. He understood, long before many, that mankind is like an orchestra. If one instrument is out of tune or missing there can be no perfect harmony. Dr. King was assassinated because he wanted his nation to uphold a promissory note depicted in the words of our Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, "All men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

Today we stand as one, united on the wall of democracy defending, protecting the rights and liberties of mankind -- making Dr. King's dream a reality around the world. This three-day weekend, let's make sure we're in perfect harmony; take care of your wingman and don't allow anyone to be off key or go missing.

As always be safe, make responsible choices and I'll see you around campus.