The Legacy of Dr. King

In the almost 40 years since the death of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and on this day in America in which we celebrate the birth of one of the greatest Americans in the history of our nation, I come disheartened and some what disenchanted with the American public. We have seen many great strides in America since the death of Dr. King but reading and listening to the commentaries on the two leading candidates for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. Our nation is facing the most historical election in the history of our young democratic republic. The factions are coming out in full force to drive a wedge between both the Obama campaign and the Clinton campaign. We should be excited that these two individuals are puttting themselves out there and taking the scrutiny of being our next president. I truly believe that Dr. King would be proud that a Brotha and a Women are making history at the same time. I do believe he would be a little disappointed in how we are reacting as a electorate in what could be some wonderful days for the many groups in America who have been historically disenfranchised. African Americans are not the only group that has been persecuted in this nation, the Indians have seen genocide come upon their people and they are still dealing with the reprecussion today, Hispanics are yet another group that has gone through trails and tribulation, while those who are Gay, Lesbian, Transgender and Transexual have to constantly live in fear of having amendments added to our Constitution to exclude them from just having the basic fundemental rights that everyone else enjoys these are just a few and I could go on and on. The people must realize that we cannot buy into the media's version on the who we should support and who we can't. I am a democrat and I am supporting either Obama or Clinton ( because the Clinton's have been very good to the African American community and we must not forget that.) Just because you are supporting one does not mean we should resort to name calling against the other, because at the end of the day they are on the same side of the aisle in the United States Senate. Dr. King would not be pleased that we are spending our time fighting one another when we could be using our time in service for those who are less fortunate than we are (that is the reason why we celebrate the King Holiday)... All of the time that we spending attacking one candidate over another could be used to mentor some one at the Boys and Girls Club of America, or you can go to a local homeless shelter and give of your time or you can always go to the Red Cross and give blood. It is good to see people not being so apathetic about the direction of our nation but to go as low as name calling is a bit juvenile even for a teenager. We must remember that the Dream of Dr. King was for all Americans to respect one another no matter what your differences are... I understand that we might not agree with individuals political view points, religious view points, or even their lifestyles but we must repsect them and the only way that we can respect one another is through love... That was the message of Dr. King... He never focused on what we were, he always focused on what we could become... Because when you focus on what you are you never grow, but when the focus is on what you can be, then that is when you grow. Growth never happens by just saying you are going to do something. Growth happens by showing it in your actions. That is the message of the Dr. King and I think we have come along way but the journey is far from over.