A Brief One Commentary by Doug Draper at Niagara At Large
Posted on Martin Luther King Day, January 20th, 2025
The legendary American civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Martin Luther King must be tossing and turning in his grave.
This January 20th – a day set aside across the United States and other countries, if they choose to, to honour his great work as a voice for social justice, for racial equality and for the better angels in us – is also the day Donald Trump, who is the complete opposite of virtually everything King stood for, is being sworn in as president of the United States with a long list of grievance he vows to settle with those he considers to be “enemies” as he re-enters the White House.
What’s more, Trump and his gang of autocrats, thugs and willing enablers are threatening to undo so much of the work that King fought and ultimately sacrificed his life, including voting right, rights for working people and a host of other measures that would .offer people pathways out of poverty and oppression and to a greater say in a democracy.
One can only imagine what Martin Luther King, who was assassinated in 1968 by an individual full of hate, would say about all of this today.
But he might very urge people, and that means all of us, to do everything we can to resist dark forces and to not become a part of the danger we are facing in his and in other countries around the world by doing nothing.
With that, here are just a few words from Martin Luther King on this day honouring his legacy that I feel are as relevant today as they were when he first spoke them –
“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.”
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.”
“The time is always right to do what is right.”
Now back to your Niagara At Large commentator.
I have always believed, and still do, that we, the people, ultimately have the power over government or any other institution or agent, to build a better world.
Never mind, to paraphrase a lyric from a Bruce Springsteen song, “wasting time waiting for a savior to rise from the streets.”
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Our fate is in our hands – Doug Draper, Niagara At Large
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“A Politician Thinks Of The Next Election. A Leader Thinks Of The Next Generation.” – Bernie Sanders
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