Dear Editor,
Memorial Day honors America’s men and women who lost their lives in service to their country. Rather than a joyful holiday, Memorial Day is a solemn day of remembrance dedicated to those who sacrificed in the name of freedom and democracy. To express our gratitude to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, perhaps we might consider doing something that contributes to the well-being of our fellow citizens.
Many of us respond to prevalent worldwide crises—many of which exemplify man’s inhumanity to man—with angst, deep anxiety, and unfocused dread. This manner of coping can lead to emotional suppression as a way to distance ourselves from painful realities, resulting in detachment and a loss of the desire to connect with others.
To combat this, an alternative strategy for coping with pervasive, persistent stressors becomes necessary.
Just over 60 years ago, the first mass movement of the modern civil rights era took place in Albany, Georgia, with the goal of desegregating that entire community.
Over the course of nine months, more than 1,000 Blacks were jailed, including the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Certainly, this challenge to white power structures created angst among both whites and Blacks. Yet, while in jail, King penned sermons about loving one’s enemies, emphasizing the fundamental message that love serves as a catalyst for social and political change.
Later, in the 1967 publication, “Where Do We Go from Here,” Dr. King wrote, “... something must touch the hearts and souls of men so that they will come together spiritually. ... The barriers to a truly integrated society ... will be removed only as men are possessed by the invisible inner law which etches on their hearts the conviction that all men are brothers and that love is mankind’s most potent weapon for personal and social transformation.”
If we truly value contributing to the well-being of all Americans, we can choose to stand against injustice and love one another each day, just as God commanded. Such a commitment will go a long way toward ensuring that brotherhood becomes the condition of humanity, not just its dream.
Peter Wibell, Rutledge