By T. Scott Boatright
Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream, a dream I still believe in despite the often turbulent times in which we live today.
This historic day marks only the third time Inauguration Day and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day are being celebrated at the same time since MLK Day was first recognized in 1986.
The inaugurations following the reelections of President Bill Clinton in 1997 and Barack Obama in 2013 are the only two other times that Inauguration Day and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day have coincided.
And as Donald J. Trump is inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States today, my hopes and prayers are that the iconic words of Martin Luther King, Jr. are taken to heart.
During a day and age where our nation can seem and feel as divided as it ever has been, King’s philosophy and words ring more true and important than ever before.
MLK’s dream was for a society not caught up in and driven by hate, intolerance and fear-fueled discrimination, bigotry and prejudice, but instead one where people work together in a spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood for the good of all.
When President-elect Trump is sworn into office today inside the Capitol’s rotunda, he will do so facing a bust of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on the federal holiday commemorating King’s legacy.
During these often divisive and chaotic times, maybe the stark contrast between this Inauguration Day and MLK Day can be a turning point. Instead of acting or speaking in ways that create even more division, maybe American people and leaders can start making steps toward building a more united and harmonious nation working together for the collective good of all.
A recent article published by the bipartisan American Public Human Services Association, said “Dr. King had a vision of a country where everyone could experience equity and belonging.
“He described this as the ‘Beloved Community,’ and it was integral to his philosophy and approach to social justice. For him, that community was not just a utopian ideal but a realistic and achievable goal where people of all races, backgrounds, and religions could live together in harmony–with mutual respect and understanding for each other’s differences.”
That was MLK’s dream. It’s mine, too.
The title of King’s last book posed the question, “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?”
And I hope today offers the first steps toward refocusing on building his Beloved Community.
The convergence of MLK Day and Inauguration Day is a signal for all of us to consider shared ideals and how we might embody them in our own lives.
In doing so, we can hopefully create civil discourse, learn to navigate through conflict productively and build a spirit of unity for all.
That would be a dream come true for all.
