PA-03: Until Justice Rolls Down Like Water

Written by: Mike W on Jan 21, 2008 9:36 AM EST

Dr. Martin Luther King’s life is an example of how great a democracy can be: without ever holding an elected office or government post, this minister from Georgia used his strong character and deep convictions to change the world.  Like Lincoln, he took a divided country and created a nation. 

King was a beacon for those who sought to make a better America.  There will never be another like him, but today, on the day we celebrate the man, his legacy, and the myriad of gifts he left us, we should all be thankful for the sacrifices he made and the life he led, because we are all his beneficiaries.

Dr. King’s greatest gift to us was his demonstration that all Americans share a destiny - we are a nation of one people, not a nation-state of many.  That shared destiny is something our party has long recognized and championed—from supporting the workers of the organized labor movement to promoting the education of all our country’s children. 

Unfortunately, we have been divided again, and our divisions are widening.  For decades we’ve watched as the national community has been torn apart by reactionary forces and divisive rhetoric.  Too many of our supposed leaders have maintained their positions of power by appealing to our worst instincts, substituting fear for hope, and spending more time crafting slogans than solutions.

I am enjoined by my faith to love my neighbor as myself, and to be my brother’s keeper.  I consider it an injustice when those around me suffer needlessly, especially when we have it within our power to prevent it.  We speak of milk and honey in heaven, but we have neighbors struggling to put bread and butter on the table right here at home.

We must provide health care for all who are sick. 

We must give a college education to every child who wants one. 

We must eliminate poverty in America. 

We must protect our posterity by promoting environmentalism and rewarding “green” behavior.

And every day our society doesn’t work to achieve these goals is essentially another day lost to history, and another mark against us when the histories are written.

Rev. King liked to cite Amos 5:24, and even used it in his legendary “I Have a Dream” speech:

<blockquote>We are not satisfied and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.</blockquote>

Whether you are religious or secular, devout or agnostic, I think we can agree that a righteous and just society—as Dr. King preached of and fought for—is a noble goal, and a legacy that we can create together and be proud to pass on to future generations.

So as you take the day to remember a great man’s life and achievements, I hope you’ll join me in rededicating yourself to turning Rev. King’s teachings into political action, and in helping to make a country where justice rolls down like water.

Mike

Candidate for US Congress, PA-3

Tags:
Location: PA