Discrimination to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King on His Birthday?

The "Letters to the Editor" section of any newspaper is a great way to get a commentary piece off the ground, either in support of, or an opinion against what has been written. However sometimes you're never really sure of the motivation behind some opinions and that can be a real challenge to comment on. Such is the case with an opinion piece in the Lake County News-Herald on February 22nd declaring it was "Discrimination" (the title of the entry) to write a series of articles up to the birthday about Dr. Martin Luther King accomplishments, and then the two-page article on his actual birthday as well.

I of course have to start this piece by saying that I whole-heartedly believe that everyone has a right to their opinion, while remembering that the right to free speech also comes with the price of rebuttal. I also know that humor can be "tongue in cheek", also dangerous if someone doesn't get or subscribe to that brand of humor. I like to think of that type of humor as a form of "focused advertising" so to speak.

My problem with the editorial written by Barney Gliba, of Mentor Ohio, is I'm not quite sure if he was serious or trying to funny in some sort of way with his piece in the Letters to the Editor section. Even while writing this, I'm still not quite sure, but I'm guessing he was being serious, but as you'll see, I feel somewhat misguided in his beliefs.

Gliba felt that the serious of articles that the News-Herald printed leading up to the two-page celebration spread on Dr. King's birthday were discrimination because there have been no there stories commentating the accomplishments who, in Gliba's words, "have accomplished so much more to make us such a great nation." Mr. Gliba, just how do we define this would be my question? The very next line really caught me off guard and led me to believe that Gliba had an agenda, but fell short of actually presenting it and lets see if you draw a similar conclusion. It said, "What did Dr. Martin Luther King do that Brigham Young didn't do?" Now, I'm quite sure everyone has heard of Brigham Young University, but I'm also quite sure that most people don't know how it was started because of Brigham Young himself and the sacrifices it took to get it done.

Gliba goes on to show similarities to the marches both men undertook, Dr. King from state to state all the way to Alabama, and Young by covered wagon from Illinois through the Midwest fighting Indians, hunger and freezing temperatures because he also had a dream. Gliba states that an arc angel appeared to Young in a dream telling him to settle his people in the Great Salt Lake area. Young went on to become governor of Utah, and of course the University was named after him.

There are further parallels introduced by Gliba to others that led to "marches" in defense of those that had been mistreated or persecuted. General George Washington, leading the Minutemen across the Delaware River from Philadelphia to New England, General Sherman's march to Atlanta, General Grant, and even Teddy Roosevelt and his "Roughriders" were also cited as examples. The fact the George Washington, "The Father of our Country" didn't get the coverage that Dr. King got particularly seemed to upset Gliba.

He sums up his editorial by once again stating that this was discrimination on the News-Herald's part for not printing the legacy's of so many other great heroes of our country. I thought I read his entire piece he might be going for what I'm about to tell you should have been his goal.

First, to call this discrimination is way off the mark. Gliba missed an opportunity to "encourage the News-Herald" to begin a weekly, or perhaps even monthly educational series on ALL those that have helped mold our country into what it is today. This would have educational benefits in the classroom, in homes and might even inspire our youth to never give up in the face of adversity, no matter what the odds. Think of what encouragement, or even courage itself would mean to a young developing mind, or eve perhaps provide another reason for someone else to grab onto that "rope" in life one more time as well. This is common lesson that all our past leaders had in common, the ability to inspire us to go beyond our personal limits and make a difference.

If you'll indulge just one Star Trek reference, in "Generations" Captain Picard has the opportunity to meet the legendary Captain Kirk to try and convince him to help him stop a threat to millions of people. Kirk is hesitant, but as he hears that the odds are stacked against and the situation is grim, he responds to Picard's simple statement of "come back with me, help me make a difference again."

Mr. Gliba, you missed your chance to make a difference, so I'm going to help you finish it the right way. We can all learn from past exemplary examples of courage, and they come from people of all races , colors or religions. The examples of courage and sacrifice have no bounds and will always stand the test of time. Let us hope that narrow minded agendas don't succeed in shutting off the open minded willingness it will take to absorb all that our past leaders have contributed to our freedoms and most importantly, our opportunities.