A Celebration of Courage

A Message From Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Courage is a trait we as Americans admire. We applaud it and honor it in our military men and women, in our firefighters and police and in our sports heroes. We give medals and parades to those who exemplify extraordinary examples of courage.

Over the more than two centuries of America’s national history, we can point to many courageous men and women who did great things – but perhaps none was more courageous than Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — whose life we celebrate today.

Dr. King had the courage to hold a mirror up to America and ask the uncomfortable questions:  Are we living up to the ideals that we profess to believe in? Are we truly a country where all are equal before the eyes of the law and where opportunity is available to everyone?  And if we truly are who we say we are, then why are there people of color forced to drink from different water fountains, sit in the back of the bus or  stay in segregated hotels? If each America is endowed with unalienable rights” of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness – then  why are “colored” children forced to go to segregated schools with their inferior tools for learning.

For his efforts, Dr. King was vilified, spat upon, cursed and denounced. But he kept moving forward because he believed he was right. He stood up against an army of opposition – and courageously spoke the words that would  gradually and forever change our nation. He knew he would not live long enough to see the changes he wanted  — and predicted his own death – but he pressed on anyway.

His true courage was found not in the fact that he was holding America to its promises — many others had done that – but that he fought injustice in the peaceful, eloquent and non-threatening way. He didn’t incite violence; he ignited imaginations. He spoke to what he believed was buried inside each of us – the better part of us – our souls.

Dr, King offered us a roadmap to non-violent racial harmony. And on August 28, 1963 in front of the Lincoln Memorial, Dr. King  – in one of the most memorable and important speeches in American history  — asked the nation to share in his dream.   I offer a few of his  immortal words to you today as the best tribute we can give to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr:

“…And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

….. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!”

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Courage is a trait we as Americans admire. We applaud it and honor it in our military men and women, in our firefighters and police and in our sports heroes. We give medals and parades to those who exemplify extraordinary examples of courage.

Over the more than two centuries of America’s national history, we can point to many courageous men and women who did great things – but perhaps none was more courageous than Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — whose life we celebrate today.

Dr. King had the courage to hold a mirror up to America and ask the uncomfortable questions:  Are we living up to the ideals that we profess to believe in? Are we truly a country where all are equal before the eyes of the law and where opportunity is available to everyone?  And if we truly are who we say we are, then why are there people of color forced to drink from different water fountains, sit in the back of the bus or  stay in segregated hotels? If each America is endowed with unalienable rights” of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness – then  why are “colored” children forced to go to segregated schools with their inferior tools for learning.

For his efforts, Dr. King was vilified, spat upon, cursed and denounced. But he kept moving forward because he believed he was right. He stood up against an army of opposition – and courageously spoke the words that would  gradually and forever change our nation. He knew he would not live long enough to see the changes he wanted  — and predicted his own death – but he pressed on anyway.

His true courage was found not in the fact that he was holding America to its promises — many others had done that – but that he fought injustice in the peaceful, eloquent and non-threatening way. He didn’t incite violence; he ignited imaginations. He spoke to what he believed was buried inside each of us – the better part of us – our souls.

Dr, King offered us a roadmap to non-violent racial harmony. And on August 28, 1963 in front of the Lincoln Memorial, Dr. King  – in one of the most memorable and important speeches in American history  — asked the nation to share in his dream.   I offer a few of his  immortal words to you today as the best tribute we can give to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr:

“…And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

….. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!”