I am determined to commit more time to my blog this year. We’re in the middle of the first month so now is as good a moment as any to begin. Today is the national holiday that honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was President Obama, I think, who advocated that we mark or celebrate it as a day of service within our communities. His suggestion struck the imagination of many and now it’s considered a National Day of Service in MLK’s honor. A brief letter on the editorial page of my local paper caught my attention this morning. The contributor opined that more than a day of service in his honor, the national holiday ought to be one committed to resecuring the provisions of the voting rights act signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson that have been chipped away over the years by those who oppose it. I agree. In light of the times in which we live, our democracy under attack, ensuring the right of all citizens to vote is crucial. Too many states have enacted laws that impede access to the polls or deny the ballot to citizens for scurrilous reasons. Community service is needed and worthy but guarding the civil rights of our citizens or preventing blatant efforts to overturn them is even more crucial. Civil rights and civil justice were after all among the hallmarks of Dr King’s social activism.
Peace. Love. Joy.
Glad you will be writing more. Community service is also social justice and both are important to me and my family