RSS 2.0 FeedThursday, January 12, 2012, Weekly editorial
Honoring our king
The United States does not have a king, but it does have a national hero named Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose legacy we celebrate on Monday with a federal holiday. For us, his name is associated with civil rights and freedom, those most American of values.
And civil rights for all means we are all kings in a certain way.
Back when the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was enacted, Dr. King was present to watch the debates. He had helped make it happen by promoting Gandhi’s ideas of putting pressure on government through peaceful demonstrations.
1964 was also the first year of the New York World’s Fair, when New York City was at the zenith of its economic power. The two observation towers of the New York State Pavilion, now sometimes used as a backdrop for movies, were modern and new. Now they are rusty and decayed, an embarrassment to all who drive by on their way to and from the city’s two airports.
Here’s an idea. Why not try to recapture our glory days by refurbishing – or at least painting – those two towers and renaming them for our American hero, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.?
Just think of the possibilities for inspiration!
