BY IRIS B. HOLTON

Sentinel City Editor

“Let us stand with a greater determination. And let us move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge to make America what it ought to be. We have an opportunity to make America a better nation.”

Taken from the speech, “I’ve Been To The Mountaintop” delivered by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., April 3, 1968.

As we approach the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday, things seem to be in more turmoil than ever. One incident recently in the news is the shooting in Arizona that left Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords critically injured along with 14 others. The gunman killed six other people.

Dr. King sought peaceful co-existence and felt violence was not the answer to achieving the dream he shared with America on August 28, 1963, nearly five years before his death.

Some citizens shared their opinions by answering the question, ‘Do you feel the world is becoming more violent, thus pushing the goal of accomplishing his dream further away?’

Ms. Ann Jenkins said, “I am very upset over the event that took place in Arizona. I blame the Republicans for what has happen, because of all the negative talk that they engaged in the media about destroying bills and how bad they talked about our president.

“There are people out there in the world that listen and take it the wrong way, make up their minds, and do what that young man did.

Dr. King’s fight was about injustice and for fairness and equality. Let’s drop the Republican or Democrat mumbo jumbo, [private]and think human beings and their lives. I fought for my country so that we all could be free and learn to love one another.”

James Tokley said, “America is a nation born in blood. The red in our flag and the history of our wars attest to our nature. Yet and still, this most recent example of American violence seems to have come with a moral disclaimer.

“By that I mean, not even those Americans who readily champion bloodshed are willing to stand up and applaud the killing of children, senior citizens, and public servants who, in all innocence, did not but represent their Democratic way of life.

“Yes, America has never been able to deny its bloodthirsty heritage. But amidst the blood are also vestiges of human kindness and common sense. Thanks to those ever-present concepts, America finally decided to put a Black man in the White House.

“No, doubt, if he could see us now, Rev. King would say, ‘Nobody said it would be easy. But, you’re still on your way to the Promised Land! Be careful. You’ll know you’re at the door when they refuse to let you in!’”[/private]