Opinion
 

Bush protestors fail to hear King's message

By Jenny Jackson

When President Bush visited the grave of Martin Luther King Jr. in Atlanta on Thursday, he did so to a chorus of angry booing and loud chants of "Bush go home." 

According to a New York Times article, a spokeswoman from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference said she "doubted the integrity" of Bushis action because he has taken a stand against affirmative action, which she said is "part of Dr. King's legacy."

A black social worker from Decatur, Ga., went even further, saying the presidentis offering was a "desecration" to Kingis grave because Bush is "diametrically opposed to everything Dr. King stood for."

Now that all this talking has been done on his behalf, letis look at Kingis own words and see what he actually said. The claim has been made that affirmative action was part of his "legacy." What about the part in his most famous speech where King stated he had a dream someday his children would not be "judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character?"

Affirmative action, right or wrong, is unquestionably a system based on oneis skin color. Can we honestly say programs that set people apart solely based on ethnicity are part of Kingis legacy?

No.

The statement that Bush is diametrically opposed to Kingis beliefs canit be proven. In fact, there is strong evidence to the contrary. From looking at Kingis speech, we see that he had a dream we would live out the creed of this nation that "all men are created equal."

The woman quoted earlier would have us believe that because Bush is against affirmative action, he is somehow against King. But King gave people more credit than do affirmative action programs because he obviously believed all men are equal in their potential, which should remain unaffected by the amount of melanin in their skin. 

These comments, though perhaps made with the best intentions, are more disparaging to Kingis actual beliefs than they are supportive.

The demonstrators probably believed they were proving how Bushis and Kingis ideals are opposite by yelling slogans like "Peace, not war." 

But ironically, what they created was certainly not a peaceful situation. Two protestors were arrested for breaking through the barriers and police were forced to use buses to shield the president from the protestors. 

Iim not sure what Bush ever did to arouse the indignation of blacks in Atlanta, but I am pretty sure that offering a nice wreath and saying a prayer at a gravesite is not an "affliction" that comes anything close to what the blacks of Kingis generation endured. Even while faced with blatant abuse and discrimination, King warned his followers in that same speech about "drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred."

It seems to me that only one side was displaying bitterness and hatred Thursday. Ironically, it was flowing from the side that so vehemently supported the Kingis legacy.

Jackson is an editorial writer for The Daily Cougar and can be reached via dccampus@mail.uh.edu.