[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 7, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E22]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IN HONOR OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 7, 1997

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, later this month Americans will commemorate 
the birthday of an outstanding patriot and great moral leader, the late 
Rev. Dr. Martin King, Jr.
  Rev. King is so vital in the memory of those of us who are old enough 
to remember him that it is hard to imagine that, had he not been so 
tragically murdered, he would be celebrating his 68th birthday this 
month. Dr. King was such a vibrant personality and so reflective of his 
times one can only wonder what his role would be today had he not been 
taken from us at such a young age.
  Today, the entire Nation is in debate regarding Proposition 209 in 
California, with both sides claiming that theirs is the path to true 
racial justice. A popular current motion picture depicts the 30 year 
struggle to bring the assassin of Medgar Evers at long last to justice. 
Our talk shows and pundits have devoted a great deal of time debating 
the policy of the Oakland, CA, school system in treating ebonics as a 
separate language. Americans everywhere have been appalled throughout 
the past year regarding the burning by arsonists of predominantly Afro-
American churches throughout the Nation but especially in the South. A 
few weeks ago, Dr. King's assassin lay near death in a Tennessee 
hospital, with people all around the world hoping that, on his 
deathbed, he would finally reveal the truth of that tragic day in 1968, 
and if he indeed acted alone.
  One can only speculate on what Dr. King's comments would have been in 
these and other controversies.
  We do know, however, that Dr. King would have reminded us in each and 
every one of these instances of the message he devoted his life to 
deliver, and which cost him his life. Rev. King's message was that 
``hate destroys the hater more than the hated.''
  We have a long way to go before prejudice and intolerance are 
eradicated. It behooves us all on the birthday of this great American, 
to recall his vital and timeless message.
  Martin Luther King's birthday is an appropriate time for all 
Americans to remember that we must continue to move forward, until the 
day when all of us are afforded full opportunity, and that none of us 
have to be concerned that race, color, creed, or ethnic heritage are a 
hindrance to any individual, or to our nation as a whole.
  Dr. King kept urging his fellow Americans to free themselves from the 
shackles of hatred. Let us resolve, in these last few years of the 20th 
century, to recommit ourselves to the goals with which Martin Luther 
King inspired us all over a quarter century ago.

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