About the time we were baptizing our daughter in the St. Luke’s vestibule, the phrase “What Would Jesus Do?” became a faith mantra. Bracelets and rubber wrist bands with the acronym WWJD were everywhere. I bet now instead of brackets, tattoos are more popular.
So anyway, there was a Martin Luther King day event held locally Seattle this year that championed the phrase “take a knee.’ I shook my head a bit when I first saw the flyer. It just felt off. On one hand, I kind of get it. MLK was all about nonviolent acts to further civil rights. And, there is nothing violent about choosing not to sing.
However, while NFL football players took a knee during the national anthem in protest of police violence against blacks, the action was viewed by many as unpatriotic and disrespectful to our flag and military. Would Martin Luther King be grateful and excited our community supported this action in his name? I don’t know. Maybe, maybe not. My perspective is limited and possibly tainted by my white girl upbringing, reciting the pledge of allegiance to America every Monday throughout elementary school, my dad fighting in the Korean war, my brother serving in Vietnam, a nephew in the today’s Navy. I grew up with, and still have today, a deep rooted respect for the American flag.
So my question is this: isn’t there another way, any other way, than choosing this divisive topic, to celebrate the works and help further the efforts of a great man? Wouldn’t MKL want his name to be the voice for inclusion, rather than excluding those that would always stand while removing their hat for the National Anthem and therefore not attend this event because of the unpatriotic nature it represents?
What would Martin Luther King do? Though I would not wear it on a bracelet, it is a good question to ponder.
Our nation lost a great man when Baptist Minister Martin Luther King was assassinated. How can we best honor the life he gave for the people of this country?
And tomorrow our nation, one nation under God, celebrates a savior risen. He has risen indeed.
Leave a Reply