Published January 2007 — Download PDF of the original newspaper column
Byrd's-Eye View By U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd Learning from Martin Luther King, Jr. Each January, the nation pauses to remember the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The lessons that he taught still carry relevance today, and, I expect, will do so for many years to come. Dr. King's words ring so loudly today because they were based on principle and faith. He marched, preached, and spoke out for equality between races. He battled economic injustice. The Reverend Dr. King was a champion for people who had no voice, little influence, and even less opportunity. His faith in God gave him strength, conviction, and courage. He saw America as it was, and struggled to build America as we all dream it to be. The ground has been broken on a memorial to Dr. King on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. I worked to guarantee $10 million in federal funds for the memorial's construction. Those are dollars well-invested to honor a life well-lived. It is fitting that the country pay tribute to Dr. King at this memorial. But I hope that it is more than a tribute. Dr. King's legacy can still inspire us. Today, we live in a nation still divided by racism and sharp partisanship. We have growing divides between the wealthy, the working class, and the poor. Too many people are being left behind in this 21st century America. Dr. King's words and actions are vibrant with energy and meaning. "Let us rise up tonight with a greater readiness. 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." Dr. King spoke those words in 1968, and they offer hope today. We have that opportunity to bridge the gaps of distrust and discord that divide our people. Reaching that promised land will not be easy, but few things in life worth doing ever are. As we remember the lessons from the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., let us stand with determination against injustice and inequality, and let us work together for a better tomorrow for all of America's children and the generations yet to come. January 17, 2007