To the editor:
It is appropriate for the government to help finance the celebration of significant contributions to the justice and civil rest of our nation. This would be true regardless of the religious beliefs of those who made the contribution. I have no doubt that America is a more just and peaceful society due to leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King to the civil rights movement.
We must not forget that the source of this significant contribution was an African-American Christian pastor. To gloss over the fact that he was Christian by trying to de-emphasize his Christianity is to mar his remembrance. It also distorts the truth that the strength and perseverance of Dr. King to stand against the politically correctness of his day came from his Christian worldview and his personal faith.
In order to celebrate diversity you must acknowledge the contributions to our society from people who are different (or believe differently)from yourself. It seems, however, that it is offensive to some to acknowledge the positive effects of Christianity upon our civil society. Such intolerance only defeats the celebration of diversity.
If a diverse segment of our population has made a significant contribution to our civil society, then it is only just to allow the truth about the source of that contribution to be celebrated. Does this constitute the establishment of religion? I hardly think so. Nor do I think that it is unjust to ask our citizens regardless of their religious beliefs to pay for a small portion of the celebration of the greater justice and peace that they enjoy because a man with Christian convictions stood against the status quo.
Keith White,
Baldwin
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