Wright and King – words of influence?
ETCetera
Father James Vanderholt

The Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. of Chicago has been in the news lately because of his controversial statements about the United States. More than controversial, some were mis-statements.

Why he drew the attention of the national media was that he had been the pastor of U.S. presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama. The relation of the two and possible influence of the pastor on the senator was what the media stressed.

Fair question. That is not the approach of this column, this column compares the influence of Jeremiah Wright and Dr. Martin Luther King and who of the two left a greater influence on our nation.

Both graduated from prestigious theological schools – Wright from the University of Chicago and King from Boston University (not Boston College).

Wright’s parishioners have accused the media of using sound bites to assassinate his character. But his statements invite these sound bites.

Compare Wright’s remarks to those of M.L. King. King was never accused of watering down his demands that all citizens live and encourage others to live the American dream. King was able to speak to the entire interracial community of the nation.

One could always measure his remarks within the context of biblical and national values. The words of King are still powers in our society today. I do not think Wright’s words will be recalled past the next election.

King spoke to all, Catholic and Protestant, white and black. King rose to fame in the Birmingham (Alabama) Bus Boycott (1955-1956). From this experience he was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Its ideals and values were Christian and its operational techniques were borrowed from Gandhi. King was arrested 20 times and assaulted four times. Time magazine named him Man of the Year in 1963. His efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. He is considered one of the great orators in U.S. history. In 1964, King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Let me give credit to Dr. Wright where credit is due. Wright’s record of speech and ministry has caused all in our country to reach an unimagined state by exclaiming “Thank God for Martin Luther King.”

In conclusion, let me remind, no urge, our readers to visit the new Martin Luther King Park in Beaumont. It is located between College and Wall Streets, just west of M.L. King Parkway, a couple of blocks west of St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica.

It has about a half a dozen stones with his famous quotations etched on them. These quotations still speak to us today. They not only speak, they inspire us today.