A life that should be celebrated every day.
THE GREATEST AMERICAN LEADER OF THE 20TH CENTURY
What is greatness in leadership? Most importantly, one should be true to principles, possessing the integrity and dedication to follow their mission without compromise. They should have the ability to fulfill their goals despite inevitable obstacles. 20th century America has produced great leaders in politics, the military and just about every field of endeavor. Most however, have had their flaws.
Politicians, by the very nature of their profession have to make so many compromises that their original integrity and dedication, those who had any, tends to dim and often disappear. Probably the greatest president of the century, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, led the nation through the most devastating economic depression and most destructive war in history. Advancing economic justice as no other president before and beloved by fellow countrymen, he was nevertheless a politician. As such, although abhorring the treatment of Afro-Americans in the Jim Crow South, he refused to act against the injustices lest the Democratic Party lose the states of the “Solid South” (which slipped away after the Democrats eventually espoused the cause of civil rights). Swayed by popular opinion and political pressure, he ignored the plight of European Jews seeking shelter from Hitler’s persecutions by refusing to relax strict immigration laws. A great leader, yes; but political considerations compromised moral judgement.
George Patton and Douglas McArthur were probably the greatest military leaders of the century. The best field commanders however, tend to be strong willed and singularly minded, often having problems with the restrictions placed on them by the chain of command. Their strong personalities, necessary for success therefore, often caused them to act contrary to the policies of their popularly elected superiors; a major flaw which severely compromised their ability and careers.
There is however, one who stands heads above the rest; a person of the highest moral character who dedicated his life to the noblest cause of all; that of social and economic justice. Although identified with a specific ethnic group, truly a leader of world stature representing all Americans and one of whom we can all be proud; Martin Luther King, Jr. Uncompromising in his quest for racial and economic justice, he rallied the nation behind his peaceful resistance to the abominations of Jim Crow in the South and unequal treatment in the rest of the nation as well as leading the fight for economic justice for all.
For too long the words of our revered forefathers and the documents they created had been spoken yet ignored; a nation shrouded in hypocrisy. The work of Martin Luther King, Jr. brought us closer to the American ideal. And this year Dr. King’s legacy takes on a special meaning. The election of an Afro-American to the highest office in the land is the fulfillment of a large part of the dream. And the great man’s methods of organizing from the grass roots has been recognized and advanced by technology to help in the election of Barack Obama to the presidency.
Truly the greatest leader of the past century, Dr. King has brought us closer to the American ideal of equal justice and opportunity for all. Unfortunately, in the years since his untimely death, these concepts have been subverted and have as yet gone unfulfilled. Hopefully, with the election of Barack Obama, we will be able to pick up where Dr. King left off and work towards the creation of a society based on social and economic justice for every American.
Bay Currents 1/2009
THE QUEST IS FAR FROM OVER
The election of Barack Obama was certainly a landmark in American history. Yet, hatred and persecution persists (see Balance: Justice and Enforcement). Although progress continued into the 1970’s leading to a huge expansion of the black middle class and much greater acceptance into mainstream society, the march backwards since (see The Legalization of Ignorance) has stifled further forward movement, leaving many of color behind.
We must honor Martin Luther King, Jr. as one of America’s greatest heroes, not just once a year but every day. And the way we can do so is to continue the quest for social and economic justice for all.
1/2021