Today we celebrate the life, wisdom and many contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King, winner of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Dr. King's non-violent movement, based in part of the work of Mahatma Ghandi, is credited with passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the landmark Voting Rights Act in the United States.Dr. King's contributions were many and some, frequently forgotten or conveniently overlooked, are especially resonant today. You see, Dr. King not only spoke out against widespread racism, he was equally vocal about militarism, poverty and materialism - which continue to plague our society and stain our reputation. As we reflect on the life and violent death of a man considered by some to be a saint, it is appropriate to remember the work left for us to do: The wars to end; the peace to be made; the poverty and resulting disease to be mitigated, and finally, the long-overdue relegation of materialism to the dust bin of history. I can hear the corporate oligarchs howling at the thought.
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