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Much has been made of the strange juxtaposition of the inauguration of Donald Trump and the observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday this past Monday. But the stark contrast was perhaps most obvious when the President, just hours into his term, signed an executive order demanding "the termination of all discriminatory programs, including illegal DEI and 'diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility' (DEIA) mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities in the Federal Government." By 5 p.m. today, all federal agencies are required to place all DEI office staff on paid leave, pending further action.
Regardless of what one may think about the merits of the President's action, the irony is hard to miss.
That irony also gives fresh meaning and current relevance to some of Dr. King's most familiar words. We are reminded, for example, of the distinction King drew between just and unjust laws. "One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws," King wrote from a jail cell in Birmingham. "Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws... Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust. All segregation statutes are unjust because segregation distorts the soul and damages the personality. It gives the segregated a false sense of inferiority."
As we navigate the coming debate over discrimination and inclusion, I pray that the writings of Dr. King will serve as a valuable resource and guide for thoughtful and compassionate people on both sides of the aisle.
I would say the same for people of faith. I will concede some possible bias on this point, but I believe King's most compelling words came -- and still come -- from his sermons. In them, he left no doubt that his views of the world, and how to change the world, rested firmly and unshakably on a foundation of faith in God. If we want "to move creatively toward the goal of freedom and justice," he preached, people of faith "must combine tough-mindedness and tender-heartedness." We must demand the truth and vigorously defend the truth, but we must do so with compassion, mercy, understanding, and love.
This duality, King argued, has always been the defining nature of God and of God's Son, Jesus Christ. And those who wish to follow the Way, the Truth, and the Life are called to emulate that nature and to do our best to blend these two competing traits together in our own spirits.
Tough minds and tender hearts. Conviction coupled with compassion. Pushing urgently for justice, but always leading with love.
Blessings and peace,
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