What Would Martin Luther King Say?

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Incensed over Pat Robertson’s outrageous remarks about Haiti, I waited on hold at the 700 Club Prayer Line, my ire building with every minute of deadly dull hold music ( at least they could have offered the muzak version of “Spirit in the Sky” or “Put Your Hand in the Hand”). I was enduring this odd form of Purgatory because a rumor was floating around Facebook that for every call answered Robertson/700 Club would be charged a dollar. Though I was never able to confirm the veracity of the stunt, I figured it was worth a shot.

My outrage grew as five minutes became ten, ten, fifteen and the music was interrupted with periodic pre-recorded pitches to ask the next available “prayer counselor” about Robertson’s new book on financial salvation in hard times. Sure I’d lambaste whoever picked up the call, I was ready to declare his/her boss a dangerous hypocrite, an agent of the devil who masquerades as a messenger of God. Robertson lest we forget blamed 9/11 and Katrina on a “depraved American society,” pointing particularly at homosexuals, feminists and abortions. He actually had the audacity to publicly pray for the deaths of liberal Supreme Court Justices during the last Bush years. Oh, I was ready to give the so-called “prayer counselor” something to pray about.

Then something happened. By the time “Lois” came on the line, my mood had softened. All of a sudden a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. ran through my mind, gripping my psyche like a spiritual mantra. ” Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”

I still told Lois how angry I was, but my tone was calm, as I felt for this woman whose minimum wage paycheck wasn’t worth the verbal lashing she, no doubt, had already received. She was cordial, probably near the end of her shift and certainly instructed on how to handle such calls. She cut me off quickly, politely advising me to “register my comments” at the CBN website.

After I got off the phone I wondered what Dr. King would say, what he would do. He most certainly wouldn’t have bothered waiting for Lois. He’d already be mobilizing supplies and people; he might already be in Haiti leading rescue efforts. “Every man must decide whether he will work in the light of creative altruism or the darkness of selfishness,” he said.

And what would King say about Robertson? And Rush Limbaugh, whose cynical comment directing his “dittoheads” to forgo participating in Haiti relief funds because we already give to Haiti”: “It’s called income tax, ” he said on his show last Wednesday. Then on Friday he added to his ignorant arsenal: “Now the U. S. Military is Meals on Wheels,” referring to soldiers helping coordinate and distribute supplies in the devastating earthquake’s chaotic wake. Of course he had to add a political punch, “As it always is under Democratic presidents.”

I think King would look both Rush and Robertson in the eye and say: “Nothing in this world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”

And what would King say to a social commentator like me who fretted all week over whether to write about the incredulous inhumanity that spewed forth from these two powerful cretins or ignore it, hoping silence would let the social stench fade faster? I suspect he might admonish me: “He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps perpetuate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.”

And so, on the day we celebrate what would have been Martin Luther King Jr’s 81st birthday, I call out these evil-sayers. And I call upon those who listen to them, to think again. Listen to other voices if only for a day. Open your hearts to all humanity. Stop politicizing everything. Find common ground. And common good.

To those suffering in Haiti or waiting for word about loved ones he’d say: “Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness.”

To the rest of us he’d say: “Be concerned about your brother. Either we go up together or we go down together.”

With that in mind, I urge you to do what you can. At this point, unless your affiliated with a group, officials are asking people not to go to Haiti. The best way to help is to donate money. A multi-network telethon organized by George Clooney and MTV will air on several networks Friday, January 22. Please beware of “charity” scams. Give to reputable organizations like The Red Cross, Doctors without Borders and Americares.

And as we honor Martin Luther King, Jr, I ask that we all follow his lead and choose to stick with love. After all, “hate is too great a burden to bear.”

Editor’s Note: Please follow Amy Beth Arkawy on Twitter, and visit this author’s archive on News Junkie Post.

Editor’s Note:

News Junkie Post is urging all of its readers to help Haiti and give as generously as they can to Doctors Without Borders, the Red Cross or Americares.

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