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Show Hilltop Times 16. 2003 January Commentary Holiday celebrates King's life, legacy, values by Rudi Williams American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON The nation will observe the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday Monday. This year marks what would have been the 74th birthday of the slain civil rights leader, humanitarian and clergyman. He was born in Atlanta on Jan. 15, 1929. It is also 20 years since the designation of the King holiday. President Ronald Reagan signed a bill in November 1983 designating the third Monday in January, beginning in 1986, as a federal holiday. As it has been for many years, this year's theme is "Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On ... Not A Day Off." The theme is issued annually by the King Center in Atlanta, which acts as the national promoter of the King Day observance. In a commemoration message, King's widow, Coretta Scott King, said the holiday "celebrates the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America. We commemorate as well the timeless values he taught us through his example the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service that so radiantly defined Dr. King's character and empowered his leadership. On this holiday, we commemorate the universal, unconditional love, forgiveness and nonviolence that empowered his revolutionary spirit." She said the world commemorates her late husband's inspiring words because his voice and vision filled a great void and answered the country's longing to become a nation that "truly lived by its noblest principles." King knew it wasn't enough "to talk the talk," he had to "walk the walk for his words to be credible," Mrs. King noted. "So we commemorate on this holiday the man of action who put his life Hill am mmsm I31' ' 'COD on the line for freedom and justice every day, the man who braved threats and jail and beatings and who ultimately paid the high- est price to make democracy a reality for all Americans." The King Holiday honors the life and contributions of America's greatest champion of racial justice and equality, the leader who not only dreamed of a colorblind society, but who also led a movement that achieved historic reforms to help make it a reality, Mrs. King said. Calling the holiday a day of interracial and intercultural cooperation and sharing, she said no other day of the year brings so many peoples from different cultural backgrounds together in such a vibrant spirit of brother and sisterhood. "Whether you're African American, Hispanic or Native American, whether you're Caucasian or Asian American, you're part of the great dream Martin Luther King Jr. had for America," Mrs. King said. She emphasized that "this is not a black holiday; it's a people's holiday! And it's the young people of all races and religions who hold the keys to the fulfillment of his dream." Noting that programs commemorating her husband's birthday are being observed in more than 100 nations, Mrs. King pointed out that he envisioned a world whose people and nations had triumphed over poverty, racism, war and violence. This holiday honors the courage of a man who endured harass-men- t, threats and beatings and even bombings," she said. "We commemorate the man who went to jail 29 times to achieve freedom for others and who knew he would pay the ultimate price for his leadership, but kept on marching and protesting and organizing anyway." Above all, she emphasized, King Day is a day of service. "All across America on the holiday, his followers perform service in hospitals, shelters, prisons and wherever people need some help," she said. "It's a day of volunteering to feed the hungry, rehabilitate housing, tutoring those who can't read, mentoring at risk youngsters, consoling the broken hearted and a thousand other projects for building the beloved community of his dream." Throughout his years of public service, King encouraged everyone to participate in community service. "Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve," he said in a 1968 sermon titled "The Drum Major Instinct." "You don't have to have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. ... You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love, and you can be that servant." Street Views 'What would help prevent drunk driving?' I 1 1 i jiw-- i. iyi . " nwfmMBB 0 V J i.jy ft' ;V kfark 1 IM Lisa Robinson , JlwilXm&nter think that sometimes c the military puts too much ehipTiasis on drinking at --"I Staff Sgt. James ssengijl events. I think that we should alcohol at functions and focus more on the social and entertainment aspects of the -- :0 Tech Sgt. Keith Cross 75th Security Forces "Correctional custody for any military member that has a DUI. If they knew they were going to be in jail at least 30 days, they wouldn't DUI through the gate." 649th Munitions Squadron "I would think more cops being out mere to catch them. If they get one person how many more are they miss- - 'JSwfr Senior Airman Sonny Pedraza Patrolman Munitions system - x Flight sergeant 75th Security Forces "Have them see the harsh consequences of an accident involving a drunk dria visual. Take them ver to the hospital and show them what happens when people drink and drive." ing? More cops out patrolling would mean more people caught. We could also do 1 Penny Keeler Security Assistant 75th Security Forces "More education. They need to tell them if you get so many points on your license you will end up walking. A lot of them don't know that. They need to pass out more information on what the ramifications are if you do drink and drive." I t' Al Briggs Base resource project program manager "Our biggest problem is the courts. They are too lenient on the individuals. If they punished to the full extent of the law then we would have fewer people on the streets and fewer people repeating DUIs. We have people who have been arrested a third and fourth time, until there is finally something where people a fatality." could call in if they see drunk driving and get a quick response." Publication policy explained Action Line Promotion procedures are selected for promotion? I employees QHow been able to get a consistent answer. I came up on a profile for a GS-1- 3 position, but was told because only had two of the career shreds I wasn't fully qualified and wouldn't be Interviewed. However, the one selected only has two of the three career shreds and doesn't have a bachelor's degree like I do. 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