Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration: Third time also a charm

Frontiersman editorial board

Yesterday the Valley was treated to its third-annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration at the Teeland Middle School cafetorium.

King's life and his contributions to civil rights improvements in this country are celebrated the third Monday of each January. The Valley has celebrated the last three years with stories, music and the voices of people of all ages, sharing their views on one of the most influential Americans of the 20th century.

This year Frontiersman was proud to join United Way of Mat-Su to sponsor an essay contest for the event. We extend our thanks to the judges and our congratulations to each essay entrant.

The importance of Dr. King's efforts, and the efforts of others who risked and sacrificed much to improve civil rights in the U.S. cannot be underestimated.

Though Alaska sometimes seems far away from the most intense chapters of the civil rights saga, in truth, no place is far from the heart of the struggle for equality and justice. Alaska has a diverse population, and the struggles of minorities are no less significant or meaningful here than anywhere else.

While there have been many voices in the fight to win that struggle, the voice of Martin Luther King Jr. remains one of the most important. His voice, during a time of violence and confusion, was one of nonviolence, hope and tolerance. His message resonates at least as loud now as it did then.

The struggle for equality and justice is not a battle that can be won and left to history. It's a constant fight that must be fought every day, and King told us we could fight that battle with dignity, compassion and decency. The victories he won through peaceful means are longer lasting than anything achieved through violence, because his path was as legitimate as his destination.

In a time when many people live in fear and suspicion, Dr. King's message is well worth another listen. This year's event, as always, is not only an opportunity to celebrate the life of one of the greatest Americans, it is also a time to celebrate the very essence of Americanism.

We are not a perfect people, but our common struggle has always been for something noble. Dr. King described that struggle as eloquently and passionately as anyone ever has. We thank him for this opportunity to celebrate our better angels, and we thank the hosts of the event for giving us a way to do it.