To the Editor, BUTLER COLLEGIAN:
In Indiana Governor Mike Pence’s March 31, news conference, I was impressed with his saying Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of his heroes and had been so since Pence’s high school days. He talked about accepting Georgia congressman John Lewis’ invitation to join Lewis and others in marching across the Edmund Pettus Bridge to celebrate the historical Selma, Alabama march on its 45th anniversary in 2010. Participating in the march was a mighty fine thing for Pence and his family to do.
Dr. King did so much for America and has always been one of my heroes, too. Gov. Pence’s revelation got my attention because I don’t think I have ever heard a prominent Republican say King was one of their heroes. Why is it so few Republicans, even around Martin Luther King Day each January, express publicly an appreciation for King’s good words and deeds?
The Republican Party, primarily a white people’s party, makes little effort to win the black vote. The GOP getting 10 percent of the black vote in presidential elections is par for the course.
I would like to hear Gov. Pence articulate why King is one of his heroes. We usually try to emulate the best qualities of our heroes. To emulate King’s quest for peace and justice, his love of all people of every race/religion and his compassion for the poor would be a good start in showing we “get” what he was teaching us.
Sincerely,
Paul Lam Whiteley Sr.
412 Clover Lane
Louisville, Kentucky 40207
(502)895-9969
