A Nation in Need of a Moral Conscience: Reflection in Celebration of the Rev.- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Neil Foote, President & Founder, Foote CommunicationsThere’s no doubt in my mind that the nation needs a moral conscience now. We need someone to restore the faith in humanity and the belief that we stand for so much more than daily 280-character vitriol and 30-second sound bites that foment division and shatter any opportunity for understanding or healing.What’s clear in my mind is that if the Rev.-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. were alive today, he would be traveling the country talking about the lack of moral character of this country. He would be challenging us on our moral courage. More than 60 years ago he said, in part:
Courage breeds creativity; Cowardice represses fear and is mastered by it. Cowardice asks the question, is it safe? Expediency asks the question, it is politic? Vanity asks the question, is it popular? But conscience ask the question, is it right? But conscience ask the question, is it right?King’s words are still as crisp, clear and poignant as they are ever. These words drill down deep into the heart of a country now mired in a government shutdown and a politics that is so surreal that even the writers of House of Cards or The West Wing couldn’t have dreamed this up. King’s words remind us that the country is on the verge of moral bankruptcy based on its treatment of the poor and middle class of all races. Can’t you just imagine King traveling to the U.S. / Mexico borders in California, Arizona and Texas, chastising the White House and those politicians and citizens who believe a $6 billion wall and separation of immigrant children from their families is morally sound.Can’t you imagine King asking us that if we really believe in “America First” that we would be investing in families, education, healthcare and the revitalization of cities and communities in the country looking corporate investment to fuel new jobs and opportunity. King would remind us that these immigrants, who are collectively being demonized as criminals, are – and always have been – committed and dedicated to working hours into the day and night to fuel this wealthy nation’s economy. Ask the farmers in the Midwest or California. Ask the home builders in Texas and Florida. Ask the restaurant owners in any city in the country. Any number of these people mentioned would tell you that without immigrants their financial well-being is at risk.King would remind us that this is a country founded on principles and laws that have systematically and disproportionately negatively affected blacks, Hispanics and the poor. He would call out any politician, celebrity, athlete or business executive who “mistakenly” uses a pejorative term to intentionally or in gest to racially annihilate blacks, Hispanics, Asians or Native Americans. What we know is that King were alive today, there wouldn’t be a day where King would say, “And there comes a time when we must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because it is right.” He might add, “We must come to see that the end we seek is a society at peace with itself, a society that can live with its conscience.”
About the Author: Neil Foote is a veteran journalist and media executive. He draws from his experience at the Miami Herald, Washington Post, Belo Corporation and Tom Joyner’s Reach Media. He also teaches digital and social media for journalists, media management and business journalism at the University of North Texas’ Frank W. & Sue Mayborn School of Journalism and runs Foote Communications, a media consulting firm. The native of Brooklyn, NY also is president of the board for the National Black Public Relations Society and founder of PoliticsInColor.com
