The passage of the law that created the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday was wrought with controversy when it was first debated in the halls of the Senate and the House of Representative. Before the passage of the law, it was a standing tradition that holidays honoring individuals were reserved only for public figures. The fact that King never held public office only fueled the opposition's dissenting voice that tried to stymie the passage of the law required to make MLK Jr. Day a federal holiday. Another argument opposing the holiday centered on the expense associated with giving federal employees a paid holiday. Eventually, a movement including labor unions, musicians, the corporate community and the general public organized and became instrumental in the passage of the law that made the MLK Jr. Holiday. In 2000, after many years of engaging influential lawmakers and politicians, the holiday was officially observed by all 50 states on a day now celebrated each year on the third Monday of January.
Donald Mcgannon, a past President of Westinghouse once said that “Leadership is action and not a position”. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life is an inspiring example of leadership under the context of a formal title (he occupied no official public position). Under his own authority and using non-violent means, he sought to make changes in society defying what he felt were unjust laws, misguided political leadership and outdated social conventions. We honor Martin Luther King Jr. today for his courage and a life that exemplified a passionate pursuit for the sanctity of the individual’s rights, reminding us that the state has no particular privilege over any one individual and must always subordinate its rights to members of its citizenry.
In his own words King articulated what leadership entails:
Donald Mcgannon, a past President of Westinghouse once said that “Leadership is action and not a position”. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life is an inspiring example of leadership under the context of a formal title (he occupied no official public position). Under his own authority and using non-violent means, he sought to make changes in society defying what he felt were unjust laws, misguided political leadership and outdated social conventions. We honor Martin Luther King Jr. today for his courage and a life that exemplified a passionate pursuit for the sanctity of the individual’s rights, reminding us that the state has no particular privilege over any one individual and must always subordinate its rights to members of its citizenry.
In his own words King articulated what leadership entails:
Effective visions provide context, give purpose, and establish meaning. They inspire people to mobilize, to act, to move in the same direction. Every good leader realizes that effective visions cannot be forced upon the masses. Rather they must be set in motion by means of persuasion and inspiration.” (Martin Luther King Jr.)
