Dear Martin
Dear Martin – Please excuse the informality. I know I should have said “Dr. King.” That is how I was raised – to be formal, respectful, traditional. But, somehow, I feel a connection to you (not the first or last time you’ve heard that I’m sure), so I hope you’ll forgive my presumption. First off, Happy Birthday. I know today is the “official” celebration of your birth, but on my calendar I noted the actual date last week, January 15. 90 years old – wow: so much living packed into nine decades. Well, of course, packed into 39 years, actually. Do you ever think about that? 39 years in life, and 51 years in death, and still so much work to be done? Do you ever get discouraged? I do. I mean, really: in Mississippi and Alabama, today they also celebrate Robert E. Lee’s birthday (he turned 212 on Saturday, but I imagine you weren’t invited to that party) “simultaneously” with yours. Oh please. I was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia – Capital of the Confederacy – so I kno...