Opinion

WHAT KING WROUGHT

Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. would un doubtedly have been aghast at the re cent spectacle of Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama fighting over whether King or President Lyndon Johnson should get the credit for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

King, undoubtedly, would have noted the important thing: The law passed.

As the country celebrates King’s life today, perhaps he would have been most amazed not by this argument itself but by who was arguing – a black man and a white woman, both serious candidates for America’s highest office.

As each year goes by, King’s dream – an America where individuals are judged by their character and not by their appearance – comes closer to reality.

Doors that he demanded be opened are open.

The opening years of the 21st century have already seen both a black man and a black woman become secretary of State.

And now, as noted, a black man is mounting a serious candidacy himself.

Win or lose this time, Obama is going to have a significant role to play for years to come.

This is the America that Martin Luther King bequeathed more than 40 years ago.

This is the America for which he marched.

This is the America for which he preached – and dared to dream.

This is the America for which he died.

And that legacy is even more powerful than the laws inspired by a young clergyman’s vibrant challenge to America – uttered 45 years ago at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial.