Draw together in honoring King
Editorial Board
Each January, the nation joins together to celebrate and honor the civil rights movement by recognizing Martin Luther King, Jr. Next week, Notre Dame and Saint Mary's will attempt to unify the campus communities to commemorate King through a week-long series of events designed to break racial barriers and recognize our nation's shared history.
The week-long events, under the umbrella theme of "It Takes a Village to Plant the Future," are critical to creating a multicultural environment at Notre Dame and Saint Mary's. While the organizational efforts of the sponsoring groups are commendable, the success of the week will ultimately be based in the participation of the student body.
Thirty-two years ago, Martin Luther King, Jr. envisioned a dream in which a multicultural society would become a reality. He envisioned a dream where underrepresented groups would not be marginalized, where difference would be embraced and diversity would be celebrated. At the dawn of the 21st Century, we are inching closer to that dream, but it is far from a reality.
Each member of this community — regardless of their race or ethnicity — is responsible for creating a multicultural environment at Notre Dame. Such an environment is more than simply recognizing diversity or placing individuals of diverse origins into an environment; it is the concious effort to move beyond our comfort zones and begin to understand the experience of others in our community. While Martin Luther King, Jr. has historically been a beacon for the African-American community, next week's events should not be a celebration only for African-Americans. These events should be a chance for discourse to begin, to understand diverse experiences, walk into new territory and begin the stepping stones to a multicultural community.
The Observer commends the sponsoring organizations of the Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration on campus and encourages the collective community to attend. The discourse these events offer are critical to achieving a multicultural environment on campus. Take the time to attend — and take the first step in planting Notre Dame and Saint Mary's future.
All Viewpoint Stories for Friday, January 19, 2001
