Rev. Dwight GravesLetter to the Editor: Immigration activist would have us remove Statue of Liberty

Marietta Daily Journal Published: 06/10/2008

DEAR EDITOR:

Re: D.A. King column, “Coalition just another leftist open-borders group,” MDJ May 29

I understand that border control is important, but is Mr. King suggesting that we should remove the Statue of Liberty and what it stands for, since many immigrants helped make this country great? I agree with the late Rev. Dr. Martin King, who said, “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant.” I believe that God will hold us accountable for what ever we do and say, and that our motives better be pure.

The opinion of Mr. King, the founder of the Marietta based Dustin Inman Society, is not surprising since according to some he is known for derogatory, problematic rhetoric.

Be assured that the SCLC will not be a part of anything that is unlawful and unfair, and that does not support our divine moral imperative of promoting peaceful non-violent social change for the betterment of humanity. The SCLC will continue to be a voice pleading the cause for the least, lost and left out in our society. We will not be bought off by pats on the back/head, high-profile press coverage or money. The Coalition is doing a great work in making sure that any type of unfairness will not go unnoticed. The SCLC will continue to promote love and reconciliation for humankind, and will work with the Coalition because it has a similar objective.

Unfortunately, today we have a resurgence of the late J.B. Stoner-like rhetoric rearing its ugly head in America, fueled by talk show and TV news outlets with the motive of supporting a particular political agenda of selfishness. Calling people “aliens” is just another example of how people are desensitized towards other human beings and thus promotes ill will. History reflects that just about anything negative has and will be done to people considered less than human.

Dr. King had his critics during his quest for justice and equality for all. In his letter from the Birmingham Jail, addressing the clergy who thought that he should be concentrating on just preaching the Gospel, he pointed out that, “Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will,” and in the same letter wrote “We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people.”

I agree with D.A. King that terrorism warrants concern. While growing up in West Virginia, I got a good dose of internal terrorism and it was not a good thing. Unfortunately, terrorist acts were committed in the United States against fellow Americans long before 9/11.

Thanks and love to people like D.A. King because they will keep an informative and hopefully constructive dialogue about hot button issues and these issues will no longer be one sided. Perhaps a more candid, inclusive discussion before the war in Iraq started could have prevented what many consider excessive loss of life and lessened economic stability.

The Rev. Dwight Graves

Southern Christian

Leadership Conference

Marietta