Westport First Selectman Marpe Issues MLK Day Statement: Opinion

WESTPORT, CT — First Selectman Jim Marpe issued the following statement today in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day:

As we come upon the celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr’s life and legacy, the reality of recent political events, and how they have shaped our opinions of each other, has become a relevant, and sometimes heated, topic of conversation in our community. It is worth reflecting on one of Dr. King’s important observations:

“We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.”

Westporters who came of age in the 1960s know Dr. King as a major public figure who, despite experiencing unrelenting emotional and physical hatred and vitriol, had the capacity and personal fortitude to spread a vision of peace and harmony for our country and the world. Dr. King eloquently and historically proclaimed that our humanity is forged by the capacity to forgive, and while recognizing that we are all flawed, we are inherently good.

I sincerely hope that those who, like me, were witness to Dr. King and the civil rights movement recognize the responsibility to current and future generations to keep his legacy alive and active; to encourage and speak Dr. King’s truths and hopes for humanity. Moreover, to recognize that his legacy and vision are as relevant today as they were when he originally contemplated them. They should continue to serve as shining examples of civility and human interaction in our current climate where many are feeling divided and discouraged.

In 2017, we must make a conscious decision to inform ourselves and celebrate the concept that each of us is unique. Given the opportunity, we must try to peel away the layers of suspicion some have against those who hold different or unfamiliar viewpoints. This acceptance may best be achieved through personal, face-to-face interaction and should be the hallmark of our civil discourse.

To that end, TEAM Westport has initiated a series of community discussions surrounding the questions of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and sexual identity. These discussions will serve as a vital tool for our community by stressing increased personal interaction to learn about each other’s differences. Rather than singularly disregarding or opposing views simply because they do not align with our own, we have the opportunity to acknowledge and consider the concerns and issues that shape individual opinions, ethics and values; that within our capacity to forgive lies acceptance of others’ opinions – however disparate they may be from our own.

I encourage all members of our community to come together for the important TEAM Westport discussions that will keep Dr. King’s legacy and all it represents alive and flourishing in Westport - today, tomorrow, and into the future.

— By Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe

Photo of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. via Wikimedia Commons