Cord Byrd: “the greatness of women and men is often best judged from an historical perspective. History gives us the detached…”

“the greatness of women and men is often best judged from an historical perspective. History gives us the detached perspective that allows us to better understand and appreciate the person, the cause, and the legacy. This happens because great individuals often have been leaders who challenged the status quo as they pushed the country into areas where it had feared to go. As a result, such leaders often arouse criticism and opposition. The Revered Dr. Martin Luther King certainly was a controversial figure in his own time. Black power advocates attacked him for moving too slowly, while more than one presidential administration attacked him for moving too swiftly. The NAACP criticized his take-to-the-streets tactics. Civil rights leaders broke with Dr. King because of his opposition to the Vietnam War. I certainly had my share of differences with Reverend King--a lot of them. We were both products of our times, and both of us were doing what we believed was right. But time and the march of history afford a better understanding of Dr. King and his contributions toward making the United States a better, stronger, and greater Nation. It is for this reason, I am proposing that $10 million in funding be made available for the memorial to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.…”