Martin Luther King Event Remarks

Martin Luther King Event
Remarks of Governor Judy Martz
Helena
2/19/2004

***Check Against Delivery***

Thank you for being here today to celebrate the ideas and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This event provides a wonderful opportunity to learn about Dr. King's life and work, and the continued effect he has on organizations and people in our community, our country and our world.

Dr. King stated on more than one occasion that, "Without justice, there can be no peace."

He dedicated his life to the cause of justice and to the goal of peace. He believed, above all else, that these two ideals were fundamentally dependent on one another.

He lived a life of courage, compassion, humility, forgiveness, nonviolence and civil disobedience.

Dr. King was the voice and the face of a community that changed the course of this country. His was a life of remarkable accomplishment that was cut tragically short.

He said: "In this life, the most urgent and persistent question that we face is, what are we doing for others?"

Look around at the people in this room who actively make our community and the world a better, safer and more just place to live.

This celebration is about what our community is doing for others. It is about reflecting on the life and words of a man who continues to influence us today, over 30 years after his death.

It is about appreciating the history and diversity of this community - what we are doing right, and understanding what we should be doing better.

Helena is a culturally rich place to live, and every person in this room represents a piece of its future.

Let us all look into the past and learn, and then look to the future and act. Each one of your actions matter, regardless of your age, and each one of you can make a difference if you choose to do so.

I hope you will all make the choice to participate in our community.

I get excited about this because I started out my career in public life at gatherings not unlike the one we are having here today.

My community involvement was driven by a sense that each of us has a responsibility to be part of the solution to the issues we are facing.

I can't tell you how many hours I've spent in meetings, at events or making phone calls for a noble cause, but I can tell you that those times have been some of the most rewarding of my life.

We truly can make a difference.

I also want to acknowledge the many citizens across the state who are joining in similar celebrations today of Dr. King's life.

The AmeriCorps Members who were involved in planning today's event are part of a statewide network, which has worked to make sure we have MLK events throughout the state. Thank you for your good work.

Today, we will meet members of the Helena community who have made the choice to participate and take an active part in the fine work being done here.

You will meet people that struggle against discrimination and work for justice, and you will have the opportunity to learn what Dr. King's philosophy has meant to them.

So, let's welcome all the organizations and individuals taking part in today's Diversity Carnival.

In closing I want to cite a few more words from Dr. King: QUOTE
"Everybody can be great because anybody can serve."
"You don't have to have a college degree to serve."
"You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve."
"You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."

Thank you again for inviting me to be a part of this program and God bless you all.