Martin Luther King Day - A stark contrast

Martin Luther King Day America today marks the birth of the great anti-racist, pacifist, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr with a federal holiday.

This April 4 will mark the 50th anniversary of the assassination of King in Memphis.

It will be the first MLK Day of the Donald Trump presidency and it is likely, or at least it should, cause all Americans and those who still hold that superpower in high regard, to reflect on how President Trump compares to Dr King, how he stands on civil rights, racism, pacificism and civil disobedience as a political tool.

It would be wrong to blame President Trump for the racism that afflicts America, but it is impossible to argue that his interventions after Charlottesville, his comments — denied — on African countries and on Mexicans and Moslems too are anything but the vilest racism.

That charge stands despite President Trump naming a national park to honour King. The comparison shows, tragically, progress can be reversed.

It shows too that it’s well past the time to wake up and smell the coffee — and maybe try to Make America Great Again.