R 131330Z JAN 10

ALCOAST 013/10
COMDTNOTE 05350
SUBJ: 2010 OBSERVANCE OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY
1. THE ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE OF CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER DR.
MARTIN LUTHER KING (MLK), JR. WILL BE ON JANUARY 18, 2010 WITH THE
THEME "REMEMBER. CELEBRATE. ACT. A DAY ON, NOT A DAY OFF."  DR.
KINGS WIFE, CORETTA SCOTT KING, DESCRIBED THE ANNUAL OBSERVANCE AS
AN OCCASION FOR "INTERRACIAL AND INTERCULTURAL COOPERATION AND
SHARING." THE MLK OBSERVANCE IS NOT AN AFRICAN AMERICAN HOLIDAY,
BUT ONE WHICH BELONGS TO ALL PEOPLE AND IS CELEBRATED WORLD-WIDE.
2. IN THE 21ST CENTURY, IT IS IMPORTANT TO REFLECT ON WHAT
DISTINGUISHED MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. FROM OTHERS, AND WHY HE IS
WORTHY OF OUR REMEMBRANCE.  DR. KING WAS DRIVEN BY THE SIMPLE
DESIRE TO SEE ALL AMERICANS ENJOY CIVIL RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES.
WHILE SOME OTHER AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERS ESPOUSED SEPARATION AND
VIOLENCE, DR. KING ENVISIONED A UNITED AMERICA CREATED THROUGH
NONVIOLENT SOCIAL CHANGE.  HIS PHILOSOPHY OF NONVIOLENCE FLOWED
LOGICALLY FROM HIS UPBRINGING IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCH AND
HIS PREPARATION FOR THE MINISTRY.
3. OVER THE COURSE OF FOURTEEN GRUELING YEARS, HE MOLDED THE TACTIC
OF NONVIOLENT, DIRECT ACTION FROM AN ADMIRABLE THEORY INTO A
POWERFUL FORCE FOR CONCRETE SOCIAL CHANGE.  THROUGH IT ALL, HE
MOTIVATED OTHERS THROUGH HIS MASTERY OF THE SPOKEN WORD AND HIS
WILLINGNESS TO SUFFER ON BEHALF OF OTHERS.  HIS COMMITMENT TO CIVIL
AND HUMAN RIGHTS EVENTUALLY COST HIM HIS LIFE. DR. KINGS LEGACY
EXTENDS BEYOND THE REVOLUTIONARY SOCIAL CHANGE HE LED IN AMERICA.
HE DEMONSTRATED THAT OPPRESSION AND VIOLENCE CAN BE OVERCOME
WITHOUT RESORTING TO VIOLENCE AND OPPRESSION.  HIS LEGACY IS NOW
ENSHRINED IN A NATIONAL HOLIDAY, AND WILL ENDURE IN THE 21ST
CENTURY AND BEYOND.
4. ALL MEMBERS OF TEAM COAST GUARD ARE ENCOURAGED TO MARK 18
JANUARY 2010 BY PARTICIPATING IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES IN
FURTHERANCE OF DR. KINGS DREAMS, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT BENEFIT OUR
DISADVANTAGED NEIGHBORS.  ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND INFORMATION CAN
BE FOUND AT WWW.THEKINGCENTER.COM AND AT WWW.DEOMI.ORG/OBSERVANCES.
5. CAPT E. G. FAUX, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, CIVIL RIGHTS DIRECTORATE,
SENDS.
6. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.