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King's message offers hope for a brighter tomorrow

 
Published Jan. 20, 2014

A man kills another in a movie theater over texting.

Another attacks a man in a wheelchair because he has 22 items in the 20-or-less line.

Sometimes when life begins to imitate art, it can be pretty scary — and the acts we've seen lately bring to mind the violent, senseless rampage Michael Douglas' character embarked upon in the 1993 movie Falling Down.

A brewing rage continues to spread across the nation as people overreact to simple violations of rules meant to create harmony, not spark violence. On this day, we would be wise to remember what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said about the power of love:

"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. … I believe that even amid today's mortar bursts and whining bullets, there is still hope for a brighter tomorrow."

If King kept believing after all he endured, why can't we?

Seen on a bumper sticker: We Are The Cure. …

Kudos to those making today or this past weekend a day of service, including the 2,500 University of South Florida students who participated in Stampede of Service on Saturday, and the Hillsborough Community College students who will help fill backpacks with food for needy kids in a SouthShore United Methodist Church program today.

St. Petersburg College also has students engaging in service projects. Great, because connecting young people to a sense of service has never been more important. …

Today's Martin Luther King Jr. Interfaith Service at 4 p.m. in Beulah Baptist Church (1006 Cypress St. in Tampa), brings together people of all faiths. To be honest, that should happen more than once a year.

That's all I'm saying.