Remembering the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dear Skidmore Community,
鈥孖 write today with my annual message to our community on the occasion of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.鈥檚 birthday 鈥� always an apt moment to reflect on the values, principles, and teachings of Dr. King, and the vital relevance of his messages for us today.
鈥孴his year I am thinking constantly of one of King鈥檚 foremost messages, what the contemporary novelist Charles Johnson describes as 鈥渙thers first. Always.鈥� King famously said, 鈥淟ife's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'" That simple question sums up his life and his noble work.
鈥孖 find that question particularly pressing in our current moment. In recent years, I鈥檝e used this message as an opportunity to talk about the challenges we face in our polarized, anxious, fractured society, and especially the challenges of getting past our differences and seeing instead our simple, common humanity. King is the philosopher who best urges us to clear the cataracts in our vision and see 鈥� and, yes, love 鈥� one another for the fellow human beings we are. Indeed, King wrote, 鈥淟ove is the greatest force in the universe.鈥�
鈥孞ohnson 鈥� who received an honorary degree from Skidmore two years ago 鈥� reflects in his great novel about King, titled 鈥淒reamer,鈥� 鈥淭he Way of agapic love, with its bottomless demands, had proven too hard for this nation. Hatred and competition were easier ... far less challenging than King鈥檚 belief in the beloved community.鈥� In our own day, we are tasked to reject hatred, to ask how we can be of service to others, and to embrace one another in community. That鈥檚 a tough, demanding message, but it is our greatest hope.
鈥孉s we pay tribute to Dr. King, Skidmore is again partnering with MLK Saratoga to support a weekend of inspiring community programming that celebrates his life and legacy. I encourage all members of our community to participate in events from Friday, Jan. 12, through Monday, Jan. 15. A full schedule of presentations, performances, and service opportunities can be found on . All events are free and open to the public.
鈥孉s we approach this holiday, I wish all of us peace and hope in this new year.
鈥孲颈苍肠别谤别濒测,&苍产蝉辫;
鈥孧arc Conner
鈥孭谤别蝉颈诲别苍迟