What happened at the Martin Luther King Day breakfast in Columbus
Thank you, Elena. Child restores faith in democracy
The Martin Luther King breakfast was a worthy tribute to a man who has earned his place next to Lincoln, a man who lost his life as he tried to make our country become a place where all persons, no matter their color, could live in peace and comfort.
It has been hard for me to maintain optimism that this will ever happen as I listen to the TV as it blasts the stories of violence, hatred, and division which have filled our days since Jan. 6. It would be too easy to give up hope that we will ever live again in a functioning democracy.
But my hope has returned after listening to the healthy hope expressed by Dominion Middle School student Elena Earley.
More:Thought-provoking quotes from Martin Luther King’s most memorable speeches
She assured us with sturdy commitment that our democracy will again flourish as we push forward. “It is our turn to spread this message. We have faith in God, faith in ourselves and faith in humanity.”
Thank you, Elena.
May your precocious wisdom restore our diminished hopes. I join with you in believing that with faith and hope, our democracy can have new life.
Thoma Swanson, Columbus
More:How to submit a letter to the editor for The Columbus Dispatch
Freedom to Vote Act must be passed
As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. taught us, whatever our color, background or zip code, every American should have equal freedom to vote and equal say in decisions that impact our lives.
More:Opinion: Congress must pass voting rights bill to prevent Republican gerrymandering
Throughout our history, guided by leaders like King, we have fought to ensure more Americans have our right to vote honored and that every American is able to cast our vote and have it counted.
But now a handful of politicians are inflicting the same injustice that the civil rights movement fought so valiantly to address by making it harder to vote and creating barriers to register for Black, young and new Americans in order to hold power and rule for the wealthy few.
That’s why Congress must act now to restore, protect, and build upon King’s legacy.
Our Senate leaders must exercise their majority, eliminate the filibuster, and pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to ensure that we can safely and freely cast our ballots, ensure that trusted local election officials count every vote, and prevent partisan politicians from sabotaging the results of our elections.
Sherry McMillen, Cuyahoga Falls
We must view each other as humans, not our different religions
I was appalled by the hostage situation in a Colleyville, Texas synagogue.
As an Ahmadi Muslim, I unequivocally condemn this act of anti-Semitism; it does not represent Islam.
Having recently graduated from Ohio State University, I served as president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Students Association. I was fortunate to participate in numerous interfaith events with students of many faiths, including Jews.
More:All Texas synagogue hostages safe after hourslong standoff
I had always emphasized that the Holy Prophet Muhammad taught respect for people of all religions, and any actions to disrespect or harm people of other faiths were strictly forbidden.
Specifically, when the Prophet Muhammad saw the funeral procession of a Jew passing by, he stood up out of respect. When some companions pointed out that the deceased was not Muslim, he rebuked them, stating, “Is it not a human soul?”
This is the love that Muhammad had for his fellow man, and this is what we need today. We must see everyone as fellow humans, not Muslims and Jews, so that we can root out oppression. That means that we respect, stand up for, and show compassion to everyone, regardless of their faith, just as the Prophet Muhammad taught.
Hassan Syed, Pickerington
Read More: What happened at the Martin Luther King Day breakfast in Columbus