As we honor the work and legacy of slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this week, it seems ironic that we have just been involved in our own trial and test of community tolerance. Dr. King’s nonviolent protest movement against racial segregation and inequality motivated the conscience of a nation. The showing of the Laramie Project by Coronado High School students last week and the subsequent threat of protest by an infamously well-known group seems to have stirred some emotions in our local citizenry.
While Dr. King’s legacy still has much to teach us about tolerance, civil discourse, and our shared responsibility to the cause of justice, last week became a time of great local support and inner reflection on community values. As the threat of bizarre protests to the student production loomed, local leaders strode forward to provide encouragement and passion for the lesson of tolerance the production sought to provide.
The Coronado Council of Churches voiced its support of the students and staff of the high school by making a public statement that “all human beings are created in the image of God, and thus are to be accorded respect and dignity regardless of their beliefs.” They further invited the larger community to “stand with us as a sign of solidarity with the students involved ” Their prayer that the performance on Saturday should “take place without any interference by this group” was indeed answered in a very timely manner.
Three years ago the city leaders joined hands with the school district to begin discussing the virtues of living by the values of the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. Last week city and district leaders devised a plan that respected the constitutional rights of the protestors as well as the students and their families. At no time was there ever a discussion of usurping those rights or treating visitors to our community in a less than welcome manner. Yet, it was the courageous act of legally demanding order and respect for community values that changed the mind of these protesters.
When a crisis occurs, we can choose to either work together or grow apart. While this event was not the type of crisis that compares with the recent horrific deaths in Tucson, it is comforting to know that our community chose to work together. More than just preaching the values of the Six Pillars to our children, we demonstrated what those values look like in action. It is heartwarming to see that character is not just about the content of the words; it’s about living the absolute truths of tolerance and unconditional love that Dr. King talked about so many years ago. Our actions showed our children that instilling good character is not just a lesson in school, it’s a way of life, and yet another reason that I am so very proud to work in this community.
