The King Tempest

Can San Diego rise above the divisiveness over the convention center name? Many of us question the wisdom of some adults who listen with their ears instead of their hearts.

If we are to heed the words of our new President, who espouses “a kinder, gentler nation,” then it is appropriate for San Diego to take a generous giant step and honor Martin Luther King.

Martin Luther King was a “kind” man. He was a “gentle” man. He was not a perfect man. People scream that he did nothing for San Diego. He was, is, and will be a symbol of non-violence. Is that not enough? Did Washington cross the San Diego River? Did Lincoln emancipate anyone in your community? Yet, we honor them and rightfully so.

Every weekday it is my privilege to work with high school students in a basic skills lab in English. They bring their problems in understanding a symbol in a story or struggle with a thesis statement in writing. Together we tackle the problems. They learn from me and I learn from them. This small room is a microcosm of San Diego. We cross many lines of nationality and race. We live in many areas of the city. We are San Diego.

Behind the protection of a classroom door we are witnesses to life outside the high school campus, warts and all. We are silent, but we are not deaf.

Imagine what it is like for kids to focus on a hero. Imagine the questions that arise when other adults attack the hero. How much kinder and gentler if this time we adults could set the tone for the new era by endorsing a man like Martin Luther King, by naming our convention center for him. Could we think of the future generations that will be rewarded with the first step by a kinder, gentler San Diego?

SANDRA LIPPE

San Diego