ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 26, 1997 TAG: 9701290003
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LEO SMITH
YOUR SERIES of news articles on crack and cocaine (Jan. 11 and 12, ``Crime and punishment'' by staff writer Jan Vertefeuille) brought home at least one powerful point: We have a lot to learn from Dr. Martin Luther King, educator and activist.
Recent writings in public media demonstrate that we are quick to condemn acts of violence but slow to condemn our lethargy in addressing root causes. The Roanoke and New River valleys now have increased awareness of arrests involving crack dealers to football players. Our attention is admittedly discriminate.
As a nation, we find ourselves sentencing crack dealers to federal prisons while more affluent and usually nonblack cocaine dealers receive lesser sentences.
King would perhaps ask: What do crack, cultural dominance, commerce and trade have in common? Power. This power is exerted by the 16-year-old crack dealer to the 58-year-old corporate executive for the same reasons: control and status.
Power manifested as violence has poorly understood consequences and functions. Violence has been embraced by man as the tool to gain cooperation, submission, status, respect and even peace. Those who wield violence as their resource see temporary fear in their targets. They do not notice as much the more permanent resistance developing in the victims. This resistance and the bewildering revenge that often follows require the increasing need to exact more powerful and devastating forms of violence. Furthermore, it leads to greater alienation between the user and those victims who run for cover.
Violence is essentially the tool of those who - by reason of lack of skill, awareness or choice - lack resourcefulness. As an act to control others, violence is unresponsive to moral or social right. An appeal to its users to try peaceful influence inspires little confidence. Again, the effect of violence is clear and immediate.
Whereas, convictions of morality, justice, peace, communication, consensus, mediation and brotherly/sisterly love require spiritual and visionary patience. Exacting peaceful cooperation and justice requires the costly resources of time, discernment, understanding, personal reflection and humility.
The latter resource reflects one of King's greater strengths. Pride and wielded power give others something to attack, while humility can never be humiliated.
Dr. King addressed institutional and racial violence, stressing humility and activism. Today, I imagine he would protest much of the violence exacted by individuals of all races, classes and occupations. In concern for young black men perceiving themselves with little personal power, he would encourage teaching control of personal destiny and peaceful options for honorable status and wealth. To all others, he would tell them to examine their doings in high places so that we may all lead by example.
Leo Smith of Blacksburg is an administrator at Virginia Tech.
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