Fighting for rights

June 5^th marks the 40^th anniversary of the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. Occurring only a few short weeks after the assassination of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., those murders killed the momentum of the civil rights movement. But, it did not kill the movement itself. Advocates of that time are now passing the torch on to a new generation. This transition, along with the 40^th anniversary of those murders, provides an opportunity to reflect on these turbulent times. Canada is now facing social unrest that is similar to America in the Sixties. In an effort to avoid repeating past mistakes, one can examine the parallels between America of the 1960's and Canada of today. By so doing, it may be possible to alter our present situation – and away from a more turbulent future.

Robert F. Kennedy was raised as a child of privilege. Yet "Bobby" became a man of social reform. His personal transformation arose from the wisdom he acquired. Since "a man who stands on the shoulders of giants can see the further of the two", bobby picked up on the social reforms initiated under his older brother's administration. As Attorney General, bobby honed his perspective from personally seeing the debilitating effects of poverty and racism that existed within the United States.

Bobby's insights were most demonstrable when he informed a crowd that Rev. King had been killed. As he spoke to an inner city crowd in Indianapolis, he stated:

"What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence or lawlessness; but love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or they be black."

His words had a telling effect. Despite all the violence that erupted that night, including riots in 60 cities, there was no riot in Indianapolis. Many credit that fact to the influence of Bobby's speech.

With his life cut short at the age of 42, Bobby became an icon of unrealized potential. As he was unable to fulfill the vision of social reform, that vision now falls to us. As his generation was inspired by the service of soldiers, so we must be inspired by the sacrifice of those advocates who stood up for civil rights. The lives we alter may include our own.

Darrell Doxtdator,

Hon. B.A., LL.B.

Resident of the Caledonia/Six Nations community

Regional News Editor's note: Only one problem with your analogy Darrell. Blacks were fighting to be included in the broader community. Natives appear to be fighting to be exclusive.