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Editor in chief: Jack Clifford
Managing Editor: Jessica Blanchard
Newsroom: (541) 346-5511
Room 300, Erb Memorial Union
P.O. box 3159, Eugene, OR 97403
E-mail: ode@oregon.uoregon.edu
EDITORIAL EDITOR: MICHAEL J. KLECKNER opededitor@journalist.com
The makings
of real heroes
CRIBBLES OF
ANITY
JAYNA BERGERSON
The saying, “Heroes are born, not
made,” sounds as if, in order to be
a hero, one must have genetically
perfect parents and be able to leap
tall buildings in a single bound. In reality,
most real heroes are very human. And not
only are they human, but they also have
no clue that they are heroes. For to be a
hero or heroine, all that matters is hard
work, courage and the right motivation.
^ Martin Luther King Jr. stands as a proud
example of what it takes to be a hero. King
was “a man of exceptional quality, who
wins admiration by deeds of courage,”
which is one dictionary’s definition of a
hero. King’s fame has lasted 33 years, and
it is sure to last many more. His message
changed the heart of a generation of peo
ple. But he was born, as is every man and
woman. His birthplace and childhood
home was 501 Auburn Ave. in Atlanta, Ga.
It. was a simple house, not a mansion. His
father was a minister, not a superhero.
One thing that made King a hero in the
eyes of the American people was his de
sire for change. But the key point is that he
allowed this dream to transform itself into
action that worked toward realizing the
desired change. King didn’t keep his
dream to himself. He could have, but he
didn’t. He shared his dream with anyone
who would listen. And in 1963, on the
steps at the Lincoln Memorial in Washing
ton, D.C., King proclaimed to 250,000 peo
ple, “I have a dream that one day this na
tion will rise up and live out the true
meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths
to be self-evident: that all men are created
equal.’” He had found others who shared
his dream, and together they took steps to
see that dream realized. This is the work of
a hero.
But not only was he a man of vision who
compelled others to action, King was also
a man of hard work. He and his supporters
had to bleed, sweat, cry and pray to
achieve that which they believed was
worthwhile. All the sit-ins, speeches,
marches, rallies and protests didn’t or
ganize themselves. They took time and
planning.
King was arrested numerous times.
In April 1963, he spent 11 days in jail.
During this time, he did not wallow
in self-pity. Rather, he wrote a letter to
clergymen in Birmingham, Ala., to
defend his methods and the purpose
behind doing things his way. In
essence, he fought for his vision from
behind bars.
Above all else, King fought for what
he believed against a tidal wave of op
position from whites and blacks.
Some respected and admired him, but
there were many more people who
hated him, criticized him and
laughed at him. Some even wanted
him dead. It is easy to stand for some
thing that everyone else believes in,
but when you stand alone, you prove
your worth.
Every year on the third Monday in
January, we honor King’s birthday.
Back in 1986, when Congress de
clared a holiday in remembrance of
King, the official document stated,
“Such holiday should serve as a time
for Americans to reflect on the prin
ciples of racial equality and nonvio
lent social change espoused by Mar
tin Luther King Jr.” We celebrate the
hero that King has become and the
dream that he defended to his
death.
Many people idolized King, not
realizing that he was just a man
with a vision of what could be.
And he had the guts and determi
nation to see that dream realized at
the cost of his own life. And
thanks to his courage and self-sac
rifice, that dream lives on. That’s
what it takes to be a hero.
Jayna Bergerson is a columnist for the
Oregon Daily Emerald. Her views do \
not necessarily represent those of the
Emerald. She can be reached at
bjay@gladstone.uoregon.edu.
Giovanni Salimena Emerald
Letters to the editor
Striving to live up to
principles
Bravo to Michael Kleckner
for outlining his personal and
political struggle with drug
testing ("Testing the limits of
my Principles,” ODE, Jan. 10). I
admit I've peed in a fair share
of cups because my ambition
burned brighter than my prin
ciples, so I admire Kleckner for
turning down a prestigious in
ternship opportunity last year
to protest the drug test.
And I also admire him for
taking the drug test this year
because, on balance, this year's
internship opportunity is too
good to pass up.
At least he's raising the ques
tions and coming up with an
swers — and a moral scale —
he can live with.
Almost all University stu
dents heading into the work
world are probably going to
face the little plastic cup. Some
studies estimate as many as 80
percent of American compa
nies,. require drug testing as a
condition of employment. So
whether the issue is one of
principle for you — or whether
you think you might fail a drug
test if you had to take one —
start thinking about it now.
Pam Cytrynbaum
visiting assistant professor of
journalism internship coordinator
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