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Guest Opinion | Tyron Hampton: As We Celebrate MLK Day, Lift Every Voice

Published on Monday, January 18, 2021 | 5:00 am
 
Tyron Hampton

Dear First District Neighbors & Friends,

Depending on who you are, you may see the time we are living in as challenging, and maybe even scary. For me, in addition to being challenging, I have found it to be a time of emerging opportunity. 

I use the word opportunity because each day brings something different and I am learning more about the needs and wants of everyday people. As Americans, no matter what side of the divide we find ourselves on, we are all human beings who reside in the land of the free. One of the things we have in common is that we want our voices to be heard. 

For years, people — left, right, or center — have felt that their voices have not been heard. An exciting thing about this time in our history is that right now, voices are being heard. 

The people who comprise our political systems are waking up and remembering exactly why our systems exist; to hear all voices and represent all people to the best of our abilities. Our political systems are not formed exclusively for the left or the right. 

They were formed to ensure the rights of all people in our country. At this time, more of our representatives are coming to the realization that perhaps they haven’t been listening. Or, maybe they have been listening but ignoring. We have the attention of our representatives in ways that we have not before, and we must remember that it is not about a political party. 

It is about people and representing them and their values. For these reasons, I am excited because voices are being heard and listened to, and it is now time for us to act together. This does not mean there will all of the sudden be a “Kumbaya” moment where everyone comes together, holds hands, and all issues that have come to the surface over the past year are swept under the rug. But I do think that listening to people and valuing their opinions as our fellow human beings and figuring out where we can come together is the best way for us to move forward. 

As we approach Dr. King’s holiday, it is a reminder that Dr. King’s vision was for us to live in peace. Part of living in peace with one another involves not dismissing people’s ideas because we don’t agree with them, but listening and truly trying to understand people’s thoughts, feelings, and opinions knowing and remembering that we have more in common than we have disagreement on. 

To increase my sense of peace of mind during these times, I have been making sure to breathe and self-reflect so that I can be present in my surroundings and more mindful of the people I interact with. Another thing I have been doing is deliberately limiting my consumption network news. I believe part of who we are is the information we consume. If we consume mostly negative information, regardless of whether it be one side or the other, we carry that negativity and with us. Recently, I have been consuming news by reading almost exclusively. I find value in getting a full picture, so I try to read information on both sides and as well as something that is neutral. Balanced thought is important to me because I find that balance allows me to make better informed decisions.

Each year at this time, I spend some time reading and thinking about the thoughts and ideas Dr. King shared. I leave you with the following quotes from Dr. King that spoke to me this year…

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.

We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right.

Everybody can be great … because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.

https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/drum-major-instinct-sermon-delivered-ebenezer-baptist-church

If you want to be important—wonderful. If you want to be recognized—wonderful. If you want to be great—wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to know Einstein’s theory of relativity to serve. You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love. And you can be that servant.

We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.

Sincerely
Tyron Hampton

Tyron Hampton is serving his second term as the District 1 Councilman.

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