Friday, January 18, 2013

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

When I reflect on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I am reminded that progress in any endeavor comes to those who get in action for change. Waiting idly is the friend of the status quo. But depending on the nature of the issue, getting in action for change is often done at great peril to those in action, as we saw in the tragic end of the life of Dr. King.

History tells us that even some strong supporters of the Civil Rights movement told Dr. King that he was moving too fast, that he should wait and that freedom and equality would come with the passage of time.

In an open letter in the press eight clergymen reprimanded him for this and other aspects of his campaign. Dr. King answered these charges in a letter written in Birmingham Jail in the spring of 1963. In that letter Dr. King said:

"Actually time itself is neutral... Human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability; it comes through the tireless efforts of men willing to be co-workers with God, and without this hard work time itself becomes an ally of the forces of social stagnation." 

Dr. King made many personal sacrifices to gain freedom and equality for the oppressed. At this time of the year when we remember him we should reflect on our own action or inaction toward the goal of social justice. We should further reflect on the actions that we can and must take to further any noble cause, like the creation of a more value-driven and equitable healthcare system, because as Dr. King reminds us, time itself is neutral and waiting idly is wasteful. 

Let us rededicate ourselves to stay in action for meaningful change towards justice and equality.

A Great Day for Our HealthCare System 

On Monday of this week, Dr. Laddie Ross, Dr. Frank Rotolo, Dr. Joel Turner, and Dr. Jack Flowers officially became employees of Greater Baltimore Medical Associates (GBMA). We know them collectively as Finney Trimble Surgical Associates and individually as fantastic surgeons. I am so grateful that they have committed themselves to working at GBMC and helping to make our system better and better every day.


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