"Speak Out" is an expression of opinion from the Editorial Board of WBTV, and is presented by General Manager, Nick Simonette.
Shoes.
Could you ever imagine we'd get so worked up about a pair of basketball shoes?
Pushing through store doors…throwing punches…even leaving kids alone in the car.
All to grab something marketers say we "must have."
You know, this really doesn't say anything about the shoes themselves – if they're good or bad.
Doesn't say much about who the shoes are named for either, other than he's popular.
But it speaks volumes about our priorities.
Where did we get so screwed up?
Would those same people pushing and clawing for shoes fight for better education in our schools?
Would they stand in line to vote?
Think about that as we celebrate a man who'd probably be shocked to see this greedy chaos.
Tomorrow would be Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 83rd birthday.
We'd like to recognize the incredible achievements he packed into 39 short years of his life.
Dr. King led a movement for change and equal rights for all citizens.
He challenged his followers to make their voices heard in a thoughtful, determined, yet non-violent way.
While we still have a long way to go, Dr. King truly altered the course of our nation's history.
Remember Dr. King when the next "must-have" product comes out.
Would he be proud of your behavior?
Would your actions help make us a better country?
We have no problem with the shoes.
Let's just keep our eyes on a much greater prize: Dr. King's dream of peace and an America where we are judged on the content of our character.
"Speak Out" is an expression of opinion from the Editorial Board of WBTV, and is presented by General Manager, Nick Simonette.
