Everybody who claims the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ain�t exactly a King fan.

In fact, about as much hypocrisy goes on during the annual celebration of the freedom fighter�s holiday than during the celebration of the alleged birth of Jesus Christ.

When it was announced that Dr. King is being considered for martyrdom in the Christian faith, the argument from some circles�a talk show host had his audience debate the fact�was that King died because he was this or that, not because he was a Christian.

This argument is rooted in sheer ignorance and/or blatant racism, depending on which circle it comes from.

No, Dr. King wasn�t killed because he paraded around the country chanting, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus." He did more than that. He traveled around the country seeking to do the works of Jesus.

He challenged the racist to cleanse his heart; he helped the blind to see; he gave the hopeless hope; he sought a world where equality reigned. He called for the U.S. Government to stop sending innocent men to kill innocent people in North Vietnam, and to spend the money from the war to better the condition of poor people. These are true Christian characteristics, are they not?

Dr. King troubled the ruling elite and the stone hearted white southerners and northerners who thought the Black man and woman had no rights that a white person had to respect. He frightened many Negro leaders.

When the King celebration activities are over, we will forget the beautiful words in the wonderful speeches of Dr. King that were oft repeated. We won�t bother to get to know the true and deeper meanings beyond the sound bites of his speeches.

We glorify his words on his day: "I have a dream," "Free, at last," "the content of my character," etc.

And when the celebrating is over, we�ll get right back to our foolishness.