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If it were respect it would not be Dr. King over and over. I proposed that my city consider renaming Greenwood Avenue, Rosa Parks Avenue, but nope, they named it Dr. King Ave.

There is a Dr. King in St. Pete Florida (which was 9th street for decades) and a Dr. King Blvd in Tampa (which was Buffalo Ave for decades), a Dr. King in Tarpon Springs all within 10 miles of the Dr. King Ave in my city. Not only is it pandering, it makes it difficult for travelers to navigate the area as they are not the same road, in fact in my county some of them are perpendicular.

I am looking for a house in the county north of me as the property taxes are lower and my office building may be moving (well not the building but you get the idea). It is a new subdivision. New streets without names, perhaps a Dr. King would be nice but I'd rather see a Rosa Parks St, Dr. Charles Drew Ave, Sgt. William H. Carney Way.

I am proud to be able to identify myself as an American and to live in a nation made better, stronger, and a beacon for hope and freedom through the actions of men and women such as these. That they are black and made such significant achievements is testament to their own skill and courage. That we must note that is testament to our collective ignorance.

To suggest that renaming street after street after Dr. King is a fitting tribute to him, and to the gains made by the work of others upon his foundation is a fitting tribute minimizes the contributions of others, and does little to further the principle upon which our nation was founded that all are equal. It does placate the masses - both black and white - but it does little more. We need to point out the truly remarkable achievments of all members of our community, not simply hold one out one man, no matter how important his work. We don't need any more Dr. King streets, nor do we need anymore Washington, or Lincoln, or any other ubiquitous names used to re-christen our existing streets.

If we want to honor the important work of African-Americans start naming streets in new lily white neighborhoods after Dr. Drew and others who improved our lives. Many may not be comfortable with that, but then isin't that the point?

Chuck, I think you may be afraid to simply call me a racist, and you know if you want to get Webster's out and look up the term I'd probably qualify (I'd rather spend the day with American Irish Catholics), but I'm not an idiot. Nobody should hate anyone because of their skin color, nor should anyone like anyone because of their race. I do my best to judge people on their actions and I'd much rather spend the day with bright people who work to improve our nation than anyone else - even the Irish Catholics.

Certainly there is white guilt, but I don't want any part of it. I'm not responsible for anything but that which I did myself and I am guilt free.