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On January 19, Marietta College students celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a campus-wide day of service and reflection. These students implemented many community service projects and demonstrated a positive force in our community. I am reminded of MLK's commitment to nonviolence and service to others. I am reminded of his optimism as he said, "The believer in nonviolence has deep faith in the future." I am reminded of the importance of teaching our children about social responsibility and how to make caring decisions that contribute to the improvement of our communities. Contrast that to the comments of JD Vance, candidate for the United States Senate from Ohio, who visited Marietta two days after MLK Day. Vance has defended Kyle Rittenhouse, a teenager who drove to another state with his assault weapon to demonstrate what Vance called his "basic manly virtue." This young man shot three people, killing two of them. JD Vance stated: "Isn't it good that a 17-year-old raised by a single mother made good decisions and decided to be a positive force in his community. . . It's not just about Kyle Rittenhouse. It's about what kind of young men do we want to raise in our communities? What kind of virtue do we want our leaders to promote?" I am reminded of the virtues we want to instill in our children, and I'm confident they are NOT the values of JD Vance.
Annelle Edwards
Marietta