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I believe it’s important to remember the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I also believe it’s more important to remember what he stood for, fought for, and died for.

I was pleased to learn that some political conservatives like Republican Arizona Governor Jan Brewer believes this, too.

During the 50th anniversary remembrance of Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream Speech” this past August Governor Brewer said: “The principles he (King) so eloquently preached from those steps in 1963 are no less significant today. Let us carry on the legacy of that speech – and of Dr. King himself.”

Sounds great, except she chose to ignore her own words when she decided to ban all immigrant children who grew up in Arizona, went to Arizona schools, excelled academically, and now want to go to college in Arizona, from getting driver’s licenses.

These are the children President Obama is trying to help through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that protects young people like the ones in Arizona from immediate deportation. Strict conditions apply to the “early arrivals” (meaning they were brought here as babies or young children), but if they meet them they have a chance to get legal status.

By denying them driver’s licenses Brewer was saying “No” to the Deferred Action Program. She gave no logical reason for her decision.

Never mind that all these children are as American as you and I, that they want to attend college, that they want to get good jobs and pay taxes and help build a stronger America.

Brewer just said NO.

So much for her carrying on the Dr. King’s legacy. Maybe she’s never read or heard that King also said, “The time is always right to do the right thing.”

Too many people, and especially too many politicians, say they believe in what Dr. King stood for, but their actions say something very different. That’s why remembering his birthday is good , but not good enough.

It’s easy to oppose someone else trying to do the right thing. It takes much more character to put yourself on the line by offering an alternative you think is better.

That’s what Governor Brewer could have done.

She didn’t.

A lot of politicians are just like her.

They know what they oppose, not so much about what alternative they think will achieve the same goal in a different way.

So they remember Dr. King’s birthday. They just ignore what he stood for, fought for, and died for.