It is laudable that children remembered Rev. Luther Martin Luther King Jr. at Port Discovery with crafts, quilting squares and music ("Artful Tribute to King," Jan. 18).

Other than that, not much was said about Mr. King, possibly due to the fact that we have an articulate, attractive African-American as president of the United States.

Mr. King's goals and aspirations may seem irrelevant and outdated, but while some issues, such as public accommodations, have seen vast improvement, there are other areas championed by Mr. King that have seen little change -- economic justice and an end to poverty, universal health care, the beginning of the end of the deadly arms race, as well as the on-going maiming and killing in Iraq and Afghanistan.

These wars and the constant preparation for them result in astronomical costs, squandering tax dollars that could be used to improve U.S. infrastructure, not to mention rebuild the shattered country of Haiti.

Just beginning to shift the funding from war to human needs would result in a dramatic change in our society, a change that would benefit the United States and the entire planet.

Lee Lears, Annapolis

Send your comments to talkback@baltimoresun.com.