• Identify the main time frame (focus) for each section. How do you know? Note places where the time frame switches.
• For each verb, decide what time and aspect you think is best. (A few have been done for you.) Is there any reason to choose a time that is different from the main time frame of the section? If you choose a perfect or progressive verb, can you explain why?
• When you have finished the article, look at the verbs you have written: What "aspect" have you used most? (simple? progressive? perfect?) How often does the main time frame switch from one time to another? Is there a clear signal to the reader? How often are there individual verbs that have a different time from the others in the section?

To compare your answers with the original when you are finished, click here. (A new browser window will appear with this document. With both windows open, you can adjust them so that part of each is always visible, and you can easily move back and forth between them.)

Of course, in many cases more than one verb tense would be possible. If your answer differs from the author's, can you see why he chose the one he did? Are you sure yours would also be possible? Would there be any difference in meaning? Click here for a brief discussion.

by Paul Andrews Seattle Times staff reporter

THE REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., who knew it takes time for attitudes to change, would not have been surprised that nearly two decades were required to make his birthday a legal holiday.

If anything, King, whose magnificent dream always a pragmatic cast, would have been surprised that it has happened at all.

Even putting aside King's controversial career and his minority race, the odds against the new holiday imposing. The arguments opposing it --- cost to taxpayers, singling him out over others --- used for decades to resist creation of any new holiday.

HIS BIRTHDAY TODAY. The official holiday, on the third Monday of January, next year. To place the new date in some perspective, consider:

It the first new holiday since 1948, when Memorial Day created as a "prayer for peace" day. And it only the third this century (the other Veterans Day, created as Armistice Day in 1926 to honor those who in World War I).

King the only American besides George Washington to have a national holiday designated for his birthday (those of Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Robert E. Lee and others celebrated in some states but not nationwide).

Internationally, King one of the few social leaders of any country to be honored with a holiday (Mahatma Gandhi's birthday observed in India). Such status by a member of a country's racial minority almost unheard of. Generally, the honor reserved for military or religious figures.

Given such obstacles, the holiday a powerful tribute to King's philosophy and stature. ``As usually the case with great figures, particularly controversial ones who for a philosophy condemned by many, Dr. King well ahead of his time,'' says Joseph Lowery, King's contemporary counterpart as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Atlanta. "Even those very much opposed to him during his lifetime to see that segregation, injustice and militarism concerns which must be addressed by modern society."

When President Reagan legislation creating the holiday in November 1983, it the end of a persistent, highly organized lobbying effort spanning the nation for 15 years.

"We hard to put together a national effort and make a powerful network,'' recalls Cedric Hendricks, legislative aide to Rep. John Conyers, Michigan Democrat. It Conyers who, four days after King assassinated in Memphis, the first legislation to commemorate his birthday.

Petitions carrying more than 6 million signatures --- said to be the largest petition drive in history --- submitted to Congress in 1970. With help from New York Democratic Rep. Shirley Chisholm, Conyers the legislation during each congressional session.

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which the petition campaign, also continuous pressure on Congress for the holiday. Mass marches in 1982 for voting rights and 1983 to mark the 20th anniversary of King's dramatic speech in Washington, D.C., also .

It bipartisan support to overcome the opposition of Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., who King a Communist, and President Reagan's lukewarm attitude toward the legislation, Lowery said.

In the final analysis, what may have sealed approval of the holiday a compromise offered by Rep. Katie Hall, Indiana Democrat who support in the House for the legislation. Hall, responding to criticism that the holiday would be too close to the Christmas-New Year's week, its observance to the third Monday of the month. The notion of a three-day weekend, plus the fact that the third Monday often Super Bowl Sunday, put the measure over the top, supporters say.

Arguments concerning money opposition to the holiday. Costs associated with lost services on the King holiday estimated at $18 million for the federal government; at $7 million to Washington state; at $1.18 million to Seattle. The estimated total an astronomical $8 billion for government and private sector combined.

"Every time we'd bring the bill up in the Legislature, people would say, `$7 million! ?! What about all the people starving in the streets?!" recalls Washington state Sen. George Fleming, Seattle Democrat, who legislative efforts since the early 1970s.

Another common argument, Fleming notes, was "why put Dr. King above other famous people?' They his legacy would stand the test of time."

Both arguments, Fleming feels, used to conceal racist resistance to the holiday.

Most holiday proposals strong opposition, particularly today. Moreover, just about every constituency some day it would like to commemorate. Feminists for a Susan B. Anthony Day on the suffragist's birthday Feb. 15. The Irish would prefer to have St. Patrick's Day off, the Finns St. Urho's Day (March 16). Tree lovers and environmentalists can make a case for Arbor Day to be an official holiday. Commercial interests Valentine's Day.

While legislation supporting these holidays beyond the lip-service stage, special interests a number of holidays not universally observed. Longshoremen, for instance, Harry Bridges' birthday to honor the popular labor leader. In the south, Robert E. Lee's birthday observed by various states on the third Monday of January. This an interesting historical contradiction for those that, like Virginia, observance of King's birthday to that date as well.

Not specifically patriotic or religious, the King holiday any traditional category. But black leaders it a deeply spiritual day.

"I it should be devoted to some activity which love of our fellow person, or spiritual recognition of some kind," says Dr. Donald G. Phelps, chancellor of Seattle Community College District, which for the past 11 years _ a widely attended memorial service in King's honor on his birthday. ``As we it in the past, it a day where more people together in an ecumenical way --- to other churches, together the way we don't on Sunday --- than any other. It a day when we can honor Dr. King's principles, which really American principles in their truest form.

"It shouldn't be a holiday where we all fishing."

© 1996 Seattle Times Company

DISCUSSION:
TIME: This article has three main time frames. It begins with a focus on the present holiday. Between the 8th and 9th paragraphs, it switches to a history of the campaign to establish the holiday. This switch is signalled by the reference to President Reagan in 1983. This focus continues until a switch back to the present tense to discuss general facts about holidays and thoughts about this new holiday begins with "Most holiday proposals ...:
Within each section there are background comments or asides that refer to different times, but do not switch the main time frame. The first section,where the focus is on the present, has a few comments about past events. (about Dr. King -- knew, had, was ---, the efforts to create the holiday--were required, were --, and details about Memorial Day and Veterans Day --was created, died .) There is also at least one present-tense verb that refers to something scheduled for the future: begins . In the second section, with the focus on the past, there are a few present-tense verbs related to present-day comments about the process, two "reporting verbs" recalls, feels and one verb within a direct quote, Are you kidding?. A background note (general fact) about the calendar contains a present-tense verb, follows. There is also a present perfect verb, has led in a background note about a senator (his activities preceding the present), and one present tense verb in a comment about "timeless" attitudes that are still true: are (used). In the third, present-tense section, there are no past-tense verbs. There is one verb in the future, will become, expressing hope.
ASPECT: There are two progressive verbs: are fighting are adding. The first stresses the fact that the fighting is usually in progress (not complete, with duration over time) when people are ahead of their time. The second has a future meaning: "scheduled to add."
Can you see why the perfect verbs have been used? They are all in sections where the focus is on the present, and do not refer to specific past times, but rather indefinite times BEFORE or UP TO THE PRESENT:

Ann Salzmann
Intensive English Institute
University of Illinois