Solve this, move on

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Most of the counties in South Carolina must look on in amazement as the Greenville County Council struggles painfully over how to honor slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Most of those counties, along with all 50 states and our nation, have adopted the third Monday in January as an official holiday set aside to honor Dr. King's remarkable accomplishments and celebrate the success of the civil rights movement that forced the end of segregation.

That said, the County Council has refused to accept the official holiday for county employees and even refused to support a gracious resolution honoring Dr. King. The bitter battle that has followed these stubborn decisions unnecessarily divides this county and threatens to create even more discord. So it's imperative that the nine-member committee appointed this week to recommend a solution act quickly, speak as one and persuade the county residents and County Council that its recommendation is an honorable one.

This fight over the King holiday needs to end. The nine members of the committee represent all walks of life, and there's every reason to believe the committee members will approach this tough assignment in good faith. The committee should try to make a recommendation within at least a month. That solution should be supported overwhelmingly by the committee members so that it also has widespread support on the council and in this community.