My MLK Day
By: Bob Edgar
January 11, 2011 
24 Comments
Dear Friends, if you know me, you know that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King is a great hero of mine. That’s why, shortly after learning about the tragedy in Arizona on Saturday, I emailed the following quote to a handful of friends:
“When evil men (and women) plot, good men (and women) plan.
When evil men (and women) burn and bomb, good men (and women) must build and bind.
When evil men (and women) shout ugly words of hatred, good men (and women) commit themselves to the glories of love.
Where evil men (and women) would seek to perpetuate an unjust status quo, good men (and women) must seek to bring into being a real order of justice.”
- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
—
On Monday, we will celebrate Dr. King’s birthday. In light of recent events, I am calling on all members of the Common Cause family to use MLK Day this year to plan, build and commit themselves to bringing about a real order of justice. It could be as simple signing one of the many petitions calling for an end to violent rhetoric in politics, talking with a young person about how to disagree without being disagreeable, or sending a “get well” note to Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Or it could be something more, like spending the day volunteering in your community.
Tell us how you plan to spend the MLK Day of Service—Monday, January 17—to honor Dr. King and the victims of the Arizona shooting, and share quotes, images, and ideas that inspire you.
- Share a quote or inspiring thoughts here on our blog or on the Common Cause Facebook page.
- Tweet about your day using the hashtag #myMLKday, and inspire your friends and followers to do the same.
- Share a special photo, or take a new picture that inspires you, and add it to our Flickr group. It may inspire someone else, too!
- View our gallery of inspirational images on Flickr.
However you choose to spend the day, I hope you will share it with us.
Sincerely,
Bob
A coalition of groups is marching in the Martin Luther King Day “parade” in Los Angeles next Monday under the banner of “Jobs and Justice.” This “parade” has become a venue for the military with them leading the parade — and the peace activists who are joining have to follow them. Military recruitment is everywhere. I invite the LA office of Common Cause to join us.
We will have an annual MLK Multi cultural Day with Film, dance, Ethnic Pot luck at Laconia, NH Memorial Middle School 3:30-6 on Sunday, Jan 16th. All are invited!
The Human rights Task Force of Latah County Idaho (of whi8ch I am a member) is hosting our annual Martin Luther King breakfast. The purpose of this breakfast is to spotlight community members who contribute to the cause of human rights and to ganer community support to continue these efforts.
I will stop indulging my anger and blaming others as my reaction to what happened in Tucson. I wish the best outcome to those who were harmed and send my deepest sympathy to those families who lost a loved one. Thank you for this much needed reminder to not return hate for hate, but try my best to love our enemies.
I mean that in the Biblical sense…not to add to the atmosphere of discord.
It took me too long a time to appreciate the sacrifice MLK made daily to continue to stay on the path of peace and forgiveness. When people talk about “giving up one’s life” when death comes…I finally saw that that means not being able to relax and let your guard down…not being with your family or friends when you want to…not giving in to a very human response of retaliation… every day…so too, this describes Rep. Gabrielle Gifford and her family and staff and supporters. Thank you again for the reminder of a better way to be.
My best wishes for a real recovery for her. I hope for this for all who suffered that day.
Favorite quote: “I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good thing, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow human being let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.
Stephen Grellet 1773–1855 French-born Quaker Minister
As a retired educator and professional mediator, I am horrified, but not surprised, at the turn of events in our increasingly violent and loss-of-civility society. I will be volunteering my services as a Mediator for Municipal Court to facilitate the resolution of barking dog disputes between neighbors. Knowing that these situations often leads to violent threats and actions, and a deterioration of relationships, it is my hope that it will be preventative in nature and will support the positive approach by the City of Santa Fe to resolve these conflicts in a manner consistent with increased civility.
I will, as I do every year (well, most every year), re-read his “Letter From the Birmingham Jail.” It’s an astonishing document — erudite, morally eloquent and written under difficult circumstances. It never fails to inspire me.
Lynne, I love that quotation! One of my other favorites:
“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of Nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.”
George Bernard Shaw
Epistle Dedicatory to Arthur Bingham Walkley
Jon, what a great gesture. For anyone who wants to read it, the text of the Letter from a Birmingham Jail is here: http://bit.ly/fsRoaT
Everyone is invited to join the annual celebration in the Rotunda of the NM State Capitol at noon on MLK Day. The event has been hosted by the Santa Fe Branch of the NAACP since its inception. The theme for this year’s celebration is “One Nation, One Dream.” The speaker will be Ms. Kimberly Ross-Toledo, a nationally recognized leader in the area of intercultural diversity and the director of the McKinley Community Coalition for Healthy & Resilient Youth. The event is free and open to the public. Come early.
My daughter and I, plus a group of Rotarians from both Texas and Alaska, will be in Honduras on a clean water project- so we will be teaching about and installing water filtration systems, and yes, even maybe building sanitary latrines.
I’m old enough to remember seeing Dr. King on the evening news. What I find so distressing about MLK Day now is that, since the 1980s, virtually everything that he said and wrote about American poverty – poverty that crushes people of all colors – has been censored out of the public discussion. US poverty, and the role played by a legitimate welfare aid system (one that provides a measure of economic stability AND includes rungs on a ladder out of poverty), was central to Dr. King’s message. It’s worthwhile for every citizen to review what Dr. King said about the causes of poverty, and the solutions. What stunning hypocrisy to observe Martin Luther King Day while continuing to ignore everything he said and wrote about America’s poverty!
On Martin Luther King Day–2011, Dr. King’s words and deeds, motivated by hope and love, are still relevant to what’s going on in America and the world. I believe King would be deeply disturbed by today’s hate speech that permeates talk radio and the Internet. A climate of hate often breeds acts of deadly violence as it did during the 1960s with the assassinations of President Kennedy, Dr. King and Senator Robert Kennedy.
When King was in the limelight doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with his God, he was accused by the-then hate merchants of being a communist, socialist, destroyer of America. To the contrary, he was instrumental in saving America from hypocrisy status—pretending to be a “liberty and justice for all” nation at the same time racism and discrimination infected all areas of our society.
In the civil rights struggle, King’s only weapons were truth, love, and non-violence. King’s inspiration, motivation and strength came from Jesus Christ, who taught his followers to love their enemies. Another source of inspiration was Mohandas K. Gandhi, the valiant Hindu, who also practiced Christ’s principles of love and non-violence. Jesus, Gandhi and King are peacemaking role models who need to be emulated today.
Hate and greed are killing America. The life of Martin Luther King Jr. reminds us it is God’s transforming love that changes and sustains us. The best way to please God and honor King is for America to become a beloved community God will bless, one devoid of hate and greed. It is impossible to love God and hate our neighbors.
America must choose this day whom she will serve: hate, money, guns or love, God, non-violence.
Hero Party
Every year my family hosts a Hero Party for our friends and neighbors on MLK weekend. Each person chooses a hero, comes dressed as that person, and brings a food that person loves/would have loved to eat. At the party we gather around and each say a few words. Some people are in character and share quotes and life stories of heroes whom we all know like MLK, Pete Seeger, Steve Jobs, Eve Ensler, Nelson Mandela, Dolly Parton, etc. Other people may pick more personal heroes like a parent, friend or teacher.
For me the magic of this party is the awareness that MLK’s courage and steadfastness can still inspire us to do meaningful things. Having a day to recognize his life offers us time to look at what is remarkable in others and maybe even consider what we each contribute to the world. I especially love how this party works for children. They enjoy the dressing up in costumes. But, I think the most moving thing is watching their faces as they listen to adults they know talk about what inspires them. It makes us all heroes and equals, somehow.
Several local organizations are sponsoring a community dinner and program in the Bloomsburg area held in a local church, with a focus each year on a themes related to civil rights, racism, non-violence, etc. Several of us started up this annual event a few years ago in an area that, with sparse African-American population, had nothing for the day other than the local state university dinner on campus. We think of the day as the best American holiday for stressing these themes. I will also be participating in the Greenwood Friends School work project for the day.
I lived in Chicago during the 1960′s and saw some bloodied heads come into the Hilton Lobby during 1968 Democratic Convention, I marched in anti-vietnam rallies, plus women’s rights, civil rights exploding same time. I saw un-edited history live-it changed my life. So, as a recent transplant to the beautiful, open ranchland vistas of Texas and friendly people here, I was dismayed at the Texas’ Board of Education’s racism decisions last summer re: textbook guidelines. They omitted the word “slavery” with some other word (punched us back to 1920 Scopes era when ” evolution” wording not allowed in classrooms) plus Thurgood Marshall “is not relevant.” He was pivotal with Brown vs. BOE in secregating schools.
So, on Martin Luther King’s birthday this Monday I will be going over some of key wording with his 1963 March on Washington speech. “Content of one’s character is most important-not color of one’s skin.”
I’m wondering if culture is some regions out-weighs the words of my hero, Happy Birthday Rev. King.
Several Organic Farmers and Local Artists are coming together to plan how we can serve our community in times of crisis or in times of need. We are building a local network of like minded people who think globally and act locally.
I was on the Mall in 1963. My life changed forever. I threw myself whole-heartedly into the civil movement; Carl Stokes in Cleveland, Maynard Jackson in Atlanta, Fred Gray in Alabama, and one hundred ampaings over twenty years. I walked and talked with Dr. King in 1966, on the south side of Chicago. Just two guys walking and talking. I will be eighty yesrs old next month and that day was one of the biggest days in my life.
Wow, what a story. Do you think folks today have opportunities to make such important contributions like this?
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Memorial Celebration Day
Monday, January 17th 2011
P. O. Box 769
Lexington, TN. 38351
Dear Friends:
Again it is time for the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration.
We look forward to seeing each of you on this day, and your participation will be greatly enjoyed and appreciated. Please mark your calendars for Monday, January 17, 2011. This is our 19th consecutive year to celebrate this event. We started before the day was a recognized holiday. We are proud that the day has become an event enjoyed by the entire community.
The events will begin at the Lexington Civic Center auditorium on Main Street in Lexington at 10 AM, where we will be welcomed by our City and County officials, and inspired by music and our featured speaker, Claretha Hess from Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church .
At the close of the program, we will proceed in a traditional march to the Henderson County Fair Grounds building on First Street for the afternoon’s activities.
THERE WILL BE ACTIVITIES, PRIZES, AND REFRESHMENTS FOR ALL AGES. PARENTS, PLEASE COME WITH YOUR CHILDREN AND SHARE THIS DAY WITH THEM.
Barbara Parker, event chairperson,
Home Phone – 968-4163 Business Phone – 968-8388 Cell Phone 614-8557
Thank you for your support.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration Event
19th annual celebration
Music, Inspiration, Community Recognition, and Fun for
the entire family and our complete community.
Monday, January 17, 2011
10AM Lexington Civic Center – Main Street
Games and refreshments – Henderson County Fair Building
Featured Speaker – Claretha Hess – Pilgrim’s Rest Baptist Church
Patrick Parker will deliver a memorable reenactment of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
A Real Order of JUSTICE!
new blog enrtry
http://mccoolportraits.com/mccoolcomments.htm
My husband and I are celebrating MLK Day by volunteering for a local Food Bank food drive in our county.
Vito DAmico
♥ “Sometimes we must get hurt in order to grow… We must fail in order to understand that failure is only the opportunity to begin again, this time more wisely. Our vision clears only after our eyes are washed away with tears. It takes courage, sacrifice, determination, committment, toughness & heart to smile through the pain.” ~ ♥
The MLK day of service is very popular here in Philadelphia and there were lots of service projects to choose from. I went to Bartram’s garden and helped remove invasive species from the wetland. We had about 80 people participating in our activity which made it one of smaller groups. It was great to see that most of our group consisted of local high school students. Bartram’s Garden is the nations oldest botanical garden and you can see pictures of it at bartramsgarden.org.
By the way, about 75,000 people participated in various service day projects in Philadelphia making us number one in MLK service day participants.