MLK remembrance

[Alex]

Time for my yearly noting of the civil rights movement, manifested in the remembrance of Martin Luther King. I realize the repetitive nature of the post; I hold the opinion some wrongs are the responsibility of all who compose a nation - and the debt is handed through it's generations, as yet to be paid in full. A moment's pause doesn't not seem a great price. To throw a Malcolm X quote in: "An integrated cup of coffee isn't sufficient pay for four hundred years of slave labor."

By the way, I'm becoming the fan of the "day on" approach to the MLK holiday; responding to the idea of making it a day of service rather than leisure.

I've gathered a couple more quotes for the day.

"It is a comfort to hope, as so many of the world's sorrows and wrongs have, from age to age been lived down, so a time shall come when sketches similar to these shall be valuable only as memorials of what has long ceased to be."
-Harriet Beecher Stowe, preface to Uncle Tom's Cabin

"No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream."
-Martin Luther King Jr.

"I want Dr. King to know that I didn't come to Selma to make his job difficult. I really did come thinking I could make it easier. If the white people realize what the alternative is, perhaps they will be more willing to hear Dr. King."
- Malcolm X

[Josh]

By the way, I'm becoming the fan of the "day on" approach to the MLK holiday; responding to the idea of making it a day of service rather than leisure.

So, what service did you render today?

[michelle]

Thanks for sharing, Alex. As we get closer to inauguration day, I am more and more amazed at the historic moment we are all getting ready to witness. It only took 140 years after the civil war, but we have finally reached a place where what so many faught for is finally tangible. I feel like this is a giant step away from the horrible mistakes that have been made. And while I know nothing can ever rectify slavery, I feel so honored to be living in this time. I believe this could be a pivotal moment in the history of our country. I actually feel like I want to have kids so I can tell them about how I was alive when the first African American president was elected and inaugurated.

[Josh]

Yeah, I was thinking this morning how cool it is that this is happening the day after MLK day.

[Josh]

Did you hear the story about the 105 year old african american woman who went to the inauguration all bundled up in a sleeping bag with just her eyes and nose sticking out? Pretty awesome. She was waxing eloquently about all the changes she'd seen in her life, especially how great it was to be standing around in the cold with friendly people of all races.

[meghan]

I subbed on Wednesday and the school I was at had a MLK assembly. The fifth graders lined up around the gym, and one by one, read through the I have a dream speech. It was pretty awesome.

[Josh]

Early morning, April 4, shot rings out in the Memphis sky/
Free at last, they took your life/
But they could not take your pride/
In the name of love/
What more, in the name of love?/

[michelle]

Bono performed that at the inauguration and said how he thought there was a direct line from MLKJ to us having an African American president.

[Josh]

U2 performed at the inauguration?

[michelle]

Ok, not at THE inauguration, but at the inauguration festivities.