"What More In The Name of Love"

Today is my second favorite Holiday of the year.

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. It is a day when we celebrate the life of a man who fought for equality, social justice, and for the basic human rights of all people. He was a shining example of "being love". So on your day off today, please take a moment to observe the life of one of the greatest American Citizens, whose voice still rings from the Washington Memorial. Take a moment to listen to the entire “I Have A Dream Speech”. On this day of service, try to do your part of spreading Dr. King's mesage, however small it may seem: Share his message with your children, friends and family. Smile at a stranger. Volunteer your time somewhere.

Let’s keep Dr. King’s dream alive.

Here are some excerpts from Corretta Scott King's writing titled:

"The Meaning of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday"

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday celebrates the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America. We commemorate as well the timeless values he taught us through his example–the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service that so radiantly defined Dr. King's character and empowered his leadership. On this holiday, we commemorate the universal, unconditional love, forgiveness and nonviolence that empowered his revolutionary spirit.

. . . It is a day of interracial and intercultural cooperation and sharing. No other day of the year brings so many people from different cultural backgrounds together in such a vibrant spirit of brother and sisterhood. Whether you are African-American, Hispanic or Native American, whether you are Caucasian or Asian-American, you are part of the great dream Martin Luther King, Jr. had for America. This is not a black holiday; it is a peoples' holiday. And it is the young people of all races and religions who hold the keys to the fulfillment of his dream.


. . . The Holiday commemorates America's pre-eminent advocate of nonviolence–the man who taught by his example that nonviolent action is the most powerful, revolutionary force for social change available to oppressed people and their struggles for liberation.

This holiday honors the courage of a man who endured harassment, threats and beatings, and even bombings. We commemorate the man who went to jail 29 times to achieve freedom for others, and who knew he would pay the ultimate price for his leadership, but kept on marching and protesting and organizing anyway.

. . .The Holiday provides a unique opportunity to teach young people to fight evil, not people, to get in the habit of asking themselves, "what is the most loving way I can resolve this conflict?"

On the King holiday, young people learn the power of unconditional love even for one's adversaries as a way to fight injustice and defuse violent disputes. It is a time to show them the power of forgiveness in the healing process at the interpersonal as well as international levels.

. . . Dr King once said that we all have to decide whether we "will walk in the light of creative altruism or the darkness of destructive selfishness. 'Life's most persistent and nagging question', he said, is 'what are you doing for others?'"

. . . We call you to commemorate this Holiday by making your personal commitment to serve humanity with the vibrant spirit of unconditional love that was his greatest strength, and which empowered all of the great victories of his leadership. And with our hearts open to this spirit of unconditional love, we can indeed achieve the Beloved Community of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream. May we follow Martin now and pledge to serve humanity, promote his teachings and carry forward his legacy into the 21st Century.

Copyright 2002–The King Center–Atlanta, GA

Love,
Nik

PS--Did you know that Corretta Scott King and Martin Luther King, Jr. met on a blind date? Pretty cool. Mine never end with me marrying a totally awesome civil rights advocate, but I still have hope . . .