Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. day in the United States of America.

One of the most recognized figures of recent history, Martin Luther King Jr’s contributions to human rights (not just African-American, or minority, rights), are legendary.

One can only imagine the amount of courage, faith, conviction that this man had.  A mere mortal, his flaws were well-documented.

But that just makes him human.  Like us.

That just means that we, to, with all of our flaws, fears, and shortcomings, can lead a life well lived.

There are often comparisons of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Moses.

Would you believe – that Moses was also quite flawed?

A very poor speaker, he didn’t believe he had what it took to lead the Israelites to the promised land.

And yet – lead he did.

On this day of service, and reflection on the rights of minorities and the oppressed, let’s also reflect on how we ought to lead this year.

And after reflection, let’s further honor Dr. King.  By taking action.

WHAT MOVEMENT ARE YOU GOING TO START THIS YEAR???

• Enough with the talk,
• Enough with the daydreaming,
• Enough with complaining about how things in society, in your community, or in your life, should be better.

WHAT MOVEMENT ARE YOU GOING TO START THIS YEAR???

You don’t have to be ready.

You just have to be brave enough to step forward, and plant your flag.

(See Pictures, quotes, a brief history, and video, below)

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Photo courtesy of Huffingtonpost.com

Quote:
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction … The chain reaction of evil — hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars — must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.

Strength To Love, 1963.
.

Remembering Dr Martin Luther King Jr - Photo courtesy of Huffingtonpost.com

Quote:
We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Frankly, I have yet to engage in a direct action campaign that was “well timed” in the view of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation.

For years now I have heard the word “Wait!” It rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This “Wait” has almost always meant “Never.” We must come to see, with one of our distinguished jurists, that “justice too long delayed is justice denied.”
Letter From A Birmingham Jail, 1963
.

Remembering Dr Martin Luther King Jr - Photo courtesy of HuffingtonPost.com

Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African American civil rights movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.

A Baptist minister, King became a civil rights activist early in his career. He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957, serving as its first president.

King’s efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech.

There, he expanded American values to include the vision of a color blind society, and established his reputation as one of the greatest orators in American history.

In 1964, King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other nonviolent means. By the time of his death in 1968, he had refocused his efforts on ending poverty and stopping the Vietnam War.

King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and Congressional Gold Medal in 2004; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a U.S. federal holiday in 1986.