Last night, we started talking about the holiday a bit and what it meant for our country. I'll admit that while racism still exists in a big way, I still can't imagine how things were during that time. We've come a long way, but we still have a long way to go. So, we read that book, watched part of the "I have a Dream" speech and the news reports of his murder on YouTube.
I was watching the clips on the internet and couldn't help, but imagine what it must have been like there on the footsteps of the Lincoln Memorial that day. I watched the people's faces in the crowds and wondered what they must have been feeling or thinking.
The kids and I had a very good and frank discussion about racism, what the Bible says, and what it used to be like. And in complete innocence, they really just don't understand how people could be so cruel to another person. May they always just see other people for what God created them to be, and not what we see on the outer shell, which is completely meaningless.
Martin Luther King Jr's words:
- Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
- Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.
- I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.
- The time is always right to do what is right.
- To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.
For many people today was just a day off of work, but take a moment to at least thank God for the changes that have been made in our history due to this man, and to pray for the changes that are yet to come.
1 comment:
I read the speech a couple of weeks ago, and thought I heard biblical references in it. SO I went online and found this in one of the articles:
It should not be surprising that the speech has a number of Biblical allusions and resonances. I cannot pretend to list them all, but here are some (all quotations from the KJV):
No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.
Amos 5:24 “But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.”
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.
Isaiah 40:4-5 “Every valley shall be exalted, and very mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: and the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.”
It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
Psalm 30:5 “… weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
And when this happens, . . . we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:
Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
There are also allusions in addition to the Biblical ones. For example, “five score years ago” invokes the Gettysburg Address, and “sweltering summer of the Negro’s legitimate discontent” refers to Shakespeare, Richard III, act I, scene i, line 1 with change of season.
Thought you might want to share that too.
Glenn
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