It’s not so much the man I admire as it is what he stood for. History has proven, time and again that heroes and the ones placed high on pedestals are often the ones to fall hard from their elevated status, in one way or another. I’m sometimes saddened by how people’s opinions and, even, their actions are so wrapped around the perceived character of a public figure. I, however, choose to follow ideals and principles that matter to me and don’t put all my hopes in the character of another.
Veering away from that tangent, I’d like to praise MLK for the symbol of peace and equality he is. Though we have come a long way, we still have so much further to go. Thanks to people like MLK we now live in a world where people have to think twice about how they treat others different from themselves. My hope is that one day no one will have to think about their actions because everyone will finally embrace the ideals of equality at their very core- perhaps people will be born colorblind and have an appreciation for humanity never before experienced in history.
Like MLK before me, I have a dream and hope that one day, World Harmony, will become a reality.
This is a reposted post.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords
10 replies on “It’s MLK Day! – 2016”
MLK is definitely one of my heroes because he was one of the very few who a) fully believed and practiced what he preached, and b) didn’t did it for his own gain or in an effort to gain power. He did it because it was right. That takes real courage and honest intent. Considering all the great men of the last hundred years the only other man who even begins to encroach on MLK’s shadow is Nelson Mandela. People shouldn’t bother learning the Gettysburg Address in school, they should learn MLK’s ‘I have a Dream’ speech, and take it’s message to heart.
I like the sound of that. As an educator, it saddens me that when we teach out students about MLK, it’s a completely foreign subject. People aren’t teaching these things to their kids.I’m happy to do it, but I think it works much better when it starts at home.
Surely education should begin at home? If it doesn’t and isn’t supported by home life, what hope does the child have? School is there to build on the foundations the children bring from home, but it’s important that the parents support that. Yes, people should talk about MLK and his work at home. If more people thought about his message they might see things i a different light, be less selfish, and society could have less tension in it.
He changed so much in this country and in the world. It would be nice if people didn’t judge that way. I’m blessed I go to a church that doesn’t and we are one big happy family.
I’m not putting down anyone’s church in the slightest, but I really do appreciat multiculture churches more than others. For me, if races can’t mix at church, then how closer to God can we really all be…
We shouldn’t even be thinking of ‘races’ in church. We’re all just human beings, wherever we come from, whatever our origins. We’re all children of God, even if some of us choose to express that slightly differently. We should be trying to respect others and thereby earn their respect, not criticising everything..
I’m not criticising churches or “everything”. I’m stating the opinion that I think it’s sad that people segregate themselves at church. Whether people are willing to admit it or not, they still see skin color as a means to distinguish and separate differences. I love that there are so many churches available for people to choose from- everyone gets to worship how they want, but I do think it’s sad that surrounding oneself with people of the same color or race is what makes so many people feel more comfortable in their worship. To me, it’s like saying that a person of a different color couldn’t possibly like to worship in the same way I do, but of course this is a generalisation. I know people don’t go around thinking this, but its something I think about (Why do people segregate themselves by color at church?) It’s not about how people worship; it’s about who they worship with and why color is even an issue. Now I get that not all areas of the world are that culturally diverse, but where I live diversity is the norm. There are so many different kinds of people from all sorts of backgrounds. With that said, I still have the option of going to a multiracial church, a black church, a white church, a hispanic church, etc…(Why aren’t all churches as diverse as the community in which they stand?) For me personally, I do appreciate churches who strive for multicultralism more. I just do and nothing will make me change my mind about that.
I’m not suggesting you are criticising anything, Toi. Merely that so many people find fault with how others approach things like the church, instead of considering how their own approach affects their judgement.
Even in multi cultural places people tend to like what is most familiar to them and what they can identify with. Thus Hispanic people, whose religious traditions take a particular form, will tend to go to a church that uses that form. Many white people may come from immigrant stock which has rather conservative, staid and undemonstrative traditions, so they will tend to go to a church whose rituals follow that theme. They won’t feel comfortable in an exuberant, Pentecostalist or New Christian church, even though the basic religion is the same. It is natural for people to go where they are most likely to feel comfortable and part of the group. That’s basic psychology, and quite hard to break.
So it is that generally only those with very open minds,wishing to explore and seek out new approaches, will go to churches of other denominations, and feel comfortable doing so.
How often do you go to other people’s churches? And do you ever feel a bit f an outsider an uncomfortable when you do?
I’m so glad you asked that question. I’ve visited quite a few different kinds of churches. I’ve been to Lutheran churches that were predominantly white or predominantly black. I didn’t notice much difference in the service other than the color of the congregation. I’ve been to Pentecostal churches that were predominantly white or predominantly black. The white church used more electric guitar and the black church used more organ and drums. I’ve been to black, white, and Hispanic baptist churches- they were all different in different ways, but still all kinda the same. I didn’t see anything that suggested the color of the people’s skin affected how they worshiped. I’ve been to small churches, big churches, and even mega churches…I understand human nature and am not faulting people for gravitating towards familiarity, but as I’ve stated above, I appreciate churches that strive for multiculturalism… And as for feeling like an outsider- because of my open mind, I always feel like an outsider. I don’t really fit in anywhere just right. I’m too much for some and not enough for others. I am me no matter where I go and I just have to be confident that God made me this way for a reason.
Too right he did! God made you a beautiful, sharing person. Don’t change!
And if you don;t fit that jost means you haven’t found the right slot ti fit into yet. Keep looking, life’s an adventure and that’s part of it. 🙂