Good point: this day is indeed more than just about community service. My query was instigated by my son's idea (he's six) to do something of service today.
We attended church yesterday to discuss the reasoning behind celebrating Dr. King's legacy. I hope, along with you, that people don't think community service is the only reason for this day's being a holiday, but this is what my family is doing this year on this day (not just this day, of course, but because it's a federal holiday, we both have the day off from the standard "requirements" of school and work). I talk about racial injustice many times with my son, along with other kinds of injustice (e.g. when we walk by the Womens Way murals on I think 21st Street on the way to the Franklin Institute, I talk to him about why there's a Womens Way and not a Mens Way). It's what I've come to learn and honor in my church as it's brought up many times there throughout the year. It's inevitable for it to be at the forefront of our attention given that we live in Philadelphia (with such a strong diversity of races, among other social differences: class, sexual preference, creed, etc.). On Mon, Jan 21, 2008 at 08:05:29AM -0500, Wilma de Soto wrote: > This is a serious day for me. Not a day of service. I confess I don't fully understand how you don't equate giving community service to "serious". I assume you aren't disassociating my particular inquiry to the list with a lack of seriousness, but rather clarifying your stance on labor rights as opposed to larger community service. If that's not quite accurate, I'd appreciate a chance to better understand what you meant. Since there isn't much that's formally/officially organized here (thanks Anthony and Andrew -- given the bitter cold it does seem wisest to do something indoors, for my son's sake), I'm taking my son to the Constitution Center where we can learn more about Dr. King's legacy in connection with this country's history. > It has become that because powerful people wish to sweep under the rug the > true reason Dr, King was assassinated, and that was because he strove for > blacks to be treated equally under the law. Wilma, I'm interested in what you have in mind regarding bringing renewed awareness to the people of our extended neighborhood? It sounds like that would be a good topic for today! Me, I'm making sure the more generally applicable reasons and ideas behind Dr. King's struggle don't die; currently I do this by speaking to the younger generation and making sure they understand what's so important about racial justice, understanding class inequities, tolerance of differing family lifestyles, respecting other's religious beliefs, and other aspects which would make life better and more just for more people. Thanks for your awareness-raising post, and may all of Dr. King's dream continue to grow true. With kind and sincere regards, Dan Widyono P.S. Interesting tidbit regarding service on MLK, Jr. Day from Wikipedia: "The national Martin Luther King Day of Service was started by former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Harris Wofford and Atlanta Congressman John Lewis, who co-authored the King Holiday and Service Act. The federal legislation challenges Americans to transform the King Holiday into a day of citizen action through volunteer service in honor of Dr. King. The federal legislation was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on August 23, 1994. Since 1996, the annual Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service has been the largest event in the nation honoring Dr. King.[9]" [9]: http://www.mlkdayofservice.org/ ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
