Thanks to all the volunteers who came out to 51st Street this morning! About 40 of us, aided by a surprise visit from the guys at Engine 68, stuffed 141 bags full of leaves and debris. Now we're just hoping the city will follow through with a truck. Maybe picking up leaves around a city park wasn't explicitly part of King's dream, but I think he would have approved of this effort today.
Thanks again, Andrew Quoting Dan Widyono <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > 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>. > ---- 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>.
