Monday, January 16, 2012

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. 
January 15, 1929 - April 4, 1968


Image via here


Martin Luther King Jr. was always a historical figure that intrigued me and one that I respect greatly.  I don't know if growing up in a mostly white community made me a little more aware and interested in the history of racism since I'm only partially white, or if the gravity of Martin Luther King Jr.'s power and influence is something that has to and needs to be respected by all.  I have grown to think it's a little bit of both.

Regardless of your personal beliefs of this day, I think people need a reminder of the atrocities the human race is capable of committing.  We are not a perfect race and we need to reflect on history and overcome hate.  We need to learn from our mistakes and our ancestors' mistakes.  I think especially today with the nation and world so divided with war, religion, money, power, POLITICS, we definitely need a reminder that we need to overcome hate in various levels of society. 

Today and everyday, try to reflect on the moments of hate you have experienced, both projected and received.  Do you regret the unnecessary hateful words you spoke?  Did you take the time to apologize?  How did you react to a random act of kindness/hate?  Did someone you trust do something hateful to you?  Learn from all these moments and focus on trying to grow and improve yourself.  Every moment, every encounter, every challenge is a lesson.  It's our individual choice to learn from those lessons or deny ourselves growth.

I leave you with the beautiful and wise words of the unforgettable Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation.  The foundation of such a method is love."  -Martin Luther Kind, Jr.

Keep on Keepin on.

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