Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Right Gladys, so what is done today on a national scale to help commemorate this day and this man?

Many communities across the nation celebrate this day as a "day of service" ... there are many creative ways people demonstrate service to our nation.

ParaTed2k, your questions are very vaiid ... I love that you brought this for discussion. To add to the discussion, the following is a recent communique from our 1st Lady Michelle Obama: "The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., is usually remembered for his heroic ledership of the civil rights movement .. he led the successful Montgomery bus boycott, delivered the "I Have A Dream" speech at a time when such words were still controversial, and ultimately gave his own life to the cause of equality. But, Dr. King was much more than a civil rights champion .. he was a man who lived his entire life in service to others, speaking out against poverty, economic injustice, and violence. Wherever he saw suffering, he did what he could to help, no matter who it was that needed him or why they were in pain. Through his leadership, he showed us what we can accomplish when we stand together. Each January, we remember Dr. King on his own holiday ... and one of the best ways to preserve his legacy is to engage in service ourselves. As Dr. King told us, "Life's most presistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'" To your question "so what is done today on a national scale to help commemorate this day and this man?" ... Much ... food drives, neighborhood clean-ups, educational projects, blood drives and much, much more ... such actions are called in-service of others.

Yup, he was for People, not just specific special interest groups.

Yes, there are other holidays like this, and I wonder about those also. The biggest disappointment though is the lengths they went to get it passed as a national holiday, then once they had it.. they just kind of let it drop.

I am not from the United States yet when I read your answer that not many people in the US know anymore who Reverend King was, makes me very sad. It is a shame that a whole country can forget about its real heroes. I have seen many posts here about TV shows and other light stuff. But everybody seems to have forgotten how, just 50 years ago, great singers, saxo players and movie stars could not swim in a Municipal swimming pool or ride in the front of a public bus just because of their race. Dr King helped change that. And with no excesive blood shed. Shame for the short memory in your country.

Marguicha, that's true, but I don't know anyone who doesn't know who Rev. King was. So that gives me hope.

I saw another post here about people not knowing much about him. I worried!

True Sid, it probably would be better for them to be in school learning about Rev. King and the civil rights movement... although it might be better that they learn it from you. Another irony of the national holiday... I remember one of the arguments against making it a "no school day" was the very reason you site here. ;~D

Actually, that is a good point. I do talk to my girls about the Civil Rights and those times in general quite regularly anyway and not just on this day. I lived through those times and it was quite a time of change for the entire nation and not just the Civil Rights. Everything was in the process of change back then from the late 60's through the early 70's. Very interesting time in our history.