Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
By ParaTed2k
@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
January 17, 2011 7:14am CST
I remember the push to get every state in the US to recognize Martin Luther King Day. The "civil rights" leaders pushing for the holiday used everything from simply asking the state legislatures to enact it, to some pretty heavy handed (even illegal) tactics to push it through.
So, now we have it as a national holiday... So, other than a three day weekend for federal, some state, and some private sector workers... what did all the hoopla mean?
There are organizations and cities that hold small scale celebrations. There are even those that sponsor service oriented activities. This is all great! However, it's supposed to be a national holiday. What national traditions are there to the day?
It seems to me that it has never really become a national holiday, just a local holiday that happens to fall on the same day in each state.
3 people like this
7 responses
@gladys46 (1205)
• United States
17 Jan 11
Hi three ParaTed2k ...
"what did all the hoopla mean?" "What national traditions are there to the day?"
To pay tribute to that GREAT man Dr. Martin Luther King who indeed reminded a nation of its promises. Life, liberty and the pursuits of happiness for ALL!! to pay tribute to that GREAT man Dr. Martin Luther King who indeed called America and the world to a real consciousness of peace, love and hope for one's fellow man/woman and child!!
To call attention to the statements of great men ... "As I would not be a slave, I would not be a master .." Abe Lincoln
"The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for, among old parchments, or musty records. They are written, as with a sun beam in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal powers" Alexander Hamilton
And, if America is to be a GREAT nation, it must hold true to its principles as this Great man Dr. Martin Luther King is remembered and his reminders are forever historically documented.
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
17 Jan 11
Right Gladys, so what is done today on a national scale to help commemorate this day and this man?
@gladys46 (1205)
• United States
17 Jan 11
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.
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@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
17 Jan 11
I am always surprised at how much it is overlooked that he was a christian man, a preacher, and wasn't 'against' anybody! But was for everyone! And for listening to one another for understanding rather than assuming other viewpoints were evil..
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
17 Jan 11
Yup, he was for People, not just specific special interest groups.
@BunGirl (2638)
• United States
17 Jan 11
Yes, but aren't there a lot of holidays that are that way? Presidents day for example is coming up next month. And lets not forget Columbus Day (which is still a holiday for some reason, though I think only the banks and government workers celebrate it!). I think the point of the holiday was to get people to remember Dr. King, and to that end it has worked. We see his "I have a dream" speech on television and the schools talk about the things he did. It keeps his name and his work from being forgotten.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
17 Jan 11
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.
@marguicha (219877)
• Chile
27 Jan 11
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.![](/Content/images/emotes/cry.gif)
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1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
27 Jan 11
Marguicha, that's true, but I don't know anyone who doesn't know who Rev. King was. So that gives me hope.
@marguicha (219877)
• Chile
28 Jan 11
I saw another post here about people not knowing much about him. I worried!
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
17 Jan 11
No School today either! I love having my daughter home but I really don't get it being a national holiday. I do think that Martin Luther was a great man that did much for the Civil rights movement. He is deserving of recognition, I do agree but everyone having the day off? I would much rather have my daughter in school learning about the Civil Rights movement as well as Martin Luther King and others of that time.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
17 Jan 11
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
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
17 Jan 11
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@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
17 Jan 11
I think you are right; it is not really a "national" holiday like Veterans Day or Memorial Day. And the level of celebration/awareness depends on what state you live in. Here in the Northeast they teach about MLK in schools, and many towns have a celebration or observance. In the Southeast, they lump MLK Day in with celebrating Jefferson Davis/Robert E. Lee/Stonewall Jackson or other confederate leaders! At least MLK is in there somewhere.
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