Monday, January 21, 2013

MLK Day Gems

Today was very busy but two things stand out as shiny gems. Both have to do with our ongoing struggle to assure human rights for all human persons.

Very apropos for Martin Luther King Day was the poetry of Richard Blanco that we were graced to hear during the inauguration at midday.  In addition to the beauty of the poem he read is the fact that he personally symbolizes the great value that immigrants bring to our country. Here is one verse from that poem. View the entire reading by Richard below.

Hear: squeaky playground swings, trains whistling,
 or whispers across cafe tables, Hear: the doors we open
 for each other all day, saying: hello, shalom,
 buon giorno, howdy, paymaster, or buenos días
 in the language my mother taught me -- in every language
 spoken into one wind carrying our lives
 without prejudice, as these words break from my lips.



The second gem, also relevant to the heritage of Dr. King, is the introduction of a new book about the non-violent and prayer filled campaign against the human rights violation of abortion known as ''Forty Days For Lífe'' . The book was introduced to human rights activists on a web presentation this evening. This book will be released on January 28, 2013. I will post a link to purchase it when it is available. 

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