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. 

Abortion is a Feminine issue - On both sides

The blogger I have probably quoted more often and referred more people to over my years on the bloggosphere is Jennifer Fulwiler who now blogs daily on NCRegister.com. (Dawn Eden, my TOB classmate,  had this record for some time but has been on extended blog-pause while pursuing her PHD.) I have used Jen's written and verbal analysis of the abortion issue with many groups. She has the insight to zero in on significant points about an issue that help bring more balance to the discussion. Her articles and talks about her journey from pro-choice to pro-life have the important benefit of reducing the personal animosity so often present when friends and relatives try to discuss this issue.

The prayer approach of Forty Days For Life and Abby Johnson's book, "Unplanned", are having the same result. While our media continues to favor the view that the abortion issue is between feminine and anti-feminine points of view it is interesting that the most lucid and powerful voices on the anti-abortion side are woman! In addition to Jennifer and Abby I would list Dr. Charmaine Yoest of American Untied for Life. The heart of the anti-abortion position is best captured by the thousands of women who have had abortions who now speak out clearly in opposition to this human rights violation.

If you have a friend or relative that is on the other side of this issue from you own and you would like to have a civil discussion about it I suggest that both of you read Abby's or Jennifer's writings on this issue. If you are Pro-Life you will be better prepared to understand where your pro-Choice loved one is coming from. I f you are Pro-Choice you will better understand that your Pro-Life loved one is coming from. Both of these woman have spent serious time on both sides of this issue.

You can order Abby Johnson's book here.

You can read one of Jennifer's essays on this topic here.