Today I attended the 28th MLK Convocation program at Georgia State University. The theme for this year's Convocation was "Carrying the Dream...A Call to Action." This is a significant message that asks us to extend service to others as King did for so many. The keynote speaker was Shirley Sherrod, and her message was inspirational. She noted that racism is still an issue today, but explained that we must move past it. It is up to us to get to know each other, to begin to trust each other, and to work together towards improving society. One of my favorite famous quotes from Dr. King also calls for action: "Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love." So get out there and pay it forward. Work towards something that you find unjust. Start a dialogue with your neighbor and your community.
On a side note, I picked up a copy of the Atlanta Now magazine that has a calendar of events around Atlanta for January and February. I would recommend this as a great source for keeping up with the happenings around town for the arts and museums especially.
Some of you may have already seen my post on Face Book about when Ela Gandhi came to speak at Georgia State this past October, but I thought I would also include it here for those who did not see it and may find it of interest. I thought it was appropriate since MLK was an admirer of Mahatma Gandhi.
I start with an embarrassing and perplexing confession. Mahatma Gandhi was in the seventh grade standards I was to teach, and I had never heard of him. I had received a Masters degree and was certified to teach secondary Social Studies and had never heard of this world-renowned peacemaker. After years of teaching about him, I quote him extensively and immensely admire him. Today I had the honor of hearing his granddaughter, Ela Gandhi speak. It was a humbling experience that greatly anguished the anxiety I felt earlier in the day over the street robbery of my iPhone. Here I would like to share some of the remarkable knowledge she shared with the audience at Georgia State University in no particular order or priority.
Speaking about growing up in the Phoenix camp: You should only take what you need. The minute you take more than that, you are depriving someone else.
Speaking about apartheid system in South Africa: It was a nasty environment. Black included everyone that was not white including the whites that opposed the system. However, this system provided us with the spirit needed for resistance. The system took away self-respect. We had to unite together and build our own self-respect.
Speaking of the meaning of non-violence: It has a broader meaning. It is a philosophy that can take an entire lifetime to truly understand. But the premise behind it that was later used by Dr. Martin Luther King was based on love. It is the practice of understanding and loving all people, even those that have wronged you. It should not be confused with passive resistance. There is nothing passive about it. It is very active.
Speaking about goals: Ask for only what is achievable. You need little victories to keep the spirit going.
Speaking about the relevance of Mahatma Gandhi today: Gandhi’s message is more important today than ever. The fact that people are trillionaires while others are dying because of a lack of clean drinking water is wrong.
Speaking of youth: Young people are the future of tomorrow. They must find constructive ways to deal with the scarcity of resources and energy investment. She spoke of young people who visited eighty-eight temples in Japan and acquired eleven million signatures. In total, they achieved twenty million signatures that they handed over to the secretary of the United Nations this past Monday. They asked that governments decrease defense spending by ten percent to give to helping those in need.
This is by no means a complete list. There are many other worthwhile points. But I think the overall point is clear.
So I guess the question that remains is…can you be the change you want to see in the world?
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