Today is Tu B’Shvat. “What?”, you say.
Oh, it’s the New Year for Trees. When we recognize the role we play in keeping this world healthy, where we plant trees- or if there are too many, we provide funds to cull the forest to keep it healthy and nourished.
In Israel, those trees cover the mountaintops and the valleys. But one example of how the desert has been converted into lush territory.
But, if you aren’t Jewish and live here in America, we are honoring Martin Luther King today. His “I have a dream” and “mountaintop” speech is still among the most eloquent and inspiring minutes ever heard- around the world.
We celebrate today even though his birthday was really last Saturday, Had he not been murdered (and, of course, still alive), he would be 95 as of today.
Some seven years ago, I joined about 149 of my fellow congregants (The National Synagogue) traipsing about Selma, Alabama. Our goal was to recreate for ourselves and our children an event that happened 60 years ago. The March from Selma to Montgomery.
With tremendous awe, we realized we were walking in the shoes of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, Reverend James Reeb, Joanne Bland, and a slew of others. We also recreated Rosa Parks’ abbreviated bus ride in Montgomery. Morosely, I felt the pain of four young children murdered by an American terrorist at the 16th Street Baptist Church. Because we spent our weekend in all of these locations.
That trip helped me finally understand the part that registering Blacks to vote in Nashville, Tennessee played in the grand scheme of things. Those efforts complemented other college students’ work to change the process in the cities of Farmville (VA), Greensboro (NC), Charleston (SC), Birmingham, Montgomery, and Selma (AL), Albany (GA), Little Rock (AR), and New Orleans (LA).
Given the pervasive racism (not to mention rampant anti-Semitism) that has been overtaking our great nation, it’s time we all reflect on the lessons that should have been learned- and sealed- by the example of the Reverend Martin Luther King’s life.
On a different note, we can start filing our personal income taxes next Monday. I’m betting it will be an easier task if you read my book on the tax laws as they apply for this year’s filing.
I love learning more about that trip you took to Selma, even though I understand that it must have been painful in some ways. And I appreciate so much that you celebrate him every year!
It’s a way to bring history to the next generation- without labeling it as history, so they can feel enthused to learn about it.
I remember that blog you posted about your trip and it has stuck with me. Will the hate and racism end in my lifetime? Probably not but I’m praying it will end in my grand and great grandchildrens life.
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I certainly hope it won’t take that long, Martha! It’s been 250 years already!
You were in my old stomping grounds. My family is originally from Birmingham and my mother and aunt participated in some of the protests in Birmingham in the 50s and early 60s. My mother knew one of the girls in the church bombing. I have visited many of those spots you mentioned.
I wish I had talked to my aunt more about what she saw during the protests. She passed away long before I knew she had participated…
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That’s a lot of personal history, Dominique. Too bad we haven’t harvested that information to pass along to others.
One may wonder what MLK would think of what the country has become.
Way to recreate the march with your friends!
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I wonder how easy it would be to teach kids in school his “I have a dream” speech. To go along with the Gettysburg Address they all learn already, Tamara.
The lessons that could have been learned. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if Dr. King had lived into old age. Would things be different? I’m not sure. It’s a sad thing to say, and we all wish the assassination had never happened, but I think his teachings have become immortal because of his tragic death.
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I wonder about that all the time. But, then again, he was murdered in an attempt to squash the process.
I live in Canada, but have lived in USA in the past. This moved me deeply. Thank you for sharing this. Diana
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I am honored by your comments, Diana!