MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR - IN MEMORIAM

I temporarily lost my Thunderbird email account and spent most of my day trying to retrieve it. which I finally, finally did after many failed attempts and much frustration.

Since we honor the memory of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr today, I wanted to post my own memorial, but the day is nearly past. I was going to voice a reminder that Dr King's courage and strength in the struggle for justice and equality for African-Americans was rooted and grounded in his Christian faith and in his reverence for the Hebrew and Christian scriptures. A friend posted the following link to an article in Salon on his blog which I share here. Please do not be put off by "macroethcs" in the title. I learned much from the article of Dr King's suffering during the struggle and about what kept him going. It's well worth a read.

A brief quote:

As the leader of the Montgomery bus boycott, King’s home telephone rang constantly with hateful sworn oaths that an ignominious death was soon to greet him. After many days and nights of venomous threats, he received one that was particularly chilling: In no uncertain terms the caller promised to murder King’s entire household unless he resigned his leadership of the boycott and left town for good. For the 26-year-old King it was finally too much; he decided to cast the mantle of leadership upon other, less fearful shoulders. King relates that as he agonized over how he might remove himself from leadership without appearing to be a coward, be became aware of a voice speaking to him. The voice said, “Martin Luther stand up for righteousness, stand up for justice, stand up for truth.”

Thanks to Rmj at Adventus for the link.

"APOTHEOSIS" - IN MEMORIAM"

"Apotheosis" - Tobias Haller

Hear our prayers this day as we remember those of many nations and differing faiths whose lives were cut short by the fierce flames of anger and hatred. Hasten the time when the menace of war shall be removed. Cleanse both us and those perceived to be our enemies of all hatred and distrust. Pour out the spirit of peace on all the rulers of our world that we may be brought through strife to the lasting peace.

Thanks to Tobias Haller on Facebook for the picture.

Thanks to James on Facebook for the prayer, who says of the prayer, "I adapted this from the 'official prayer' for the memorial of this day by the Episcopal Diocese of New York.  I stripped it so it is religious-specific free."

WE REMEMBER

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

FOR THE WHINERS ABOUT THE "RALLY"

From Jim Burroway, who lives in Tucson, writing at Box Turtle Bulletin:

The memorial was nothing short of magnificent, and it was exactly what this city needed. It was, at turns, somber and celebratory. Tucsonans have been in a severely depressed funk, dazed and stunned that something like this could happen here.

I hear some small-minded grumbling that the event was somehow too “raucous” or a “rally.” Well you know what? A rally is just what we needed. Those who sit in judgment in their comfortable offices and studios on the coasts tut-tutting last night’s memorial haven’t had to drive by the still-closed Safeway every morning and every evening to and from work. They haven’t been within a thousand miles of the nightly vigils at UMC and at Gabrielle Giffords’s congressional office. They haven’t turned on television to see their own neighbors grieving in wall-to-wall coverage.

Jim should know.

OKLAHOMA BOMBING - IN MEMORIAM

 

From the Buffalo News:

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told survivors and victims' relatives gathered Monday for a somber ceremony to mark the 15th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing that the city's spirit in the wake of the tragedy served as an example to the nation.

Napolitano also warned of the need for continued vigilance against terrorists when she spoke during the 90-minute memorial to the 168 lives lost in the destruction of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 1995. More than 600 others were injured in the blast, which at the time was the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil.

Across Oklahoma City, people observed 168 seconds of silence to honor the dead.

Some dabbed away tears as the ceremony closed with family members reading a roll call of those who died.

"What defines us as a nation, as a people and as communities is not what we have suffered, but how we have risen above it, how we've overcome," Napolitano said.

 

Charlene Green hugs, left, hugs Constance Favorite, right, at the chair of Favorite's daughter, Lakesha Levy, in the Field of Chairs at the Oklahoma National Memorial, Monday April 19, 2010, the 15th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing.

 

Ila Clark, left, holds her husband Dale Clark, right, of Denham Springs, La., during the reading of the names of the 168 victims of the Oklahoma city bombing.... Dale Clark's sister Kimberly Clark was killed in the bombing.

Let us pray for healing for the injured in the bombing and for those who suffered psychological trauma.

All those who loved the victims who died in the bombing will never forget them. Let us pray for healing for their friends and family.

Let us pray, "Never again!"

Thanks to Counterlight for the reminder of the anniversary of the tragedy.