MLK observation

[celticdragonfly]

elisem asked how people are observing MLK day, thought I'd share mine here as well as in the comment to her.

We observed it yesterday. Took Robyn to the church I've been experimentally visiting, the woman who is an intermittent visiting pastor spoke on MLK in her sermon. Got into a personal discussion with her, my sister, and the organist later, all of us discussing him. Later when we were back home I read through one of his speeches that the pastor had quoted in her sermon, the last one he ever gave. Then in the evening we played a recording of an excerpt from the famous "I have a dream" speech, we found that online, and gave a simplified explanation of the day for Maggie, and how important it is to judge people not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

She won't get it at this age, no, but we'll probably do something similar next year. I called the ex, and in with discussing how Brendan is doing, suggested he do something similar with Brendan, since he's missing it here. We try to do something getting across the meaning of the various holidays, generally a reading. For 4th of July we had a barbeque and I read Patrick Henry's famous speech, Karl read the Declaration, and we watched 1776. For Memorial Day Karl delivered the Gettysburg Address. IIRC for Veteran's Day we read one of the poems that came out of WWI.

Does anyone else do anything similar that they'd like to share?

Comments

[joyeuse13.livejournal.com]

We sang a few songs. ;)

[celticdragonfly.livejournal.com]

You win!

I'd love my kids to get to hear that in a few years when they could better understand and appreciate it. Jamie certainly enjoyed the bit he got to hear in rehearsal.

[marymont.livejournal.com]

I believe that drawing attention to race at all is detrimental to the color-blindness of a child. I never made it an issue with mine. My kids, at 21 and 17, have friends of all races, colors and creeds, and they don't understand why it's such an cause celebre for some people.

I do cheer you, however, in your efforts to make the holidays something other than an opportunity to go shopping to your kids.

Bear in mind, though, with you being in the South, you may run up against some people (more so in the deeper South) who celebrate "Robert E. Lee Day" (same day) instead of MLK day.

[celticdragonfly.livejournal.com]

You have missed my point. We are NOT drawing attention to race. It was not mentioned. We described MLK as a great speaker who wanted to help all people be equal. We talked about judging people by their character, by what they do and how they act.

Coming from a multiracial family, it would have been easy for us to go that route in drawing attention to race, but that is not the point for us.

[marymont.livejournal.com]

Your phrase, "gave a simplified explanation of the day for Maggie, and how important it is to judge people not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character" led me to believe otherwise.

My mistake.

[celticdragonfly.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I should have explained that more. We did use the quote from MLK, but the explanation bit that we elaborated on was on the content of their character parts.

Then also, I'm the type of person who is just as likely to use that quote against affirmative action...