Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Post

Many don't know that this year, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial will be dedicated in Washington D.C.  

Fewer people are aware that I wrote a blog about MLK Jr. about leadership a couple of years ago that gets a rather large bit of Internet traffic according to Google.  

So, since today is the MLK Jr. birthday holiday, I thought I'd link you to that two year old post instead of writing a new one.   Not only will it keep that article alive, but it also gives the appearance that I am posting something new today!  It's a two-fer!

http://scottfurrow.blogspot.com/2008/01/martin-luther-king-day.html

Have a great MLK holiday!

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Observations on Christmas Day Travel

This Christmas was the first time I ever traveled by air on Christmas Day.   I've flown on Christmas Eve before, and I think my wife and I may have driven to my parent's home once on Christmas Day.   But,  I've never been to an airport on Christmas until this year as we flew to Seattle on Christmas morning to visit my in-laws.

Being the Christmas Eve shopper that I am, I have noticed a distinct difference between the shopping experience on Christmas Eve and that on the day before Christmas Eve, known as Christmas Adam.   December 23rd is a stressful, busy, and hectic shopping day, full of bad attitudes and tired people fighting with each other.  But December 24th has a different feel.

Christmas Eve shoppers are more friendly, have more joy, and while they are tired, people respect each other more.  I don't know if its because Christmas Eve is a special day on its own, or maybe its because Christmas Eve shoppers are already on vacation from work.  Perhaps its because Christmas Eve shopping is a shared experience with other like minded procrastinators; its always easier to get along with people for which you have an affinity.  Regardless, there is a difference between the two days, and Christmas Eve is a better day to shop.

So, I wondered if I would notice a similar difference between air travel on Christmas Eve, which unlike the shopping experience of that day, is hectic and stressful, and air travel on Christmas Day.

I took some notes.

• Traffic is almost non-existant on Christmas morning.  The flow of freeway traffic held only 3 cars, including mine.
• The airport was busy, but more orderly than usual.  Everyone took time to say "Merry Christmas"to each other, while parking, unloading luggage, checking in, boarding, etc.  Even the Federal Government TSA employees said it to everyone.   I didn't hear anyone say "Happy Holidays", not even airport employees.  "Happy Holidays" is about fear for most people, not sincre greeting.  Few really say it for positive reasons, so few actually say it unless they are forced by fear.
  
• Even most of the airport workers seemed more relaxed and friendly than usual.   Many people working on Christmas are voluntarily giving up thier day off for extra pay.  I figured the few grumpy workers I saw were the ones being asked to work because not enough of thier co-workers volunteered.
• I should have expected long term parking to be full, especailly the better lots.  However, I found parking quickly and without hassle.
• Our parking shuttle driver, Maria, was very talkative.  In the 5 or 6 minute drive, her passengers learned all about her family and what is going on in her life.  Her mother in Tijuana had angioplasty last month and is doing very well.  Maria is glad that she is alive and home for Christmas.  Sadly, Maria's Christmas plans were to finish her shift and then go to the city jail to visit her son who was just arrested for stealing cars.  She assured us that he committed no acts of violence, and that she lights a candle for her son each day hoping he will remember how he was raised.  I think this kind of personal story would be irritating to most passengers on most days.  But on Christmas Day, she had everyone's kind attention.  No one seemed to mind that I delayed their disembarkment from the shuttle to say a quick prayer for Maria and her son.
• There are lots of kids and babies at the airport on Christmas morning.  They all seemed tired and subdued.  I saw two kids about 10 years old with thier heads down on the talbe in the airport McDonald's.   I figured they were up very early to have Christmas unwrapping before leaving, or they were just doing all they could emotionally to cope with the fact that they wouldn't be opening gifts till much later in the day, wherever thier destination might be.  Either would have been tough for me at their age.
• The terminal was much more festive than usual.  Everything was decorated, even the little booths the ticket agents stand behind when they scan your variously obtained boarding passes.
• More than just saying "Merry Christmas," the TSA was also in a great mood, and entertained us with these announcements:  
• "Ladies and Gentlemen, if your feet are colder this Christmas than usual, then perhaps you should come pick up your socks that you left in a tub at the security check-in line."
• "Ladies and Gentlemen, there's no better time than while waiting for your flight on Christmas morning to call some loved ones and wish them a Merry Christmas.  If you want to call your loved ones, but are unable to, then please return to the securtiy checkpoint and pick up the mobile phone you left with our screeners."
• "Ladies, if you would like to rekindle the joy you had as a kid at Christmas time, then you might consider coming back to the security area and picking up your age-defying make-up kit."
• People with children under two years old get to "pre-board" the aircraft, which means board before anyone else.  Normally, this may be only a family or two, but the pre-boarding line was very long.  I stood in line contemplating the meaning of "pre-boarding", wondering how one could board the plane before boarding the plane.  They should call it something else.
• I witnessed a Christmas tradition that is reluctantly shared by many American families.  I watched one father and one mother putting thier kids on a plane on Christmas Day to go and spend it with their other divorced parent.
• It was clear that many people fly on Christmas Day who don't fly very often.  They are hesitant about each part of the routine.  They actually pay attention to the safety lecture given by the flight attendants before the flight.
• Passengers are dressed much nicer on Christmas Day than usual.  Perhaps this adds to the better demeanor and well behaved kids.
• I only saw only one rude customer.  He was out of sorts because he was ticketed to be in aisle one, and although it was First Class, he kept telling the now frazzled lady at the gate, "This just won't do."  I have sat in that seat before.  Its the one where you have to stare directly into a wall 2 feet in front of you for the entire trip, as there are no seats in front of you.  It is the worst seat on the plane.  By the time you land, you have lost a measurable percentage of your sanity.  Unfortunately for him, and the attendant he was harassing, no one was willing to trade with him.
• People at the airport where we landed were less in a good mood.  Tired and ready to finally reach thier destination, everyone was quiet, except for a couple having an argument about what elevator to take down to the baggage claim.
• The passenger loading area outside the baggage claim was the only difficulty.  Lots of cars, one broken down, and tons of luggage not fitting into the cars they were to be picked up in.  It was good to get out of there in one peice.

My wife and I often fly using airline award miles and sometimes we can't get on the same flight.  Also, sometimes she leaves to visit her folks before I do and comes back later than I do.  This allows her to have a longer visit, but also to give much needed help around the house.  But it makes it so we don't actually fly together much of the time.  This Christmas, I got to fly seated next to my wife and my son.  That alone made it a great flight and a great Christmas morning.

I'm flying home on New Year's Day.  I doubt I'll write anything about it.  I'll just want to know who won the game when I land.

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A Document Forgotten, Due to the Fatiguing of Us into Compliance with Their Measures

I wonder how many of us have read this whole thing? Very few I'll bet. It's clearly no longer all that important, at least, not as important as certain trips to Argentina, obsessions over someone with 8 kids and a selfish marriage, the enchantment of the First Family, and of course Michael Jackson in general.

Since we know our government officials are no longer interested in reading legislation, even important life-altering legislation known to everyone to be "bad", perhaps We the People ought to do some reading. Those of us who can still read, anyway.

If you are in representative government today, this long forgotten museum piece ought to give you pause, maybe even the willies. I encourage you to read it as well. Those of you who can read, anyway.

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

— John Hancock

New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts:
John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut:
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York:
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey:
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware:
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland:
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia:
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina:
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia:
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

Happy Independence Day!

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Martin Luther King and Leadership

One of my goals is to visit all of the Presidential Libraries. I may write more about them at a later time. When I visit, I also try to take in any significant historical sites that may be nearby.

In Atlanta, Georgia, nearby the Jimmy Carter Library, only a couple of miles away as the crow flies, is the Martin Luther King Jr. Center and Memorial Site. On my last trip to Atlanta, I led a leadership lesson comparing the leadership of Dr. King and President Carter. The purpose of the lesson was not to be critical of either, but to simply challenge growing leaders to consider what leadership qualities lead to accomplishment and positive change.

For the purposes of this lesson, we just considered the effectiveness of Carter's leadership as President as it compared to the leadership of Martin Luther King (MLK) as civil rights leader. It is important to point out that today, the Carter Center is one of the most effective organizations solving problems of poverty and disease in countries around the world. Carter's leadership as a former President, with respect to poverty, is an example to all former Presidents. Sadly, his contemporary political interjections continue to harm and overshadow the magnificent work of the Carter Center.

As for Carter, it is often said that his Presidency was the "unfinished presidency," which is a nice way of saying that he wasn't successful in what he set out to do as President. The Carter Library demonstrates this with exhibits of good ideas, many of which have still not been accomplished, i.e. a realistic energy policy and a containment of Islamic terrorism. You leave the presidential wing sensing this lack of accomplishment. Fortunately, a new exhibit demonstrating the work of the Carter Center with poverty and waterborne disease is uplifting and inspirational.

But there is not, and will never be, a Jimmy Carter Holiday. Today is Martin Luther King's birthday, so I thought I would post a bit on his leadership.

Coretta Scott King who died in 2006, is now laid next to Dr. King at the King Center

When visiting the King Center, it is interesting to note that the events most known in his life occurred 100 years after the Civil War. Last fall, I included some Atlanta Civil War sites in my tour.

Atlanta was burned to the ground by General Sherman during the War and there are markers all around relating to that battle. Not far from the King Center is the Oakland Cemetery, which contains one of the largest Confederate Soldier burial grounds, pictured here.

I sat for a while, pondering the loss of life in that war. Among many thoughts going through my head was - was it worth it? Meaning, was it really worth laying down your life to basically protect an economic system that relied so heavily on slavery? Its a bit disturbing that even today there are some who feel like it was. I considered the great destruction and pain and suffering and it seemed like such a waste. The love of money is the root of this evil, the root of many evils that lead to the Civil War.

One hundred years later, many of those evils still presided over the law, leading to the Civil Rights Movement and the necessary leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Lessons are often learned terribly slow.

It is an interesting comparison, Jimmy Carter, a US President, and MLK, a citizen leader. Who was the more capable leader? One had the office of the Presidency, a world stage and unlimited funds (while he was the POTUS.) The other, a baptist preacher with no legal office and no money.

A pictorial wall of the major events of MLK's life.

A trip through both museums reveals much about each leader. MLK was a leader of great accomplishment, whose legacy is still inspiring others to learn and to allow and make progress. Bus after bus pulled up to the museum, unloading passengers from different backgrounds and ethnicities. The King Museum is not fancy and relatively small; a bit run down I thought. But in just a couple of small rooms, his story and legacy are well told.

This is the key to the hotel room MLK was staying in when he was assassinated.

MLK's personal Bible

MLK's church, Ebeneezer Baptist Church stands next to his memorial.

One leaves the MLK Center quiet, in deep thought and retrospection... and inspired about what can be accomplished with sacrifice and a wise approach to leadership.

Leadership can be defined as "influence, nothing more nothing less." MLK had incredible influence. He was a great leader because he influenced change in a positive and long lasting way. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he refused to run for political office and he led his followers in non-violent approach which forced the country to take notice.

Great leaders are often considered great because they hold to a basic principle to accomplish their goals. I believe that if MLK had not approached these issues with a non-violent philosophy, or had he been elected to some public office, he would not be celebrated today with a holiday or a monument or a museum. He would likely be buried in Oakland Cemetery with a fancy tombstone and be just another spot on the tour map.

And no-one would have today off.

While there is much more progress to be made in the area of civil rights and social justice, MLK's accomplishments do not stand as unfinished or unsuccessful. His life completed with a solid legacy and clear purpose.

My favorite MLK speech is the "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech. While the content is important, this speech moves me because of its context in MLK's life. The speech would be the final speech ever given by King. With a careful read and a historical perspective, I can't help but wonder if he somehow sensed that his life or influence would soon come to an end. It is the perfect final address. The speech itself summarizes his accomplishments and gives a time-line of the movement up to that point. He also gives warnings and guidance for those who would continue on, and he gives reminders of the importance of the non-violent approach. He ends the speech with these words:

"Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land! And so I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man! Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!!" - Martin Luther King, Jr.

He said those words on April 3, 1968 in Memphis. He was assassinated the very next day, April 4, 1968. These are the words of a great leader who finished well.

You can read or listen to this speech here: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkivebeentothemountaintop.htm

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New Year - New Blog

Happy New Year 2008!

New Year's Day.

It seems like the best day to try once again to become a regular blogger.

I've tried several times to make this a regular habit. I was once posting on three separate blogs at the same time. That was fun, but I never had the time for all that, so none of them became fruitful.

So today, I'll begin a new blog without some funny name or title and without a limited scope of content. Just a blog to express ideas, stories, thoughts, whatever, in a hope to find this medium useful for ministry and personal growth.

There are so many reasons that this is a good thing for me to do. I won't explain here as they will become evident in time in the event that this new blog remains current.

Where to start?

How about some resolutions for 2008?

These are in no particular order of importance or priority. Just a few things I'm thinking about on this New Year's Day...


Blog more: Thus, you are reading this...

Take a real vacation: Other than a couple of family visits, Kristy and I haven't taken a vacation for a long time. This is not to say that family trips are not vacation. We have decided that most of our vacation time should be spent with our families who live in other states. But a trip somewhere new, just the two of us, that's what I'm talking about here. Its been a long time.

We knew that 2007 would be an unusually busy year, but we thought we would have some chance to get out of town for a while. Didn't happen.

So, we are thinking of going to Ireland this year. We almost have enough Frequent Flyer Miles to go to the moon, so Ireland should be no problem. We have missionary friends there to visit and to mooch off of, so it will be a cheap trip. Except for the airport Starbuck's - they really stiff you for a regular tall coffee!

Its also the last year for the original Yankee Stadium and I think I should go take in a game (and also mark the FDR Presidential Library off my list.)

Remember the Sabbath: Pastors don't get Sundays off. Unbeknownst to some people, but knownst to most doctors, pastors work too much. My non-church-going doctor even pointed out to me that pastors are some of the most stressed out patients he sees. I've been helping him understand why.

This year, I must commit to a weekly day off, a true Sabbath. No work - just God and the family. Its going to be on Fridays. I need to do it before I can teach it well.

Go to the beach more: Its ridiculous to live in this town and not be at the beach more often. There may not be a better place to live on the planet and I hardly make it to the beach. I think that's where I should be most Fridays in 2008.

Lose weight: Well, I didn't gain any weight in 2007, that's the good news. But I'm at this crazy size where its hard to get clothes to fit. I'm an "extra-medium." I have yet to find a store that carries that size.

Stop smoking: I don't smoke now and I've never been a smoker. Its extremely unlikely that I will start smoking this year, so this will be an easy one to keep. Its good to have a few gimmes.

I have other resolutions, mostly they are between me and God and they will stay there. I'll probably think of some more later that could have been a part of this blog post but this will have to do.

The real purpose of this post has more to do with keeping the first resolution listed here anyway.

May God bless you tremendously in 2008!

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