President Obama, Dr. King, and Inauguration: Oh What A Day!!!
Image Credit: http://www.gospelconnoisseur.com
Hey Ari Speakers!!!
It was so amazing to watch the Inaugural activities today!!! Four years ago, I could not get off work, so I missed virtually all of the television coverage of that historic day. This year, I was determined to let nothing stand in my way. I got up this morning totally pumped to sit on my couch in front of the television to watch the magic happen. What made it so beautiful was that our country’s first African-American President was taking his public oath of office for his second term on the National Day of Observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday!
The symbolism was nearly too much. The first Black president was elected to a second term, which shows that the country affirmed his work during the first term. He is sworn in publicly on the day of Dr. King’s national birthday observance, 50 years after the March on Washington where Dr. King gave his infamous “I Have A Dream” speech. Half of a decade later, we are living some part of that dream as people of all races, creeds, and colors stand together proudly and peacefully in celebration of a two-term African-American president. As he stands there on the steps of the capital with the Chief Justice before 800,000 people (and millions more watching at home) vowing to protect and defend the constitution, his fabulous wife, First Lady Michelle, holds both President Abraham Lincoln’s and Dr. Martin Luther King’s personal bibles underneath his left hand. Meanwhile, 2013 is also exactly 150 years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. It was just so overwhelming. The day was dripping with history, legacy, and divine providence! It was something to see.
Photo Credit: http://www.msnbcmedia.com
I also am happy to share with you that I was selected as a blogger for the World Methodist Council Youth and Young Adults Website and will have two posts published in January and February. Inspired by today’s events, I wrote a piece entitled, “It Starts With A Yes: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Dreamchasing, and You.” In that blog post I shared my own reflections on Dr. King, dreams, divine purpose, me, and YOU!!! Check it out. Let me know what you think!
Let me know how you spent the MLK holiday? What did you do to remember Dr. King? Holla at me! SPEAK!!!
In the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, keep chasing your dreams!!! Be blessed!!!
–Ari Speaks
Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com
The inauguration symbolism? Fitting and historic (esp the two Bibles).
MLK Jr. day? An honor to celebrate annually.
One of my favorite King quotes;
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
I spent time thinking about how he stood his ground in wisdom and strength.
Still taking notes. Dr. King is inspiring.
Love that C! That is a brilliant quote full of truth. Not sure who, but someone said that our challenges do not build character but rather reveal it.
Yesterday, this brilliant Black woman scholar that I follow on Twitter challenged her followers to actually read some of Dr. King’s writings rather than continuously retweeting his famous quotes all day. I took the challenge and read the “I Have A Dream,” speech for the millionth time. However, I also read two other pieces I’d never read before–his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech and his eulogy at the funeral for the little girls killed in the Birmingham bombing. That eulogy was amazing, at once comforting, brilliant, inspiring, and pastoral. Here’s a link if you or anyone is interested!
http://mlk-kpp01.stanford.edu/index.php/kingpapers/article/eulogy_for_the_martyred_children/
Ari,
I’m speechless. I just read the eulogy. Moving words that can only be authored by an instrument of the Most High. Wow. I agree with you, brilliant and pastoral.
Good look on the link! Thx