King's Reel

Today is Martin Luther King Day...

I don't consider myself a political activist or a historian, and I have to admit I don't know a lot about this man. My impressions are that he believed in love, tolerance, awareness and compassion for all men and women. I did find the following excerpts from his speeches:

I know that love is ultimately the only answer to mankind's problems. And I'm going to talk about it everywhere I go. I know it isn't popular to talk about it in some circles today. I'm not talking about emotional bosh when I talk about love, I'm talking about a strong, demanding love. And I have seen too much hate. I've seen too much hate on the faces of sheriffs in the South. I've seen hate on the faces of too many Klansmen and too many White Citizens Councilors in the South to want to hate myself, because every time I see it, I know that it does something to their faces and their personalities and I say to myself that hate is too great a burden to bear. I have decided to love. If you are seeking the highest good, I think you can find it through love. And the beautiful thing is that we are moving against wrong when we do it, because John was right, God is love. He who hates does not know God, but he who has love has the key that unlocks the door to the meaning of ultimate reality. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.~Martin Luther King, Jr.

So, I'll take this opportunity to reflect, and ACT on my ability to be loving, tolerant, and forgiving... to have awareness and compassion for my fellow man and woman... regardless of race... regardless of social class, religion, gender... regardless of any label or classification.

King's Reel is from the Fiddle Music of PEI.