Ark City's Celebration of Unity was held yesterday. Biggest crowd I've seen in my six years going there. The Human Relations Commission and Cowley College do a great job of incorporating school-age kids and their parents.
The theme of the event was "Yes We Can." This was of course Obama's campaign slogan, but that was not a dominate theme. I think the organizers wanted to tap into the higher meaning of that phrase, the meaning that inspires hope and progress in general.
The featured speakers, Reuben Eckels, a pastor in Wichita, however, delivered a speech that was about as political as I've seen as this event. Eckels emphasized the progress of America toward freedom and equality, using some pretty emotional language, and called on us to disagree without being disagreeable. It wasn't a political speech, but did carry a strong minority rights view.
It reminded me of how "unpolitical" last year's event was. The first black President had just been elected, but that was never mentioned. It contrasted to Winfield's event last year, which was entirely about that historic milestone.
I think the Celebration of Unity does a good job of avoiding politics. The focus on Unity probably rings louder than a focus on minority rights to most people, and that was, in the end, the goal of Dr. King.
I also liked Charles Jennings "I'm a Little Tea Pot" metaphor. The pot can change its handle and spout, if you tip it over and pour it out. Meaning that should try to open our lids and allow new ideas and thoughts in.
Great event. I always love it.
Oh, and Nick Rogers was give the Joe Avery Community Spirit award. Well deserved, in my view.
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5 comments:
Dr. Nick Rogers was an excellent recipient. I love how he emphasizes that he and his spouse "chose" to make AC home.
It's a choice they could have rescinded at any time given his profession. They did not and they have made themselves assets to this community.
Dr. Nick never accepts an honor without including Christie. A terrific family and a terrific selection for the award.
Martin Luther King Jr. Truly a great leader for the black community and society as a whole. To bad we don't have a black leader like him today. He has always been missed.
Ray, Couple things about your compliments towards Dr. King.
1) During his life, there was an arguable majority who did not consider him a great leader but a trouble making .... Well you know the rest. Point is, few people are respected for their contributions in their own life time which is what makes recognizing people like Dr. Nick even more impressive.
2) Patience is a non-negotiable pre-requisite to recognizing truly great leaders. Truly great leaders risk rocking the boat and shattering old paradigms in order to create a better state. The leave (as in after they are gone off the scene) the world a bit better than the way they found it.
Under that banner of leadership evaluation, you might be stunningly surprised that there are a number of BLACK leaders who are great leaders. They are probably equally despised by their contemporaries because they simply will not kowtow to the advocates of status quo.
You offer some good thoughts but the undercurrent is "things may not be great but at least it's more comfortable than trying something new."
That type of curmudgeonly thinking always disqualifies anyone of new thought or manner as being a worthy leader. You prefer people who manage what we have rather than people who see an opportunity to build a better future state. And yes it costs but everything that's worth anything costs someone something.
You're a good writer. Wish there were a few more like you posting on here.
I would be interested in the leaders you consider to be great today. Please leaves a list on here. I just don't see anyone of MLK's stature and warmth in society today willing to lead as he did. I don't want to sound racist, but I'm talking about someone who can lead the black community as he did and set an example for the entire aountry. I am a conservative that is always looking for good role models that I can point my family towards for guidance and wisdom. Well, after my own ofcourse. He he. Someone who I can point a finger at and say "yep, thats a good man or woman right there." And although there may be a few, I don't see them taking an active role. As i mentioned earlier, I lean to the right, so I always look for someone who believes in equal rights for everyone and special rights for no one. I don't see that today from any of the mainstream so called leaders like the Al Shrpton's or the Jesse Jackson's. Although I do enjoy Al's good debates with Sean Hannity. He is grounded in his arguements. I just greatly admire MLK for his accomplishments and fortitude to get them done. What he preached was not political, it was common sense. I guess I just wish there was someone out there who would lead the way he would without depending on the government to do all the work. Yes I know that laws were passed, and that is gov. involvement but I think you know what I mean.
I do understand what you mean and know what you are saying. I have to push back on this one though.
First we cannot continue to overlook the most glaring truth about Dr. King Jr. We are not celebrating a man whom this nation respected. We are celebrated a dead man's legacy. It was the ideals (not even his) that have lived on. Dr. King was murdered for doing what he did.
Side bar: So are we calling for the martyr, someone who would be willing to leave a widow and fatherless children to carry on for the sake progress within humanity. Don't you think a nation should limit itself to one of those maybe every couple hundred years or so?
It's a legacy that was asssigned to the slain civil rights activist.
Now the integrity of what he proclaimed has lasted, as you correctly state, because he did not seek political justice (which is in itself an oxymoron).
He was an ordained and avowed minister of the gospel and when he spoke, he appealed to the only unadultered common denominator.
He appealed to the souls of mortal and fallible men with truth. In the wake of the horrific church bombing in Birminghamm, Al (and others) where four black girls aged 9 to early teen were senselessly and cowardicely killed by an act of terrorism, Dr. Kings message was to parents.
'Which of you can say that you would that be the fate of your own child?' he challenged?
Children brutalized.Women raped and beaten. College boys lynched in a public square ad left hanging.
He abandoned the role of political justice and petitioned the only court that would remedy the situation, that of divine justice calling that it might come like a mighty rain.
But, his contemporaries murdered. he was the more popular an accepted because of his unifiying message. Malcolm X was killed. Medgar Evers was killed. Freedom fighters black and white were killed.
And we ask for someone to replicate that? Is that a reasonable expectation?
Now, I ask of you as you asked of me. Who would we expect to be willing to make such a sacrifice in order for the survivors to feel the honor of their loved one's legacy being celebrated.
This is why I say, such leaders are rarely celebrate by their contemporaries. It is the descendants who realize the fulfillment of their couragous and brave crusade that would then look back and say, as you do my friend Ray, (the leader of Raybirds) what a mighty man.
If you beleive the Bible, you might alsp agree that it's within our nature to murder, crucify or assassinate those who would better serve us living.
Near miss example was President Reagan who was a transformational leader. He done as much as humanly possible to try and move us from the tit-for-tat partisan upmanship that began with the impeachment of President Nixon.
I seek in this note to offer a contrasting perspective of context to which you may or may not agree. I am certain you will let me know. I actually await as much. Then we can evaluate prospects for American heroism.
I have carried my torch, suffered my wounds and have lived to retell as much. I think that's the new mantra of such heroes.
I think Rev. Dr. King would be about 79 now. Is that correct?
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