thoughts for the day

Anonymous

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This got me thinking about racial equality. Equality matters to me. Sometimes I think about the Israelites, and how much life has changed since they were oppressed for their religion. Today in the US we have the freedom to choose and practice our religion. Women have gained a great deal of rights and protections since the times of Bathsheba. Slavery is now illegal and an ugly historical reality. 
But with that said, I can't help but wonder "how far" we've really come. Things have changed and I in no way mean to discount the Civil Rights movement and our progress towards a more just and equal society. But maybe we do ourselves a disservice when we think we're so much better off than people were 3000 years ago...
To be here, in Athens, is a great opportunity, and one that I am thankful for. I honor and celebrate the incredible work that Dr. King participated in- and I am mindful that we still have a ways to go. Recent events in 2010 remind us that Islamophobia, institutionalized racism, fear and xenophobia of latino immigrants and many other forms of oppression exist in the US. It is to our detriment as a humanity to oppress each other. We rob ourselves when we allow our differences to be so large we fear and/or deny dignity of each other. 
Today I remember Dr. King and his powerful and important work towards a more just and equal society.