Let Freedom Ring:
Living the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

These inspiring words are from one of the most famous speeches of the 20th century.  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered this speech on the steps at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963 and his words mobilized a nation.  Dr. King lived and died by these words.

On this day, January 15, 2007, the day he would have turned 78, we celebrate the man and what he stood for.  He believed that all people were created equal.  There were no differences between the races.  We are all just people.  We have the same needs, wants, and loves.  When we are injured, we bleed the same.  When we are hurt, we cry the same.  When we are in love, we love the same.

As we celebrate the birth of Dr. King this year, here are 10 things to remember that will honour his beliefs and help to create peace in your own lives and communities:

1. When you meet someone who is different from you, marvel at the differences. Be curious, learn, and connect to the core of the person.  I believe MLK would say - connect with the heart and soul.  Celebrate your shared uniqueness.   He or she doesn't have to be exactly like you.  Differences are what makes the world an interesting place to be. When we respect and embrace our differences, we stand humbled and strong.

2. Respect that everyone has their own personal truth.  In fact, there are 3 truths - your truth, my truth, and the factual evidence based truth .All three are reality. When we open up a big space for all of our voices, whether we agree with it or not, we hear deeply and find new understandings. You may not agree with someone else's truth but respect that their truth is fact for them.  This will go a long way to promoting tolerance amongst people.

3. Work to resolve conflicts in relationships. When we have unresolved conflicts, they sap our attention and energy and keep peace at bay.  Conflicts are there to provide a mirror for our issues and when the issues are resolved our relationships can improve.
   
   
• Pick and choose your battles.  If you see a real injustice, stand up for it.  For something that doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things decide if it is really worth expending the energy to fight.  Could your energy be better spent elsewhere?
• Speak up when someone makes a bigoted remark against someone with ethnic, religious, or sexual differences.  When people use hatred and intolerance to express their opinions, it say more about the character of the speaker than it does about the intended recipient of the remark.
• This tip is from the website www.creatingpeace.net "As you go about your day, from time to time, imagine sending goodwill energy to strangers as you mentally send the message, "I wish you well". This is fun to do when waiting in line at the bank or supermarket or while stuck in a traffic jam. It may or may not change the situation much but it can change our own mood and the energy around us. When you get right down to it, it's not so much about what happens to us, but how we interpret and react to events."  Good words to live by!
• Avoid messages of doom and disaster by limiting exposure to the media.  We are all bombarded with messages from the time we get up in the morning until the time we go to bed.  Do you want those messages to be filled with bad news or would you rather be inspired and uplifted?  Make a point of looking for good news only.
• Keep a gratitude journal.  Everyday write at least 5 things you are grateful for.  When we open ourselves up to the gratitude, we allow the Universe to bring more to us to be grateful for.

4. Find an outlet for your own self expression.  Find something that you believe in and embrace it.  Expressing your interest in whatever form you desire will help create peaceful, happy feelings.
   
   
5. Check out the amazing resources for teachers, parents, teens, and kids that promote tolerance at www.tolerance.org.

Dr. King said it best at the conclusion of his famous speech when he said "When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"  Let's all do our part to make Dr. King's vision come true.  Peace be with you!

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