FogHorn, January 17,  2019 - Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God-given rights. The nations of Asia and Africa are moving with jetlike speed toward gaining political independence, but we still creep at horse and buggy pace toward gaining a cup of coffee at a lunch counter. Perhaps it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say, "Wait." But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim; when you have seen hate-filled policemen curse, kick and even kill your black brothers and sisters; when you see the vast majority of your twenty million Negro brothers smothering in an airtight cage of poverty in the midst of an affluent society; when you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six year old daughter why she can't go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children, and see ominous clouds of inferiority beginning to form in her little mental sky, and see her beginning to distort her personality by developing an unconscious bitterness toward white people; when you have to concoct an answer for a five-year-old son who is asking: "Daddy, why do white people treat colored people so mean?"; when you take a cross county drive and find it necessary to sleep night after night in the uncomfortable corners of your automobile because no motel will accept you; when you are humiliated day in and day out by nagging signs reading "white" and "colored"; when your first name becomes "nigger," your middle name becomes "boy" (however old you are) and your last name becomes "John," and your wife and mother are never given the respected title "Mrs."; when you are harried by day and haunted by night by the fact that you are a Negro, living constantly at tiptoe stance, never quite knowing what to expect next, and are plagued with inner fears and outer resentments; when you are forever fighting a degenerating sense of "nobodiness"--then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait.

 

...Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever. The yearning for freedom eventually manifests itself, and that is what has happened to the American Negro. Something within has reminded him of his birthright of freedom, and something without has reminded him that it can be gained. Consciously or unconsciously, he has been caught up by the Zeitgeist, and with his black brothers of Africa and his brown and yellow brothers of Asia, South America and the Caribbean, the United States Negro is moving with a sense of great urgency toward the promised land of racial justice. If one recognizes this vital urge that has engulfed the Negro community, one should readily understand why public demonstrations are taking place. The Negro has many pent up resentments and latent frustrations, and he must release them. So let him march; let him make prayer pilgrimages to the city hall; let him go on freedom rides -and try to understand why he must do so. If his repressed emotions are not released in nonviolent ways, they will seek expression through violence; this is not a threat but a fact of history. So I have not said to my people: "Get rid of your discontent." Rather, I have tried to say that this normal and healthy discontent can be channeled into the creative outlet of nonviolent direct action.

And now this approach is being termed, extremist. But though I was initially disappointed at being categorized as an extremist, as I continued to think about the matter I gradually gained a measure of satisfaction from the label. Was not Jesus an extremist for love: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Was not Amos an extremist for justice: "Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." Was not Paul an extremist for the Christian gospel: "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." Was not Martin Luther an extremist: "Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise, so help me God." And John Bunyan: "I will stay in jail to the end of my days before I make a butchery of my conscience." And Abraham Lincoln: "This nation cannot survive half slave and half free." And Thomas Jefferson: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal . . ."

So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice? In that dramatic scene on Calvary's hill, three men were crucified. We must never forget that all three were crucified for the same crime--the crime of extremism. Two were extremists for immorality and thus fell below their environment. The other, Jesus Christ, was an extremist for love, truth, and goodness, and thereby rose above his environment. Perhaps the South, the nation and the world are in dire need of creative extremists.

Inspirational Thought:  Mary Rogren provided inspirational quotes  -- in the spirit of Martin Luther King and in recognizing diversity.   

 

Paul Wrubel welcomed “Rusty” Shana Reilly-Pond backed to our club!!!!    Shana has returned after a long year battling her cancer.  Rusty glowed and expressed how grateful she is for the generosity and prayers of her Rotarian friends.   

 

Mitone Griffiths is back from India and is anxious to share all of her adventures.    Mitone and Liz will be presenting in the next few weeks.  Unfortunately, Liz Schuck returned home very sick – so we are wishing her a speedy recovery.   Mitone shared that she visited a Rotary club in India and brought donations for a “Rotary Magic Wardrobe” – which is a closet full of school supplies that will help over 400 school children.

 

Paul Wrubel shared that Teresa Adam’s friend Charlie had open heart surgery this past week and is on a path to recovery.   Teresa appreciates our concern and support during these difficult times.

 

Mary Rogren shared that we (our HMB club) will have two outbound exchange students in the upcoming year.  Micah Warner Carey will be going to Belgium, and Aya Holcomb will be going to Chile.

 

Warren Barmore commented that leadership with his company has recently changed, but the new leader is very focused on diversity, our theme for today’s meeting.

 

John and Larkin Evans shared that recently ran into Mitone’s daughter, Mia, not literally;  but Mia is driving and very grown.

 

A Wruby Award!!!!   Pres. Paul Wrubel presented Bill Johnson with a Wruby award for his demonstrated culinary expertise with canned clam chowder.

On Saturday, January 26 we will be having a joint Rotary meeting at The Brewery with the Pacifica Club.   Join us for breakfast at 9:30 AM!  

 

Paul Wrubel announced that he will be giving a seminar on financial aid at the HMBHS library, February 2 - 9 a.m.  Please share with parents of high schoolers!