Dear Friends,
Two days ago, our nation paid tribute to the memory of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a national holiday honoring his name and legacy. During his short life, the Reverend could only dream of a time when the injustices that surrounded him would give way to a world where the laws of the land protected the freedoms and the rights of all peoples regardless of the color of one’s skin, the beliefs of one’s heart or the origins of one’s heritage. He preached passionately about a time when justice and mercy would come to supplant intolerance and indifference.
Reverend King could never have imagined the election of an African American President, and during the two remaining days of the Presidency of Barack Obama, we have an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come as a nation. Whether or not you were a fan of Obama and his policies, it is important to consider the significance of his place in history.
Over the course of the next few days, I encourage all of us to pause and reflect on the journey of our nation from King to Obama and consider the ways that we can continue to work on removing barriers perpetuated by hatred and prejudice in society in every generation.
L’Shalom-Steve