As 2006 fades away forever, New Year ‘resolutions’ are abound looking forward to a better year ahead and wishing that many good things become reality in 2007. Pursuing the year afresh in prudent ways that will bring about positive changes for all is foremost in the minds of everyone.
The New Year also ushers us to the “Pongal” day in the following weeks, the Tamil equivalent of Thanksgiving. It is held to honor the Sun, for a bountiful harvest. Thai (January in Tamil calendar), the post-harvest month is also an important marriage season. The saying “Thai piranthal vazhi pirakkum” (with the coming of the thai – January- month a way will be open) says how the month of January illuminates the spirits.
This overflow of traditions inspires the promises of the December-January festive season and we work in earnest to ensure that the times ahead are better.
The Monsoon Journal is joining millions of humanity in adding one more celebration at the dawn of the New Year.
January 15th, the birth anniversary of Civil Rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
King was born on 15 January 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. His father was a Baptist minister, his mother a school teacher.
Always interested in civil rights, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was heavily influenced by Mahatma Gandhi’s policy of non violence. Many historians say that the ideals of Dr. King’s activism and organisation came from Christianity, but the method of non violence from Gandhi. In 1957 King was active in the organisation of the Southern Leadership Christian Conference (SCLC), formed to co-ordinate protests against discrimination. He advocated non-violent direct action based on the methods of Gandhi, who led protests against British rule in India culminating in India’s independence in 1947.
One way of paying tribute to him is to savor and live by the words of Dr. King.
His “I have a dream” speech is the best known.
He raised the consciousness of humanity to love and serve the fellow human beings. “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?,’” is his wisdom that we could take upon in the new year. A commitment to the betterment of the lives of everyone. At home – national or global in scope, Dr. Kings’s words and methods – “Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it”, will stand firm and prove right in the test of time and territory. [monsoonjournal.com]