Martin Luther King Jr. Day

2015 MLK march

Today I am reminded again that I need to honor the ongoing struggle for freedom, equality, and dignity for all people, and share in the efforts.

Agenda today:
1. Journal: 
What have I done lately to teach or support freedom, equality, and dignity for all people? 

How can I better define myself as part of the human (rather than white) race? 

2. Celebrate:
Usually I attend the annual NAACP Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, but this year I taught a workshop instead. 

We celebrated the day by exploring how to create inner peace, peace between people, and peace in the world.




3. Study: 
Each year I read more of the writing of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This year we read and discussed these three quotes: 


"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."  ~speech on Aug. 28, 1963, in Washington, D.C.



"Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." ~from “Loving Your Enemies,” in Strength to Love


"Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals."  ~Why We Can't Wait, 1963

4. Make peace paintings:
To be a peacemaker in the world, you first need to feel at harmony within yourself.  Many people find inner peace when they paint or draw. We practiced this with watercolors

Supplies: Peace music, watercolor paper, watercolor paints, palettes, brushes, water, rags

 1. Set out paper and paints in a place where you won't be distracted... and turn on some peaceful music.

2. Close your eyes and listen to the music for a while and see if it makes a picture in your head. Do you see any colors, shapes, or lines? Do you see a scene? 

3. When you get an idea, dip your brush in the water and start to paint. You might paint an actual scene, or just lines and shapes. Anything is OK- just paint what comes. Focus only on the painting and the music. Allow yourself to be absorbed by the painting, and hold that as long as you can. 

4. When you finish, sit and look at your painting and feel the peace you have created. 

5. Make peace sign pretzels:

The circle with three lines is one of the best known peace symbols in the world. It was designed in 1958 by Gerald Holtom, a Brittish artist, as the logo of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. The symbol combines the semaphore letters N for nuclear and D for disarmament. (Semaphores are letters made by holding flags in different positions.) 

The peace symbol was used in the United States for civil rights marches and anti-Vietnam War demonstrations and it became very popular because it is so simple to draw. It's also easy to make into pretzels! (Unfortunately, I forgot to take photos.)

Ingredients:

• 1 pkg. yeast
• 3 c. flour
• 1 Tbsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 cup very warm water (130ºF)
• oil
• 6 c. water
• 4 Tbsp. of baking soda
• coarse salt

Yield: Makes 6-8 pretzels-

Kneading the pretzels

1- Combine yeast, flour, sugar, salt, and 1 cup very warm water (130ºF). Mix well. Knead until smooth. Cover; let stand 10 minutes.

2- Divide the dough into 6-8 pieces. Roll each piece into a long rope. Use half to make a circle and half to make the inside lines of the peace sign.

3- Place each pretzel on a small piece of waxed paper. Let them rise 20 minutes.

4- Oil 2 baking sheets, preheat the oven to 400ºF, and combine 6 c. water and 4 Tbsp. of baking soda in a large pot. Heat the soda bath to boiling.

5- Carefully tip one pretzel off the waxed paper into the soda bath. Cook for 15 seconds, then remove with tongs, drain, and place on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with a bit of coarse salt. 

6- When all the pretzels have been boiled, bake them for 20 minutes, until golden.