![\"Hate](\"https:\/\/www.bettina-network.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/images.jpeg\")
<\/a>Hate murdered a man, at 39 years of age, who preached love.<\/p><\/div>\n
It has been amazing and humbling to watch the progress of the Martin Luther King holiday over the years. \u00a0We watched from the beginning, when there was much conflict, confrontation, opposition, loud voices of angry protest at the very idea that such a man, with his history and achievements should be honored. We watched until today when the determination and love of those who were going to make sure Martin and the work of the Black Civil Rights movement was recognized. \u00a0This 2015 year we celebrated and recognized a man and a movement with time out of school for our\u00a0children, to the closing of banks, the post office and some of our corporations. \u00a0To get even this far, has been a long, hard, painful, but very rewarding journey for many.<\/p>\n
<\/a>How do we treat greatness when discovered or suspected in African Americans?<\/p><\/div>\n
We attended and participated in events which recognized Martin Luther King and the movement of which he was one of the leaders. \u00a0The events, their venues, the people participating were a cross section – not only of America – but across parts of the world where the work of the Civil Rights Movement was remembered.<\/p>\n
There was\u00a0much “breakfast table talk” about the history which brought us to this day. \u00a0We hope it continues throughout the year. I thought we would share some of that conversation\u00a0with you:<\/p>\n
“We had a fantastic breakfast – I would have to call it a ‘breakfast seminar.’ \u00a0\u00a0Only one person at the table had been through the Civil Rights Movement which created this holiday. \u00a0The rest of us were either not yet born or were on the other side. \u00a0I was one of those on the other side at the time because, to me, what was happening with the protests, the disruptions, the dogs, the hoses aimed at the hurting of even young children was something I couldn’t abide. \u00a0I didn’t think there was anything wrong with life the way we were living it. \u00a0My point of view was not that of those who were willing to die for their freedom and were looking to the future at their children’s future, but of someone whose life was being disrupted. \u00a0Not seriously disrupted, but enough to be inconvenienced and I just wanted it to stop and things to go back to the way they were. \u00a0I don’t know when God took hold of me to shake me up and to shake those attitudes out of my life, but somehow it happened and I am now a part of the Black Lives Matter demonstrations. \u00a0My grey hair can be seen among all of those young people and I hope somehow, even though it is a very little and very late, my efforts will matter to those who come behind me.”<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Are you listening out there in Simi Valley? How diverse is your neighborhood!<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>WOW!<\/p><\/div>\n
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“What a history lesson! \u00a0I remember studying the Civil Rights Movement in school. \u00a0We learned about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and what that time was all about, but I had never talked to someone who was a part of that history before. \u00a0This was a very different perspective. \u00a0I think of history as being about the study of dead people and past times. \u00a0Here I was in the middle of a conversation with someone who lived that history and those past times are still with us today. \u00a0I have never been a part of a demonstration of any kind. \u00a0Never talked to anyone who had. \u00a0Didn’t intend to talk to anyone who was a part of something like that and here I was in the middle of breakfast deep into a conversation that changed my life. Thank you to my breakfast companions for putting up with me. \u00a0My responses must have been horrible to you, yet you were so kind – well almost kind, after you got over the shock of my being at the breakfast table. \u00a0 I don’t know what I expected, but certainly not what happened. \u00a0I have never even thought twice about the Martin Luther King holiday. \u00a0No different from all those other holidays I don’t celebrate. \u00a0Maybe it is the newness of this one – with the pain still being felt by those who experienced the events which led up to this being important enough to remember once a year. This is, however, a holiday I am bringing back to my family to celebrate every year by learning something new about that time in history and by trying to be a little better about dealing with my prejudices which have caused so many people pain. But – is ‘celebrate’ really what I want to say. \u00a0I almost feel as though we should all be in sack cloth and ashes for what we’ve done, but ‘celebrate’ is what I feel.”<\/p>\n
<\/a>A truth the world needs to hear! From the world’s elite, \u00a0the corporate billionaires, the religious aristocrats, the homeless on our streets, no\u00a0one \u00a0\u00a0is immune from the need to be silent so we can be accepted. “I am sorry, but I can’t get involved. Only when my earthly masters signal their approval.”<\/p><\/div>\n
“A small group of us (women all) get together every year on Martin Luther King day to try to continue to work through our conflicting thoughts about the Black Civil Rights Movement. \u00a0It was a difficult time for us. \u00a0Women \u00a0– who were discriminated against, not only by the wider society, but also by the Black Civil Rights Movement. \u00a0It was very male oriented and some, in the movement, felt embarrassed if women were perceived as being in any leadership position. \u00a0We withdrew, but still supported what was happening with our money, by marching and by being a part of. \u00a0At the same time, we gathered together to fight for the equality of women and here was an example where those discriminated against were discriminating against us. That is so the human condition! \u00a0Flawed, full of sin, dragging our own history and almost blind to that of others. \u00a0Our time together, each year, is to try to reconcile and acknowledge our being human and to root out our separateness to be able to embrace everyone and not feel victimized as we work with those also fighting for their freedom in a society which seems to need to have a group on top and a group less than and which needs to manage and continue their being on top by playing one ‘less than’ group against another.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “I love Bettina’s. \u00a0It is a safe place to be able to express whatever and you never know who is\u00a0going to be at breakfast. \u00a0May you all live long and prosper.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ed Note:<\/strong> \u00a0We had a lot more expressions of breakfast at Bettina’s on Martin Luther King Day. \u00a0We shared just a few. \u00a0The places where people came from, knowing the history of King and the Movement amazed even us. \u00a0We could put this all together in a book, but we will stop here. \u00a0Hope this gives more meaning to your day and information to your life.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n