Today is Martin Luther King Day.  I notice it is not even mentioned on the White House website, at least I see no reference,  Of course, in every community in one way or another today will be recognized.  This is my tiny contribution.

I word searched Martin Luther King and found 80 blogs with references to MLK within my blog history. This one from 15 years ago is the one I want to emphasize today,  There is a specific reason.  Read on before you open it.

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First, I dedicate my post today to Andrena Guines, whose funeral I attended a couple of weeks ago at Basilica of St. Mary.  She was only 61.

The Memorial writing about Andrea is here: Andrena Guines Jan 8 2026.  Below is a portion of the folder.  I think MLK would be proud of her.

“From an early age, Andrena was taught that one’s vote and voice matters.  Her strong social beliefs left her to a life of service and deep commitment to empowering others.  She worked on many successful political campaigns in Georgia and Minnesota.  Andrena won the Vice Chair for THE Congressional District 4 -DFL and became a 2024 Presidential Elector for the State of Minnesota.  This honor placed her name in the Library of Congress.  She also participated as one of the core members of Black Women Rising, where she found community and offered support to others.”

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Yesterday, Sunday January 18, at the end of the Mass, our Pastor at Basilica of St. Mary suggested to us that this would be a good time to read MLK’s April, 1963, Letter from a Birmingham Jail.

If you’re interested I ask you to first return to the second paragraph in this post, and open the post from 15 years ago. August, 2010.  About half way down, note the last line of the paragraph beginning “MLK wrote…” open the link “Alabama clergy MLK 63001”.

At this link is the public letter from six prominent church leaders in Birmingham, which led to MLK’s response.  It is seldom brought to public attention,.

I’m asking you to go through this little “dance”, just to point out that the originating letter is seldom emphasized, and in 2010 I found it difficult to find on-line.  But it gives context to King’s letter, which is all most people ever see.

MLK was in his early 30s when he was in jail and wrote his letter, a young pastor.

The six clergy who wrote their position, which speaks for itself, were at the pinnacle of leadership of their own denominations in Birmingham and accustomed to being in charge, and being persons of influence in the community.  All were white and probably astute in local politics and well connected with the movers and shakers.

MLKs constituency was by and large common folk not viewed as people with power.

I hope you take the time to read the articles and reflect on how they apply to today, 63 years later.

COMMENTS (more below);

from Lois:  Yesterday I read an article: History of U. S. Sanctuary Cities and States written by Laura Madokoro, Carleton University.  Understanding this was long overdue.

After 9/11 it seems our attention was on the Middle East while the situation in Central American countries festered for 2 dozen years.  The fraud investigation sure ignited the explosion what was previously hit and miss in addressing the issue.

Can we say our federal lawmakers were asleep at the wheel since the mid ‘80’s?  Our tax money goes in, gets mixed like the salmon loaf I just made, and divvied out with the best intentions, assuming everyone down the line to distribute it, and recipients use it as intended.  The word “trust” has been lost to history after 1000 years (per definition online).

I read, I listen, and I agree with the opinion, news is a televised daily soap opera.  “This too shall pass”, hopefully soon.

from Christine in France:  It is so unbelievable from the country of freedom…!  In France, everybody is in shock and still wondering how to react… soon I hope otherwise, it will hit us as well…

response from Dick: I don’t recall Churchill’s exact words to the schoolboys in WWII, but the essence was “never, never, never, never quit”.  It’s not going to be easy, but great numbers of us are keeping on.  Remember, over 75 million Americans voted for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz one November ago.  Of course, over 90 million didn’t vote at all, and several million for candidates they knew ha no chance….  But the battle is not over, not by a long shot.