Good News Press - 8 Dr . Martin Luther King Day is January 16 , 2017
On Martin Luther King Day :
Give someone the gift of forgiveness
Martin Luther King Day , January 16,2017 is the only federal holiday that marks the contributions of a private American citizen .
To honor the man and his philosophy of peace , many cities , and private businesses , honor the man whose philosophy of nonviolent , but pointed demonstrations , created civil rights laws and changed hearts .
Just two examples : Philadelphia ' s MLK Day of Service has grown to over 125,000 volunteers since their first annual event in 1995 . The MGM Resorts International holds training program teaching the value of respect , inclusion and the embracing of individual differences . They have invested over $ 3 billion in minority and women -owned businesses .
You don ' t need to have billions or a business to honor Dr . King . You can apply some of his philosophy in your life today .
Dr . King said :
" We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive . He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love . There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us ."
" The old law of ' an eye for an eye ' leaves everybody blind ."
" Life ' s most persistent and urgent question is , what are you doing for others ?"
" Hate cannot drive out hate ; only love can do that ."
" Forgiveness is not an occasional act . It is a permanent attitude ."
A Portion of the Famous I Have A Dream Speech by Dr . Martin Luther King
And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow , I still have a dream . It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream .
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed : " We hold these truths to be self-evident , that all men are created equal ."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia , the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood .
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi , a state sweltering with the heat of injustice , sweltering with the heat of oppression , will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice .
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 .
I have a dream today !
I have a dream that one day , down in Alabama , with its vicious racists , with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of " interposition " and " nullification " -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers .
I have a dream today !
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted , and every hill and mountain shall be made low , the rough places will be made plain , and the crooked places will be made straight ; " and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together ." 2
This is our hope , and this is the faith that I go back to the South with .
With this faith , we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope . With this faith , we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood . With this faith , we will be able to work together , to pray together , to struggle together , to go to jail together , to stand up for freedom together , knowing that we will be free one day .
And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God ' s children will be able to sing with new meaning :
My country ' tis of thee , sweet land of liberty , of thee I sing .
Land where my fathers died , land of the Pilgrim ' s pride ,
From every mountainside , let freedom ring !
And if America is to be a great nation , this must become true .
And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire .
Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York .
Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania .
Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado .
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California .
But not only that :
Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia .
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee .
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi .
From every mountainside , let freedom ring .
And when this happens , and when we allow freedom ring , when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet , from every state and every city , we will be able to speed up that day when all of God ' s children , black men and white men , Jews and Gentiles , Protestants and Catholics , will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual :
last !
Free at last ! Free at last !
Thank God Almighty , we are free at