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Good People & People of Faith,
It's a common cliche we've all heard, "don't reinvent the wheel!" But a much harder one to avoid. We have a lot about Dr. King at the website. When you have time, please take a look at this link: http://www.AKidsRight.org/civil_back.htm
But below are a few quick items from his life that still seem very relevant today and for family law reform. Your thoughts and FEEDBACK are welcome. Hope to include them in our next message.
1) Threatened at gun point while at the seminary - This story would have had a different ending today! Zero tolerance for anything!
There was a Southern Student at the seminary who was virulently anti-Black. He confronted King at his dorm room with a loaded pistol. King calmly spoke with the man and disarmed the situation. There was "outrage" on campus over the incident, but King refused to press charges against the man. Eventually the man apologized and he and King became friends. This was an important event in learning how to convert a foe into a friend.
2) Their early goal for reform of the Bus system - They were still willing to sit in the back!!! Had a lot in common with some of our goals, "shared parenting" & "rebuttable presumptions."
The situation -> Blacks could NOT sit down in the first four rows (WHITES ONLY sign). If all the front seats were taken, and more whites entered -- the blacks had to offer their seats to the whites. If a white person sat down next to a black, the black had to stand. If the black section of the bus was full, but the white section was empty -- the blacks still had to stand.
The initial goal (which was rejected by the Bus Company) -> They were still willing to fill in from the back of the bus. Their "BIG GOAL" was if they got to the fourth row, and no whites were there, blacks could sit in that area... A concession here would have avoided the entire strike - lucky thing the whites wouldn't even agree to that.
3) Other ministers are 'shocked' at King's conduct -> How could a Reverend every ask people to have 'sit-ins', break a law and be arrested?
Below is a letter Martin Luther King wrote from jail to other ministers to explain his actions. I was amazed at how well his description of the injustice of segregation can be applied to the way our Family Law system treats families! Especially the pain & indignity.
His letter is so simple & practical in guidance. He describe four steps in the process, we have completed the first two, but need to work on the last two!
http://abacus.bates.edu/admin/offices/dos/mlk/letter.html
Best regards!
John Murtari
__________________________________________________________
Coordinator AKidsRight.Org
jmurtari@AKidsRight.Org "A Kid's Right to BOTH parents"
(315) 944-0999(x-211) http://www.AKidsRight.Org/
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