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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr is one of my favourite heroes. His prophetic voice for justice, righteousness and equality for all ethnic groups still strikes a chord today. Truth is timeless. His stand for what is right and true impacted me as an immigrant kid decades later. This is my tribute to the giant of a man, though not without imperfection, who led a movement of peaceful resistance that was inspired by Jesus Christ and in part, Gandhi’s philosophy of peaceful activism.
His radical words in that era on equality and justice still apply today to elderly survivors of Japanese military sex slavery (otherwise known as ‘comfort women’), for Korean and minorities in Japan, for impoverished women and children, victims of human trafficking and slavery et al.
I have a dream that the Japanese military sex slave survivors in Korea, China, Netherlands, Philippines etc. will finally get justice in the form of an unequivocal, official apology from the Japanese government and a commitment to teach the younger generation about human rights abuses its military committed in Asia before and during WWII.
I have a dream that sex slavery and human trafficking will be a thing of the past. I have a dream that racism and poverty will be eradicated from the face of the earth; that peace will reign between North and South Korea and in the Middle East. Oh, let it be! That the impossible would be possible.
Here are some quotes from this great man:
“A man who won’t die for something is not fit to live.”
“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
“Means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek.”
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
“Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will.”
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
His historic “I have a dream” speech:
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
Happy Martin Luther King Day! I hope you find one thing to do that will inspire peace and love in others.
The amazing Dr. Yoshimi Yoshiaki
It’s been a long time wish of mine to meet and interview Dr. Yoshimi Yoshiaki. He’s a true hero. As are Ken Arimitsu, Mina Watanabe and Dr. Etsuro Totsuka who are all working in one way or another to raise the banner of truth in Japan about its war past. Not in a morbid or Japan-bashing way but because they recognize that in order for their country to go forward and to be at peace with its neighbors, former wartime enemies and colonies, that it must deal with war atrocities like Germany has and look at it square in the face.
I get teary-eyed when I think of these Japanese activists who live by their convictions. They’re role models and heroes living by a higher moral standard. Thank you to these Japanese activists. I look forward to spending time with you in Tokyo.
I’ll interview Dr. Yoshimi Yoshiaki after his talk at the Japanese Diet. After securing this interview, I squealed like a girl (glad no one was around).
I ♥ Japan.
Goodnight!
Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace by St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith,
Where there is despair, hope,
Where there is darkness, light,
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much
seek to be consoled as to console,
not so much to be understood as to understand,
not so much to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
it is in dying that we awake to eternal life.
Original French version of the prayer:
- Seigneur, faites de moi un instrument de votre paix.
- Là où il y a de la haine, que je mette l’amour.
- Là où il y a l’offense, que je mette le pardon.
- Là où il y a la discorde, que je mette l’union.
- Là où il y a l’erreur, que je mette la vérité.
- Là où il y a le doute, que je mette la foi.
- Là où il y a le désespoir, que je mette l’espérance.
- Là où il y a les ténèbres, que je mette votre lumière.
- Là où il y a la tristesse, que je mette la joie.
- Ô Maître, que je ne cherche pas tant à être consolé qu’à consoler,
- à être compris qu’à comprendre,
- à être aimé qu’à aimer,
- car c’est en donnant qu’on reçoit,
- c’est en s’oubliant qu’on trouve, c’est en pardonnant qu’on est pardonné,
- c’est en mourant qu’on ressuscite à l’éternelle vie.
MY EARTHLY HEROES:
Mother Theresa
Nelson Mandela
Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Gandhi
Other words of wisdom to inspire:
Courage does not always roar. Sometimes it is a quiet voice at the end of the day, saying, “I will try again tomorrow.” – Mary Anne Radmacher
The only things that stand between a person and what they want in life are the will to try it, and the faith to believe it’s possible. – Rich Devos
Keep your face to the sunshine and you will not see the shadows. – Helen Keller
Change your thoughts and change your world. – Norman V. Peale
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