(10)." Because, ultimately, this is a fast before God, to whom we turn in prayer and hope to change hearts -- our hearts, the heart of our lawmakers, the heart of the nation. We will pray and fast, each of us in our own ways, for mercy, compassion, wisdom, strength and courage as we make the critical budget choices about who and what are most important. A line has been crossed in this budget debate; extreme budget cuts are now being proposed and this fast is a spiritual escalation to bring these critical moral choices to the attention of the nation, and to seek God's help in doing so. "Is not this the fast that I choose," says the prophet Isaiah, "to loose bonds of injustice ... to let the oppressed go free?"
Wallis concluded, "Join me in prayer, fasting, and action in response to Congress' proposed budget cuts."
As I noted a few days ago, this sort of activity is likely in line for how MLK would like us to recall his death.
APRIL 4 in TAIWAN: Children's day
Another way to remember King's birthday is to do what Taiwan has auspiciously chosen to do on their own in recent decades on April 4 of each year. Namely, they dedicate the day to children. One government website notes, "Children are the future custodians of the nation, and thus providing them with a good family, social, and educational environment is a goal ardently worked for by every nation."
School is canceled on that day, April 4, each year and most of the country takes a holiday, but the focus is called on children and childhood. Last week, several of the schools I teach at here in Taiwan had special youth and children's day events--including games, sports, dance, singing, and other fun. I was especially impressed that the teams for many of the games were made up of children from 6 different elementary grades--this mean that support for one another--regardless of size and character--is encouraged. I am certain that such bonding is a good balance against forces that lead to bullying in school and society.
The Taiwan government website explains the rationale for children's day in the ROC (Republic of China). "In August 1925, some 54 representatives from different countries gathered together in Geneva, Switzerland to convene the first "World Conference for the Wellbeing of Children,' during which the "Geneva Declaration Protecting Children' was passed. The proclamation made a strong appeal for the spiritual needs of children, relief for children in poverty, prevention of child labor, reassessing the way that children are educated and other issues related to the welfare of children around the world. After the conference, various governments around the world designated a day, different in each country, as Children's Day, to encourage and bring joy to children as well as to draw the attention of society to children's issues." April 4 was chosen by Taiwan to focus on children's needs and issues.
The website concludes, "The occasion is marked by the Children's Day Celebration honoring model students from around Taiwan and by numerous parent-children activities sponsored by government and civic organizations. Thus, the day not only lets the kids become king for a day, but also helps to strengthen the bond between parents and their children.
In recent years, children's issues have gained greater attention in Taiwan, leading to the founding of several child welfare groups. With passage of the Children's Welfare Law, the rights of young people have been given legal protection so that the future leaders of the nation can live a life free from worry and uncertainty."
http://www.gio.gov.tw/info/festival_c/child_e/child.htm
Now I recall another famous Martin Luther King, Jr. oration that talked about children. Don't you?
King said many time that he had a dream for all of our children. [3]
"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.
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