SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
January 9, 2015
Sullivan’s
Salvos 1/13/15
In this edition:
*MLK Day
*What Are You FOR?
*Did You Know?
*MLK Day
The
federal holiday honoring the birthday of the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther
King, Junior is Monday, January 19, 2015.
The
Consultation of Religious Communities (CRC) Interfaith Service is Sunday,
January 18 at 7pm at St. Mark’s Methodist in Iowa City.
My
family and I attend the Interfaith Service every year. It SHOULD be packed. It
is not. What’s more, you rarely ever see any elected/appointed officials at the
event. I wonder what kind of impact it would have to see City Councilors, the
Superintendent of Schools, or Chief of Police at the event?
Another
event is held on Monday the 19th from 11-3 at the Grant Wood
Elementary gymnasium. Sponsored by the Coalition for Racial Justice, Community
Partnership to Protect Children, and the Americore VISTA program, this event
includes food, entertainment, and service activities. A new twist this year
includes awards for community service.
The
University of Iowa is once again sponsoring several events in honor of MLK. Also
known as Human Rights Week, here is a list of some of the events:
UI MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
CELEBRATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS OPENING CELEBRATION: UNITY MARCH
Date & Time: Monday,
January 19th, 2015, 3:30 P.M. – 4 P.M.
Description: Join our
march in unity as we walk from the East side of the UI Pentacrest,
approximately ½ mile around the Pentacrest, returning to the Old Capitol. The
march will be followed by a “Time to Remember”, in the Senate Chambers of the
Old Capitol.
TIME TO REMEMBER DR.
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
Date & Time: Monday,
January 19, 2015, 4 P.M.
Location: Senate Chambers
of Old Capitol Museum
Description: This is an hour-long
program with a featured speaker and entertainment to honor MLK’s legacy. Program
will be followed by a reception and an opportunity to meet other UI community
members.
MLK DAY ON!
Date & time: Monday,
January 19, 2015, 9 A.M. - 3 P.M.
Location: Currier MPR/Across the City
Description: Join the
Herky C.A.R.E.S. Project for the First Annual MLK Day On! This program will
bring students together to engage in a day of service to organizations on
campus and in the Iowa City community.
HUMAN WRITES: WORDS AND
IMAGES CELEBRATING DR. KING
Date & Time: Now until
Friday, January 9th, 2015
Description: Submit a
photo of yourself holding a printed or handmade sign with your favorite Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. quotation or any word or phrase that captures the spirit
of Dr. King, human rights, diversity and inclusion. Email your photo to the-loop@uiowa.edu. Images will be displayed on The Loop and will be
shown prior to the Distinguished Lecture on January 20th. Deadline to submit is
Friday, January 9, by 5 P.M.
IMAGES OF THE 1963 MARCH
ON WASHINGTON
Date & Time: Tuesday,
January 13th, 2015 – Friday, January 23rd
Location: Medical
Education and Research Facility (MERF) Auditorium.
MARTIN LUTHER KING
COMMUNITY CELEBRATION
Date & Time: January
19th, 2015, 2 P.M. – 3:30 P.M.
Location: Bethel African
Methodist Episcopal Church
Description: This event
will include several speakers, gospel music and a chance for interaction with
the audience on the importance of MLK.
MUSICAL PERFORMANCE:
WYCLIFFE GORDON
Date & Time: Tuesday,
January 20th, 10 A.M. – 11 A.M.
Description: Come enjoy
the musical performance of world-renowned jazz trombonist Wycliffe Gordon in
the Colloton Pavilion Lobby.
DISTINGUISHED LECTURE:
WYCLIFFE GORDON
Date & Time: Tuesday,
January 20th, Noon – 1 P.M.
Location: Sahai
Auditorium, Medical Education & Research Facility
Description: Enjoy
trombonist, composer, conductor, arranger and musical ambassador of American
jazz, Wycliffe Gordon. The lecture will be held from noon to 1 P.M., followed
by a reception.
SPOKEN WORD ARTIST KYLA
LACEY
Date & Time: Thursday,
January 22, 2015, 10 P.M.
Description: Kyla’s poetry
is based off of her real life experiences and she enjoys telling her story of
triumphing over tragedy.
COMMUNITY OF COLOR
Date & Time: Thursday,
January 22, 2015, 4 - 6 P.M.
Location: Van Oel
Multipurpose Room, Currier Hall
Description: Students,
staff, faculty, and community members mix and mingle to share food, fun, and
resources at this welcoming event.
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. RESEARCH
SYMPOSIUM
Date & Time: Friday,
February 13, 2015, 12:30 P.M. -2:30 P.M.
Location: Jones Commons,
Lindquist Center
Description: The purpose
of the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Research Symposium is to showcase
graduate and undergraduate research projects (at all stages) related to
diversity.
It
makes me proud to see my alma mater recognize the man and recognize the need
for the holiday. Unfortunately, the UI is virtually alone in our community when
it comes to recognizing this day.
We often hear about Christians who feel that Christmas has
lost its meaning, union members who feel that way about Labor Day, and Veterans
who feel the same about Veteran’s Day. I fear that this could be happening to
MLK Day as well.
America
has come a long way since the 60s, and overt racism is now typically (but
certainly not always) frowned upon. We still have a long way to go, however.
MLK’s work – our work – on racial issues is far from done.
Recent
events clearly demonstrate that we need more discussion on race. Not just
discussion, either. We need CHANGE. We need a movement like the one led by Dr.
King. We need to address the racial divide in schools, voting, policing,
prisons, and everywhere else that our results are bad.
For
the past month or so, I replaced my nameplate in the Board Room. Instead of my
name, it says, “Black Lives Matter.” Know what? I have not been asked about
this even once. I am not certain what that means, but it definitely does not
amount to a discussion of race in this county.
Back to Doctor King - it is also important that we remember that
King was a radical in many ways. America grudgingly accepted racial reforms
because they were less dangerous to the status quo than the other issues King
championed. King took seriously the Biblical teachings that the love of money
is a sin, and that rich men will not be welcomed into Heaven. He proposed
seismic changes to the political and social structures that exist in America.
In addition, King was adamantly anti-war.
To the status quo, he was the most dangerous man in the world.
They were happy to grant him concessions on Jim Crow if they could maintain
their financial and military might. The fact that he kept pushing on the
Biblical teachings regarding greed meant he was destined to die. He was too big
a threat.
So what would Doctor King have to say about Johnson County in
2015? He would be appalled by the disproportionate minority contact our police
have with minority citizens. He would oppose militarization of police. He would
be our most vocal advocate for affordable housing. Tax breaks for businesses
would make him angry. He would definitely oppose the regressive local option
sales tax. He would be a huge supporter of the Center for Worker Justice.
Take
some time this week to read some of the great books that are out there on Dr.
King. More importantly, take some time to read the things he wrote himself. And
Happy MLK Day!
*What Are You FOR?
It
may not be a “resolution”, but I am determined to spend 2015 calling out
naysayers.
I
am happy to hear what you are against… just be ready to tell me what you are
FOR. If you cannot tell me what you are FOR, you need to go away. Because there
is too much that needs doing for haters to use up our air.
Being
against something is easy. Too easy, frankly. I have much greater respect for
people who try to solve problems.
It
is called taking responsibility. It is called taking a stand. It is called have
beliefs. Own it. If you don’t, you’ll be hearing from me.
And
if you catch me telling you what I oppose, without mentioning what I favor –
call me out!
*DID YOU KNOW?
"I want to say to you as I
move to my conclusion, as we talk about "Where do we go from here?"
that we must honestly face the fact that the movement must address itself to
the question of restructuring the whole of American society. There are forty
million poor people here, and one day we must ask the question, "Why are
there forty million poor people in America?" And when you begin to ask
that question, you are raising a question about the economic system, about a
broader distribution of wealth. When you ask that question, you begin to
question the capitalistic economy. And I'm simply saying that more and more,
we've got to begin to ask questions about the whole society."
---Martin Luther King, Jr.
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
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Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a
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As always,
feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to
serving you!
---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 4:58 PM
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