Martin Luther King Jr. ✌️Day

We celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day by remembering that we shall never stop dreaming! Especially dreaming about world peace, about all people being respected and treated equally, about a day when we will all tolerate each other's differences, knowing that it is our differences that make us unique individuals: beautiful and kind, capable of holding each other's hands across the 🌎globe, remembering that we are all one big family!

"I Have a Dream!" Martin Luther King Jr. said, and it was a beautiful dream that had become a reality for so many people! "One 💧 drop raises the 🌊 sea!" I teach my children. Every thought matters, every deed can bring on a change, while hope and trust in the goodness of humanity will help us see it through. 

To discuss the qualities Martin Luther King Jr. believed so strongly in, we talked about a Peaceful Character (download a pdf here), and what really takes to be peaceful. The following characteristics must be present: Respect (the pivotal ground that holds all other "fingers"), also Caring, Fairness, Responsibility, Trustworthiness, and Citizenship! 

Being respectful and tolerant of differences is the cornerstone and pivotal characteristic of a Peaceful Character. 

 The "Respect" part takes up the entire palm of the 🖐🏻hand!

The word "peace" on these Peace Cards is written in multiple languages. 

We also talked about discrimination, and how would children feel if they were not allowed on a bus for example because their hair color was brown, while everyone else had either blond or red hair. Julia thought it would be very cruel and unjust to judge someone by an external characteristic they have no control over.

By the time the Supreme Court ruled segregated seating on public buses unconstitutional in November 1956, King, heavily influenced by Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) and the activist Bayard Rustin (1912-1987), had entered the national spotlight as an inspirational proponent of organized, nonviolent resistance.

Children put together the "Children of the World" Puzzle (buy here). "This is Our Dream!" they said.

The informational card about Martin Luther King Jr. is from "Peace Makers" pdf by Montessori Print Shop. (You may download it for your personal use here.) 

Lastly, I asked Julia what she can do to make a world a more peaceful place. She said she can herself be peaceful, and teach peacefulness to Adrian by not arguing and be kind. As a result, there will be two more peaceful people on Earth!

 "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.

Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."                                                                               

                                                                         Martin Luther King, Jr.,

What a beautiful message to remember!

p.s. At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolent resistance. "Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend." Martin Luther King, Jr.,

We remember ... to be peaceful, respectful, kind and loving!

For more about our ☮️PEACE Education, read here "🕉Mindfulness with Children."