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THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER® Social Work E-News
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SPECIAL EDITION--January 17, 2005
Dear Social Work Colleagues,
I want to take a moment to send out a special Martin Luther King Day edition of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER's Social Work E-News. This is a day when many in the U.S. have the day "off" from work or school. I've heard this holiday referred to as "a day ON, not a day OFF." This means, rather than simply taking the day off and playing in the snow or taking in a movie, also stop to think about the reason for the day. Think about what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life meant, and what he sacrificed when his life was cut short by an assassin in Memphis, TN in 1968. Has his dream been fulfilled? What will it take for us to truly be a prejudice-free society in which all can live equally?
This year marks the 10th anniversary of observing the King Holiday as a day of service. In 1994, Congress passed legislation encouraging Americans to celebrate the King Holiday as a day of service reflecting Dr. King's life and teachings.
"Participation in the King Day of Service has grown steadily over the past decade, and we hope that this year will be the biggest ever," said David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. "Dr. King once said, 'Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.' On the King Holiday and every day, we hope all Americans will honor the legacy of this great leader by following his example to serve together to make a better nation."
To read King's "I Have a Dream" speech, see http://www.mecca.org/~crights/dream.html (you can also watch it in its entirety on CNN tonight).
If you have not visited the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, TN, at the former Lorraine Hotel where King was shot, I encourage you to do so if or when you are in that area of the world. I was there a couple of years ago on Martin Luther King Day. If you can't make it there in person, visit the museum's Web site at http://www.civilrightsmuseum.org
I also want to mention in this letter that I have heard from many of you since I sent out last week's E-News. Several people wrote thanking me for the coverage of the tsunami disaster and listing of organizations that are providing relief. I received a note from one reader who has applied to do volunteer work in the affected areas. I heard from a couple of readers who pointed out that the tsunami hit several areas in and off the coast of Africa and that these countries are in desperate need of aid. I meant my article last week to be inclusive of any and all affected areas (including those directly and indirectly affected) and did not intend to leave any area out, and I apologize for inadvertently doing so.
Since that time, I have also read a number of articles questioning the impact that tsunami relief might have on other charitable efforts. In Africa, for example, there are great ongoing needs for aid to those suffering from extreme poverty, HIV/AIDS, and malaria. A mudslide in California last week claimed a number of lives. There are worthy causes and issues around the world, too numerous to mention here. Think about the local charities that you might support, as well. So, I urge you to please consider the needs of ALL affected by the tsunamis, AND to continue to support and work for the other causes that are close to you.
These are important issues that need our attention as social workers and as human beings.
Until next time,
Linda Grobman, ACSW, LSW
Publisher/Editor
THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER®
http://www.socialworker.com
linda.grobman@paonline.com
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ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER
THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER® SOCIAL WORK E-NEWS is published by:
White Hat Communications (publisher of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER® magazine and THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER® ONLINE)
P.O. Box 5390
Harrisburg, PA 17110-0390
Linda Grobman, Editor
linda.grobman@paonline.com
http://www.socialworker.com
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