tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6035907794999955072.post458368011153089123..comments2007-04-06T15:52:37.308-05:00TylerVOICE-DCnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6035907794999955072.post-85007963780090844902007-04-06T15:52:00.000-05:002007-04-06T15:52:00.000-05:00What a great trip. I'm so glad you guys were able to do it--I'm sure you learned so much. Don't forget the lessons that you've learned, the lessons that Dr. King so wisely taught America. Dr. King had a vision of a country in which his "children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." That will be an ideal world. Don't forget, too, the struggle and suffering that those who have gone before you endured. Their suffering helped make America a much better place. That was a noble dream, something worth striving for. Their attitude was one of love, and being willing to suffer. What an amazing attitude to bear. Again, Dr. King wrote:<BR/><BR/>"But though I was initially disappointed at being categorized as an extremist, as I continued to think about the matter I gradually gained a measure of satisfaction from the label. Was not Jesus an extremist for love: 'Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.' Was not Amos an extremist for justice: 'Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.' Was not Paul an extremist for the Christian gospel: 'I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.' Was not Martin Luther an extremist: 'Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise, so help me God.' And John Bunyan: 'I will stay in jail to the end of my days before I make a butchery of my conscience.' And Abraham Lincoln: 'This nation cannot survive half slave and half free.' And Thomas Jefferson: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that an men are created equal...' So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice? In that dramatic scene on Calvary's hill three men were crucified. We must never forget that all three were crucified for the same crime--the crime of extremism. Two were extremists for immorality, and thus fell below their environment. The other, Jesus Christ, was an extremist for love, truth and goodness, and thereby rose above his environment. Perhaps the South, the nation and the world are in dire need of creative extremists."<BR/><BR/>What a message.<BR/><BR/>Lastly, don't forget to thank your teachers for taking you. Remember that teachers need spring break, too. So this was a really nice thing of them to do. Be sure to remind them of how much you appreciate them!Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6035907794999955072.post-4296966514812334802007-04-06T13:07:00.000-05:002007-04-06T13:07:00.000-05:00Wow!! You girls have had quite a fantastic week. How lucky you all are to be able to have experienced the history of the Civil Rights Movement. Now you will be able to go home and share with your family, friends, and classmates all that you have learned. Hopefully you took a lot of pictures but knowing Ms. Clarke, we're sure you did. Enjoy your last day together. We're sure you have grown in so many ways. Have a safe trip home!!Ms. Clarke's Mom and Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543948853723467765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6035907794999955072.post-84736955236334533912007-04-06T07:52:00.000-05:002007-04-06T07:52:00.000-05:00Girls,<BR/><BR/>I knew I was going to be impressed with what you had done, but wow! I can't believe all the amazing things you have seen and done. It is so neat that you walked across the Edmund Pettus Bridge singing freedom songs, just like the civil rights marchers did 40 years ago. You must be like you are doing something so historic. If you like hearing Freedom Songs, check out this website: http://xroads.virginia.edu/~public/civilrights/L17.html<BR/><BR/>That is from a class I took in college, taught by Julian Bond, who was a former civil rights marcher and now is the Chairman of the NAACP. There are a lot of really neat pictures on that site too, if you'd like to look at them. But then, you're seeing all these things for real; why do you need pictures?<BR/><BR/>I am so impressed, and I can't wait to hear all about your trip first-hand on Monday! Have a wonderful day today, and a safe drive back!<BR/><BR/>Mr. Saxby<BR/><BR/>P.S. Damiyon, Sharonda, Markietta - do your homework. <BR/>P.P.S. Well, I <I>guess</I> you can be excused, just this once.Mr. Saxbynoreply@blogger.com