I am a great admirer of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I was really pleased when he got an official day of observance in his honor. Now, I'm not claiming that I would necessarily do something "worthy" if I were not working today. I love the idea that President Obama instituted...that it should be a day of volunteer service. Yet, I'm not claiming I would go out and do volunteer service today if I had the opportunity. What I do feel, though, is that it seems somehow disrespectful to have our library open today. This is a Federal holiday and it just feels wrong for us to be one of the few government type places just saying - meh, what's the big deal?
Do you have any thoughts on this? If so, feel free to share...or just tell us what you did today!
10 comments:
It's odd odd odd that you would be open. But you aren't open to the public so I guess it's a little bit of an observance?
PS - I added some stuff to my post.
M and I get lead belay certified. Not hardly at all like volunteer work.
I was actually surprised you WERE open. Are you not a federal building/program?
I worked on MLK Day too. I don't find anything wrong about working on that day, but it would've been nice to sleep in. It's a selfish thought, but true.
NoRegrets: Before this year, we were closed to the public. This year we were open...but it was quite dead.
Getting lead belay certified sounds worthwhile!
And I did go back to your post, thanks!
MrManuel: It was surprising to be open and clearly the public wasn't expecting us to be...it was a very quiet day.
This is a city library, so government run...but local, so they just decided MLK Day would be city business as usual.
Tara: It is unusual, too, for a school to be in session. But you're in more like a private school, so to speak, so they can do what they want. Like the city, I guess :-)
Is wanting to sleep in selfish? If it is I am soooo selfish!!!
You know, I never really had any particular admiration for him as a child, but the experience of becoming openly gay made me appreciate just how much he did.
His legacy is something that women, blacks, gays, and any other oppressed minority can be happy for.
I had to work too Laura. It's pretty bogus that you were the only government institution open. Although...what would MLK have thought about libraries being closed on his account?
That's too bad. It's such a civilized holiday...so much better than a lot of the dumb stuff we choose to celebrate instead.
BB: I agree, anyone who has ever been made to feel that they were "less than" should appreciate Dr. King.
I was 5 years old when he died, so I had no awareness of him at that time, but as I grew up I learned about him and his message and especially about the way he made others feel empowered.
3GK: ha! Well, you actually make a good point :-) Would he want us not having access to our learning tools on his special day? Perhaps I should look at it a different way next year!
Churlita: Exactly. I never complain about being open Columbus Day, because that one has just gotten embarrassing :-)
Well, even if you didn't get the day off at least you've spread the word about MLK through your post. My daughter found out about him this year for a school project. He is truly awe inspiring.
FW: He is one of the people I feel truly deserve a day of recognition. I enjoy it when kids ask for books about him :-)
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