Did you know that Dr. Martin Luther King asked his followers to take a pledge of non-violence and to follow 5 core principles of non-violence?

Many of them had faced prejudice and persecution most of their lives, but they agreed to govern their lives with love, to love even their enemies, and to give service to others.

No wonder they were successful!   




Here are the  beautiful rules and principles they agreed to follow:

1. As you prepare to march meditate on the life and teachings of Jesus.
2. Remember the nonviolent movement seeks justice and reconciliation – not victory.
3. Walk and talk in the manner of love; for God is love.
4. Pray daily to be used by God that all men and women might be free.
5. Sacrifice personal wishes that all might be free.
6. Observe with friend and foes the ordinary rules of courtesy.
7. Perform regular service for others and the world.
8. Refrain from violence of fist, tongue and heart.
9. Strive to be in good spiritual and bodily health.
10. Follow the directions of the movement leaders and of the captains on demonstrations.

The Five Principles of Nonviolence

• Non-violent resistance is not a method for cowards. It does resist. The nonviolent resister is just as strongly opposed to the evil against which he protests, as is the person who uses violence. His method is passive or nonaggressive in the sense that he is not physically aggressive toward his opponent, but his mind and emotions are always active, constantly seeking to persuade the opponent that he is mistaken. This method is passive physically but strongly active spiritually; it is nonaggressive physically but dynamically aggressive spiritually.

• Nonviolent resistance does not seek to defeat or humiliate the opponent, but to win his friendship and understanding. The nonviolent resister must often express his protest through noncooperation but he realizes that noncooperation is not the ends itself; it is merely means to awaken a sense of moral shame in the opponent.

• The attack is directed against forces of evil rather than against persons who are caught in those forces. It is a struggle between justice and injustice, between the forces of light and the forces of darkness.

• Nonviolent resistance avoids not only external physical violence, but also internal violence of spirit. At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.

• Nonviolence is based on the conviction that the universe is on the side of justice. It is the deep faith in the future that allows a nonviolent resister to accept suffering without retaliation. The nonviolent resister knows that in his struggle for justice, he has a cosmic companionship.

Fifty years ago today, on August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King spoke to over 200,000 followers on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.  His speech changed the world. 

Congressman John Lewis also spoke that day and said, "Dr. King had the power, the ability, and the capacity to transform those steps on the Lincoln Memorial into a monumental area that will forever be recognized. By speaking the way he did, he educated, he inspired, he informed not just the people there, but people throughout America and unborn generations."  

The following video has excerpts from his speech.  The text of the full speech is printed below.

I Have a Dream

by Martin Luther King, Jr.

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.  (If you can't see the rest of the speech, please click on the tiny "Read More" link below.)


In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.

The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.

We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.

We cannot turn back.

There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating: "For Whites Only." We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little 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.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."

This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:

My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,

From every mountainside, let freedom ring!

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.

And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.

Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that:

Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

                Free at last! Free at last!

        Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

Patriotic Moms everywhere are concerned about our country.  
We care deeply about America and the legacy of liberty we leave for our children.  

Many are asking, “What can I do?  How can I make a difference?”  Here are some simple, yet powerful, suggestions.


Consider Your Situation

Reflect on the Things You Value Most.  Faith, family, freedom...these are things many of us hold dear.  They guide our thoughts and are reflected in our daily activities.  What are the thing you value most?  What are your priorities?

As mothers, I believe one of our first priorities is to nurture our children.  I agree with Ronald Reagan who said, “The family has always been the cornerstone of American society. Our families nurture, preserve, and pass on to each succeeding generation the values we share and cherish, values that are the foundation of our freedoms.” 

When we nurture our children well we prepare them to lead happy, purposeful lives and make the world a better place.  If that’s all we do, we have done something of infinite worth.  It’s hard to overestimate the value of a Nelle Reagan or a Sonya Carson.  These were both humble women in difficult circumstances who changed the course of history.  Any mother who gives her best to teaching her children the “values that are the foundation of our freedoms” leaves a precious legacy.  

Some mothers have other opportunities as well.  You may want to improve the quality of your child's education, make your city a better place to live, help teen moms, teach others about the importance of constitutional government, or help elect good leaders.  We each need to look into our hearts and decide what we can and ought to do to make the world better. 

Decades ago, long before we moved to our community, a group of families decided to work with the public school system to create a school that would provide an outstanding education, with a focus on basic skills and an understanding of history.  It took many years of effort, but they succeeded beyond their dreams.  Their service will have a lasting impact on our family and many others.


Think About Your Season in Life.  At each stage of life we have important things to accomplish that may be difficult or impossible to do at any other time.  What is your season?  What are your current opportunities and constraints?  Where should you focus now?

I recently received a letter from my 19-year-old son.  He asked me to give my best efforts to mothering his younger brother (our youngest child).  He reminded me that I will have all the rest of my life to pursue other interests, but we only have a year before this young son leaves home.  When he added, “Like me.  :),”  his words brought tears to my eyes.  He’s doing exactly what we want him to do, but we really miss him.  I can’t go back and do things for him now that should have been done while he was at home.  Each season is unique.


Assess What You Have to Offer.  What are your talents, resources, and abilities?  Are you a willing worker?  A persuasive speaker?  A cheerful teacher?  Make a list of your gifts, character traits, skills, habits and other things you bring to the table that can help move your cause forward.

Include unique talents and abilities.  One influential leader I know was famous for her home-made chocolates.  With fabulous flavors, fun packaging, and thoughtful notes, this leader created many thoughtful gifts.  Her culinary efforts were an important part of her superb team-building skills. 


Review Your Circle of Influence.  Stephen Covey taught that we each have a circle of concern (consisting of all the things we want to be able to influence) and a circle of influence (consisting of the things we really can influence)  The paradox is that the more we focus on our circle of concern, the less influence we have.  On the other hand, the more we work within our circle of influence, the larger it grows, and the bigger the impact we can have on our circle of concern.  Don't worry if your circle of influence is small at first.  It will grow.


Decide If You Can Accomplish More Working on Your Own or With Others.   If you're able to accomplish more working with others, identify who you know (or could meet) who has the most influence in the area(s) you are most interested in.  Contact them and offer to help.  Ask them how you can best support the cause.  Enlist the help of like-minded friends. 


Set Goals 

After you’ve taken time to carefully consider your  situation, use the information and insights you've gleaned to prayerfully set your goals.  Ask yourself, "What do I want to have happen?"  Write down what you want to accomplish.  Be specific.  Set measurable targets.  Review your goals often.  Refine them as needed.  This step gives you clearer vision, purpose, focus, and commitment.

Be sure to pray for God's guidance and help with your efforts.  Throughout our history, miracles have happened when ordinary people did their best and relied on God to help them when their own efforts were not enough.  


Create a Plan 

Your plan is your carefully-crafted, step-by-step map, that guides you from where you are to where you want to be.  It gives direction, commitment, and energy to your efforts.

The plan is where you pull everything together.  

• Give your plan a meaningful title.  
• Describe your purpose and values.
• Explain your goals.
• Create a timeline of measurable milestones.
• List the specific tasks you need to complete to reach the milestones, dividing them into easy-to-manage chunks.
• Document key information about schedule, resources, and budget.  

Implement Your Plan

Each week review your plan and prepare to meet your milestones.  

• Set goals for the week.  
• Set aside time on your calendar to complete the tasks.
• Each evening evaluate your day and plan the next day, listing specific tasks you will work on.
• Coordinate with family and team members as needed 

Record and Evaluate Your Efforts  

Keep a journal.  Keep a record of your efforts -- what you did and what the results were.  Write down and learn from your successes and failures.  Review your journal regularly.  Great people throughout history have tended to keep a journal.  Many believe the insight and refinement of thought they gained from writing in a journal was the secret of their success. 

Making a difference is a lifelong effort, but as you consider your situation, set goals, create and implement a plan, then evaluate your efforts, you will grow in your ability and influence, and leave a meaningful legacy for those you love!

President Obama has said that his health care law largely doesn’t impact anyone who already has coverage. Tell that to all the people who are being dropped from their health plans.

UPS made a news splash yesterday when it announced it is dropping coverage for spouses of employees if they are offered coverage through their own employers. The delivery company expects to remove 15,000 working spouses from its health coverage next year, saving the company about $60 million a year.

And UPS isn’t the only one. Dropping spousal coverage has become a trend among employers due to continually rising health care costs. Obamacare’s wide variety of benefit and coverage mandates combined with new fees, taxes, and penalties of course all increase the cost of coverage, intensifying the trend. The University of Virginia made a similar announcement yesterday.

According to a new survey by consultants Towers Watson, in 2013, 4 percent of surveyed employers excluded working spouses from coverage and another 8 percent plan to do so in 2014.

There’s no ambiguity here. UPS was clear that Obamacare played a large role in its decision to change its plan structure:

“[T]he ACA has mandated several changes that have been impacting the cost of coverage for UPS employees since its implementation. These include:

• Coverage for dependent children up to age; regardless of whether they are enrolled in school, are married, or (beginning 2014) have coverage available from their own employer;
• Removal of lifetime and annual benefit limits;
• Fees for comparative effectiveness research; and
• Fees to help fund the public exchanges.

We are making these changes to, in part, offset cost increases due to the ACA and so that healthcare premiums remain the same for most of our people.” (Page 18 of the memo).

And many more changes to employer-sponsored insurance are likely to come in the near future. According to the Towers Watson survey, when asked how they thought plans would change by 2018—the year that Obamacare’s “Cadillac” tax on high-cost plans takes effect--92 percent of employers said plans would be different, with 47 percent saying they anticipated significant or transformative change.

Do you like your health care plan? Sorry. With Obamacare in effect, costs are going up and plans are changing. If lawmakers would defund this unworkable law, we could focus on health care reform that puts people in charge of the type of health coverage they want.

The defenders of Obamacare are at it again.  

Remember all the lies they told to get Obamacare passed?  They are using the same strategy now.  

Obamacare advocates are twisting the facts to implement a law that many consider "unfair, unaffordable, and highly unpopular."  

Obamacare is also "so unworkable that the Administration has itself admitted it cannot manage to implement major portions on time."

The two most common myths are:

1. Congress cannot defund Obamacare.

2. Obamacare opponents are trying to shut down the government.

Neither is true.  Here's why...