The week started with quotes, recollections and celebrations around the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. a man of faith who was “all in” on changing the world that he lived in, the country that we share, for the better. It amazes me how many people twist his words to benefit their own positions. He spoke of justice yet some of those who quote his words provide privilege to some and condemn others. He spoke of equality yet some who use his words promote racism, the superiority of people of one color over those who are considered a different color.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said that “True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.” Our nation is far from having the presence of justice. There are those that are treated unjustly due to their faith, the color of their skin or their economic circumstances. There are those that are treated unjustly due to their faith in God. And then there are those that are treated above the law, to which justice does not apply, because they have political power or money. The media in this country is complicit in oppressing justice. By censoring facts and points of view they work to manipulate the populace to assist in retaining power for those that agree with their views. Evidence of this can be seen with the Clintons, the Bidens and those who are part of the Obama administration who took illegal actions against those who are in other political parties.

Martin Luther King, Jr. also said that “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” Again, those in political and financial power work to keep things that they do hidden in the dark so that those around them cannot see their acts in the light. They enrage people and groups against those who represent law and justice so that they can remove those who uphold our laws allowing us to be a country that is just. They work to stoke the flames of racism by pitting people of different skin colors against each other. They fan the flames of economic difference by claiming that everyone has a right to economic equality just because and not due to their own personal efforts.

Yes, just as these people have twisted the words of God and His Son Jesus Christ to try to justify their sins they have also twisted the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. Those in the world will blindly listen to speeches and what the media shares but they will not go back and read the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. to see what he actually said.

After reading, seeing, hearing and watching so much deceit and divisiveness in the early part of the week I literally turned off and tuned out so that I could be in a more positive place. For my heart and mind I read some of the speeches and sermons shared by Martin Luther King, Jr. I was inspired. I read the scriptures of the inspired Word of God, the Bible, and was rejuvenated by His promises. I read the words spoken by Jesus Christ and realized that while I am not perfect there is a Savior who has paid the price for me and set forth an example of how to live in this world.

For my physical well being I began to exercise more. I took several walks including one near Fort Vancouver and the Fort Vancouver Barracks. On January 23, 1857, the Washington Territorial Legislature incorporated the city of Vancouver where I live today. The city traces its roots to the establishment of Hudson’s Bay Company’s Fort Vancouver in 1825, as well as to the U.S. Army’s establishment of the Columbia, later Fort Vancouver, Barracks in 1849. The temperature was cold but the sky was blue. I felt invigorated.

My efforts to remove myself from all of the attempted manipulation, to reconnect with the creator of the universe, to see the positive words of Martin Luther King Jr. and to become active have worked. My dreams for a world where justice prevails, where right wins, where people are allowed opportunities and not penalized has returned at the end of this week. It is up to us, up to me, to keep our dreams alive.